To resolve this inefficiency, users can leverage Illustrator’s robust keyboard shortcuts editor. This functionality allows users to override default mappings or assign new ones to menu commands.
Because the "intuitive" choice ( Ctrl/Cmd + U ) is taken by Smart Guides, users have two distinct philosophical approaches:
While this method is precise, it breaks the designer's flow. The time taken to move the cursor away from the canvas to a panel disrupts the "state of flow" often required for high-paced design work.
That's it— Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + U is the fastest way to underline text in Illustrator.
Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard vector graphics software used by designers worldwide. A core component of design within the application is typography. While Illustrator offers robust typographic controls—ranging from kerning and tracking to advanced OpenType features—certain elementary functions are not immediately accessible via keyboard shortcuts. A prime example is the "Underline Text" function. Unlike its sibling applications, InDesign and Photoshop, Illustrator does not ship with a pre-assigned default shortcut for underlining text. This paper explores the methods available to execute this command and advocates for the customization of the workspace to enhance efficiency.
Illustrator Underline Text Shortcut Jun 2026
To resolve this inefficiency, users can leverage Illustrator’s robust keyboard shortcuts editor. This functionality allows users to override default mappings or assign new ones to menu commands.
Because the "intuitive" choice ( Ctrl/Cmd + U ) is taken by Smart Guides, users have two distinct philosophical approaches: illustrator underline text shortcut
While this method is precise, it breaks the designer's flow. The time taken to move the cursor away from the canvas to a panel disrupts the "state of flow" often required for high-paced design work. The time taken to move the cursor away
That's it— Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + U is the fastest way to underline text in Illustrator. A core component of design within the application
Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard vector graphics software used by designers worldwide. A core component of design within the application is typography. While Illustrator offers robust typographic controls—ranging from kerning and tracking to advanced OpenType features—certain elementary functions are not immediately accessible via keyboard shortcuts. A prime example is the "Underline Text" function. Unlike its sibling applications, InDesign and Photoshop, Illustrator does not ship with a pre-assigned default shortcut for underlining text. This paper explores the methods available to execute this command and advocates for the customization of the workspace to enhance efficiency.