AutoCAD Ctrl+h Shortcut :Toggle Pick Style

If you need a clear, step-by-step guide to using the CTRL+H shortcut in AutoCAD, this article explains what the shortcut does, how to use it, why it may sometimes not work, alternative methods to achieve the same result, common errors and fixes, and practical tips to improve your selection workflow.

What the ctrl+h shortcut does in AutoCAD

The Ctrl+H keyboard shortcut in AutoCAD toggles the drawing pick style / selection behavior used when selecting objects. In practice this affects how AutoCAD handles:

• Overlapping or stacked objects (whether a picklist or cycling dialog appears).
• Whether you can pick objects before issuing a command or how the pickbox responds.
• The quick method to switch between different selection modes without opening dialog boxes.

Because selection behavior influences almost every drawing interaction, understanding and controlling pick style improves productivity and reduces mistaken picks.

Quick explanation of key selection-related system variables and UI controls

• Selection Cycling (system variable: SELECTIONCYCLING) — shows a pick list when multiple objects overlap under the cursor so you can choose the intended one.
• Pickfirst (system variable: PICKFIRST) — determines whether you can select objects before starting a command.
• Pickadd (system variable: PICKADD) — controls whether newly picked objects are added to existing selection sets.
• Pickstyle — some AutoCAD versions provide pick style options that affect the pickbox and cycling behavior.

You can access and change these settings from the status bar (Selection Cycling button), the Options > Selection tab, or by typing the system variable name at the command line.

How to use the ctrl+h shortcut (step by step)

1. Prepare your drawing where objects overlap (for example, two lines crossing or several stacked polylines).
2. Make sure the drawing window has keyboard focus (click in the drawing area).
3. Click once to try to pick an object:
   • If multiple objects overlap, AutoCAD may pick the topmost object by default.
4. Press Ctrl+H to toggle the pick style:
   • If selection cycling or an alternate pick mode is enabled by Ctrl+H, a pick list or cycling indicator will appear showing all overlapping objects under the cursor.
5. Use the mouse or arrow keys + Enter to choose the object you want from the pick list, or click directly on the desired object after cycling.
6. Continue your command (move, erase, properties edit, etc.) using the selected object.
7. Press Ctrl+H again to toggle back to the previous pick style if desired.

Note: the exact visible behavior depends on your AutoCAD version and the current values of SELECTIONCYCLING, PICKFIRST and PICKADD.

Examples (before and after)

• Before Ctrl+H: Clicking on a busy area selects the topmost object; you may unintentionally modify the wrong entity.

• After Ctrl+H: Pressing Ctrl+H first enables selection cycling/picklist; a small popup lists all overlapping objects so you can pick the desired entity reliably.

• Before Ctrl+H: You must start a command (e.g., MOVE) and then pick objects.

• After Ctrl+H: If PICKFIRST is enabled, you can pre-select objects, then start the command, then use Ctrl+H if needed to refine selection among overlaps.

Alternative methods and commands to control selection

• Use the Selection Cycling button in the Status Bar (look for the icon that shows stacked squares). Click it to enable/disable cycling.
• Type SELECTIONCYCLING at the command line and set it to enable/disable the picklist behavior.
• Use PICKFIRST to allow or disallow selecting objects before issuing commands (type PICKFIRST and set 0 or 1).
• Use FILTER, QSELECT, or SELECTSIMILAR to build precise selection sets when many objects overlap.
• Open Options > Selection to adjust the pickbox size, selection preview and other selection-related preferences.
• Customize keyboard shortcuts in the CUI (Customize user interface) if you want a different key than Ctrl+H.

Why ctrl+h sometimes doesn’t work (common causes)

• The drawing window does not have keyboard focus (another window or the command line is active).
• The Ctrl+H shortcut has been reassigned or removed in the CUI (Customize User Interface).
• Another program or OS-level shortcut intercepts Ctrl+H (remote desktop clients, utilities, or accessibility tools).
• Selection-related system variables (PICKFIRST, SELECTIONCYCLING, etc.) are set to values that prevent the expected behavior.
• You are using an AutoCAD variant or Mac version where the default shortcut mappings differ.
• Working in a special editor pane (e.g., text editor, Attributes editor) where Ctrl+H performs a different function (find/replace).

How to fix Ctrl+H not working (step-by-step troubleshooting)

1. Click inside the AutoCAD drawing area to ensure the application has focus.
2. Press Esc a few times to clear any active command or selection, then test Ctrl+H again.
3. Check the Status Bar: toggle Selection Cycling on/off to see if that replicates Ctrl+H behavior.
4. Verify system variables:
   • Type SELECTIONCYCLING and press Enter — set to a value that enables cycling (non-zero).
   • Type PICKFIRST and press Enter — set to 1 to allow pre-selection (if that’s the issue).
5. Inspect the CUI:
   • Type CUI and press Enter, search for the Ctrl+H entry under Keyboard Shortcuts. If missing or reassigned, restore to Toggle Pick Style or reassign as needed.
6. Test in a different workspace or with a default profile:
   • Switch to a Default workspace or reset the AutoCAD profile to defaults to determine if a customization broke the shortcut.
7. Check external interference:
   • Close background apps that might capture Ctrl+H (Clipboard tools, remote desktop utilities).
   • If using a remote session, ensure keyboard mapping is correct.
8. If behavior still incorrect, restart AutoCAD and, if needed, restart the computer.

Tips to improve selection workflow in AutoCAD

• Enable Selection Preview (Options > Selection) to see a highlight before you click — reduces accidental picks.
• Adjust Pickbox size in Options to make precise picking easier.
• Use Selection Cycling when drafting in dense areas (overlapping geometry).
• Learn and use QSELECT and SELECTSIMILAR for fast, attribute-based selections.
• Create custom keyboard shortcuts in the CUI to match your personal workflow.
• Use the Properties palette to confirm which object you selected before modifying it.
• When multiple similar objects overlap, temporarily isolate layers or use layer filters to reduce selection confusion.

FAQ

What exactly changes when I press Ctrl+H in AutoCAD?

Pressing Ctrl+H toggles the current pick style / selection cycling behavior so that AutoCAD either shows a pick list for overlapping objects or reverts to the default single-object pick behavior, depending on your current settings and AutoCAD version.

How can I change the keyboard shortcut if Ctrl+H is not assigned?

Open the CUI (type CUI), locate the Keyboard Shortcuts section, find the command that toggles pick style (or selection cycling), and assign Ctrl+H (or another key combination). Save the CUI file and test the new mapping.

What is the difference between PICKFIRST and Selection Cycling?

PICKFIRST determines whether you can select objects before starting a command (pre-selection). Selection Cycling controls whether AutoCAD presents a small pick list when multiple objects overlap under the cursor. Both affect selection behavior but in different ways.

Ctrl+H does nothing — how do I restore the default behavior?

First ensure the drawing has focus and press Esc to clear states. Then check the CUI for any reassignment and confirm SELECTIONCYCLING and PICKFIRST values. If needed, reset your AutoCAD profile to default settings or restore the default CUI.

Does Ctrl+H work on AutoCAD for Mac?

AutoCAD for Mac may use different default shortcuts. If Ctrl+H doesn’t work on Mac, check the Mac AutoCAD shortcut list or customize shortcuts in the Mac interface. You may need to assign a different key (Cmd instead of Ctrl).

Can I enable selection cycling only temporarily?

Yes. Use the Status Bar Selection Cycling toggle (click the icon) or press Ctrl+H (if mapped) to enable it for the current session; toggle again to disable. You can also use SELECTIONCYCLING system variable to set behavior for the drawing.

How do I select one object from a stack of overlapping objects without using Ctrl+H?

Use Selection Cycling via the Status Bar, temporarily isolate layers, use FILTER or QSELECT to select by properties, or click repeatedly while holding the Shift key (depending on your pick settings) to cycle through stacked objects.