Toolbars Overview

The Toolbars provide quick access to many functions in Audacity. In some cases the functions provided by a toolbar are available only through that toolbar.

All Toolbars are enabled by default, but if your desired toolbar is not visible, choose View > Toolbars then click to put a checkmark by the toolbar you wish to enable.

Device Toolbar Selects audio host, input device, output device and number of input channels

Edit Toolbar Cut, copy, paste, trim audio, silence audio, undo, redo, sync-lock, zoom

Meter Toolbar Displays playback and recording levels and toggles input monitoring when not recording

Mixer Toolbar Controls the output and input levels of the audio devices currently selected in Device Toolbar

Selection Toolbar Controls the sample rate of the project and adjusts cursor and region position by keyboard input

Tools Toolbar Chooses various tools for selection, volume adjustment, zooming and time-shifting of audio

Transcription Toolbar Plays audio at a slower or faster speed than normal, affecting pitch

Transport Toolbar Controls playback and recording and skips to start or end of project when neither playing or recording

Arranging Toolbars

Toolbars can be docked in two toolbar areas of the Audacity Project window, providing there is space available: either above the Timeline, or above the Status Bar at the bottom of the window (Selection Toolbar is in this location by default). Toolbars may also be floated anywhere else in or outside the project window, including on a secondary monitor. The toolbar positions on exiting Audacity are always remembered when restarting the program.

Toolbars are docked or floated by dragging on their serrated left edge. When docking a toolbar into a toolbar area, a blue triangle will appear, indicating an available docking position. The default toolbar docked positions can be restored at any time by clicking View > Toolbars > Reset Toolbars.

The images below show Tools toolbar being docked to the right of Transport toolbar:

This image shows some toolbars floated outside the Project window: