How to Use Markers on the PowerDirector Timeline
Drop markers to flag key moments, label them by color, and snap your media into place.
Updated Aug. 15, 2026 · 3 min read
In a hurry? Follow the quick guide.
Markers are flags you drop on the timeline to hold a moment: a beat in the music, the start of a scene, the frame a title has to land on. They keep a long edit navigable, and media snaps to them, so a cut arrives exactly on the beat rather than near it. You can name them, color them, and jump straight from one to the next.
- In PowerDirector, move the playhead and press M to drop a timeline marker.
- Double-click a marker to give it a name, a comment, and a color.
- Hold Shift with the left or right arrow keys to jump between markers.
- Drag new media onto the timeline and it snaps to your markers automatically.
Working with Markers
Prefer to watch? Here's the quick walkthrough, or follow the steps below.
Add a Timeline Marker
Add at least one clip to the timeline first. Move the playhead to the spot you want, then right-click the timeline ruler and choose Add Timeline Marker, or just press M.
Move a Marker
Drag a marker left or right along the ruler to change its position.
Remove a Marker
Right-click the marker and choose Remove Selected Marker.
Jump Between Markers
Hold Shift and press the left or right arrow keys to jump quickly from one marker to the next.
Name and Color a Marker
Double-click a marker to open the edit window. Here you can name it, add a comment, pick a color, and fine-tune its timing. Hover over the marker later to see its name and comment at a glance.
Snap Media to Markers
Once your markers are set, new media you drag in snaps to them automatically, so everything lines up without fiddling.
Edit All Markers at Once
To manage every marker in one place, right-click the ruler and choose Edit All Timeline Markers. From the list you can remove markers or double-click a comment to edit the text.
Add a Clip Marker
You can also mark a specific clip. Move the playhead, right-click the clip, choose Clip Marker, then Add Clip Marker. Tip: pressing M with no clip selected adds a ruler marker; with a clip selected, it adds a clip marker instead.
Haven't got PowerDirector yet? Markers pay off on the first long edit, which makes them a fair first thing to test.
Download PowerDirector Free →FAQ About Markers
A timeline marker sits on the ruler and stays fixed in time. A clip marker is attached to a specific clip and moves with it. Press M with nothing selected for a ruler marker, or with a clip selected for a clip marker.
Hold Shift and use the left or right arrow keys to move between markers on the timeline.
Yes. Double-click a marker to give it a name, a comment, and a color. Hover over it later to see those details.