Useful Shortcut Keys in Ubuntu

For those shortcut key lovers out there, here is a long list of keyboard shortcuts for Ubuntu. Most of them should work in most Gnome-based distros. Enjoy the list.

Also read: How to Assign/Remap Keyboard Shortcuts for Better Productivity in Linux

General Keyboard Shortcuts
`Ctrl` + `A`	Select all
`Ctrl` + `C`	Copy the highlighted content to clipboard
`Ctrl` + `V`	Paste the clipboard content
`Ctrl` + `N`	New (Create a new document or new application, not in terminal)
`Ctrl` + `O`	Open file
`Ctrl` + `S`	Save file
`Ctrl` + `P`	Print file
`Ctrl` + `W`	Close file
`Ctrl` + `Q`	Quit current application
`F1`	Show help/documentation about app/function (if available)

Keyboard Shortcuts for GNOME Desktop
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Delete`	Log out
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Backspace`	Restart GNOME
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `F1`	Switch to the first virtual terminal
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `F2(F3)(F4)(F5)(F6)`	Select the different virtual terminals
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `F7`	Restore back to the current terminal session with X
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Tab`	Switch between system controls
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Escape`	Switch system controls directly
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `T`	Launch terminal
`Ctrl` + `Super` + `D`	Hide all windows/Show desktop
`Alt` + `Tab`	Switch between open programs
`Alt` + `Space`	Open the window menu
`Alt` + `F1`	Open the Activities overview
`Alt` + `F2`	Open the “Run a Command” dialog box.
`Alt` + `F4`	Close the current window
`Alt` + `F5`	Unmaximizes the current window
`Alt` + `F6`	Switch windows of an app directly
`Alt` + `F7`	Move the current window
`Alt` + `F8`	Resize the current window
`Alt` + `F10`	Toggle maximization for the current window
`Super` + `A`	Show all applications
`Super` + `H`	Hide window
`Super` + `L`	Lock the screen
`Super` + `N`	Focus the active notification
`Super` + `S`	Show the overview
`Super` + `V`	Show the notification list
`Super` + `F10`	Open the application menu
`Super` + `Tab`	Switch applications
`Super` + `	Switch windows of an application
`Super` + `Escape`	Restore the keyboard shortcuts
`Super` + `Up`	Maximize window
`Super` + `Down`	Restore window
`Super` + `Left`	View split on left
`Super` + `Right`	View split on right
`Super` + `PageUp`/`PageDown`	Move to the workspace above/below
`Super` + `Home`/`End`	Move to the first/last workspace
`Super` + `Space`	Switch to the next input source
`Super` + `Shift` + `Space`	Switch to the previous input source
`Super` + `Shift` + `Up`/`Down`/`Left`/`Right`	Move window one monitor up/down/left/right
`Super` + `Shift` + `PageUp`/`PageDown`	Move window one workspace up/down
`Super` + `Shift` + `Home`/`End`	Move window to first/last workspace
`Super` + `Alt` + `S`	Turn screen reader on or off
`Super` + `Alt` + `8`	Turn zoom on or off
`Super` + `Alt` + `=`	Zoom in
`Super` + `Alt` + `-`	Zoom out

Keyboard Shortcuts for Terminal
`Arrow Up`/`Down`	Browse command history
`F11`	Full screen
`Alt` + `F`/`Right`	Move forward one word
`Alt` + `B`/`Left`	Move backward one word
`Alt` + (any number from 1 to 0)	Switch to respective tab (out of the first ten)
`Shift` + `PageUp` / `PageDown`	Scroll terminal output
`Ctrl` + `A`	Move cursor to beginning of line
`Ctrl` + `E`	Move cursor to end of line
`Ctrl` + `C`	Kill the current process
`Ctrl` + `Z`	Suspend the current process by sending the signal SIGSTOP
`Ctrl` + `R`	Find the last command matching the entered letters
Enter a letter, followed by `Tab` + `Tab`	List the available commands beginning with those letters
`Ctrl` + `U`	Delete the current line
`Ctrl` + `K`	Delete everything to the right of the cursor’s position
`Ctrl` + `W`	Delete the word before the cursor
`Ctrl` + `L`	Clears the terminal output
`Ctrl` + `PageUp`	Switch to previous tab
`Ctrl` + `PageDown`	Switch to next tab
`Ctrl` + `+`	Zoom In
`Ctrl` + `-`	Zoom out
`Ctrl` + `0`	Normal size (Reset zoom)
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `PageUp`	Move tab to the left
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `PageDown`	Move tab to the right
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `C`	Copy the highlighted command to the clipboard
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `V` (or `Shift` + `Insert`)	Paste the contents of the clipboard
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `F`	Find
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `G`	Find next
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `H`	Find previous
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `J`	Clear highlight
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `T`	New hab
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `N`	New window
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `W`	Close tab
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Q`	Close window

Keyboard Shortcuts for Taking Screenshots
`Print`	Save a screenshot to Pictures folder
`Alt` + `Print`	Save a screenshot of a window to Pictures folder
`Shift` + `Print`	Save a screenshot of an area to Pictures folder
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Print`	Copy a screenshot of a window to clipboard
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Print`	Copy a screenshot of an area to clipboard
`Ctrl` + `Print`	Copy a screenshot to clipboard
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Alt` + `R`	Start screencast recording

Keyboard Shortcut for Files/Nautilus
`Delete`	Move selected files/folders to Trash
`Shift` + `Delete`	Delete selected files/folders permanently
`Ctrl` + `?`/`F1`	Open the Keyboard Shortcut window
`Ctrl` + `T`	Open a new tab
`Ctrl` + `PageUp`	Go to previous tab
`Ctrl` + `PageDown`	Go to next tab
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `PageUp`	Move tab left
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `PageDown`	Move tab right
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `T`	Restore closed tab
`Alt` + 0 … . 8	Go to the specified tab
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `N`	Create new folder
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `I`	Invert selection
`Ctrl` + `ENTER`	Open the selected folder in a new tab
`Shift` + `ENTER`	Open the selected folder in a new window
`Ctrl` + `I` or `Alt` + `ENTER`	Show file/folder properties
`Ctrl` + `1`	Toggle view as list
`Ctrl` + `2`	Toggle view as grid
`Ctrl` + `S`	Select pattern
`Ctrl` + `A`	Select all files and folders
`Ctrl` + `F`	Search
`Ctrl` + `D`	Bookmark current location
`Ctrl` + `Z`	Undo
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Z`	Redo
`Ctrl` + `W`	Close window
`Ctrl` + `O` or `Enter`	Open selected file/folder (with default application)
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Down`	Open file and close window
`Ctrl` + `R`	Reload window
`Alt` + `Up`	Go up
`Alt` + `Left`	Go back
`Alt` + `Right`	Go forward
`Alt` + `Down`	Go down
`Alt` + `Home`	Go to Home folder
`Ctrl` + `L`	Show/go to location bar
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `O`	Open item location (search and recent only)
`/`	Show/go to location bar with root location
`~`	Show/go to location bar with Home location
`Ctrl` + `H`	Show/hide hidden files
`Ctrl` + `+`	Zoom in
`Ctrl` + `-`	Zoom out
`Ctrl` + `0`	Reset zoom
`Alt` + `Down`	Open selected file with default application
`F2`	Rename selected file/folder
`F5` or `Ctrl` + `R`	Refresh view
`F9`	Show/hide sidepane
`F10`	Show/hide action menu

If you want to configure your own keyboard shortcuts, you can do so at “Settings -> Devices -> Keyboard.”

Which ones are your favorite keyboard shortcuts? Are there more shortcuts that I left out? Let me know in the comments, and I will add them to the lists.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox

Odysseas Kourafalos

OK's real life started at around 10, when he got his first computer - a Commodore 128. Since then, he's been melting keycaps by typing 24/7, trying to spread The Word Of Tech to anyone interested enough to listen. Or, rather, read.