Ubuntu Keyboard Shortcuts

How to use a keyboard shortcut

Traditionally, keyboard shortcuts are written like so: Alt + F1. This means that you should press the Alt and F1 keys simultaneously. This is normally best achieved by holding down the modifier key (such as Ctrl or Alt or the Super(windows logo) key) and then pressing the second key once. You can then release the modifier key.
Finding keyboard shortcuts

Finding system keyboard shortcuts

To find (and change) system-level keyboard shortcuts, one can (at least in later, GNOME-based distros, e.g. ubuntu karmic) run the Keyboard Shortcuts applet, e.g. via System>Preferences>Keyboard Shortcuts on the main menu.

Finding application-specific keyboard shortcuts

While there are many standard keyboard shortcuts (see below), most applications also have keyboard shortcuts which are specific to themselves. These can normally be found in the pull-down menus at the top of the application's screen. The example below shows a menu in OpenOffice.org Writer, with the keyboard shortcuts highlighted:

Desktop shortcuts

This section lists common keyboard shortcuts which you can use to operate parts of the desktop (such as windows and the menu bar).
Alt + F1
Open the Applications menu

Alt + F2
Run an application by typing its name in the box which appears

Prt Sc
(Print Screen) Take a screenshot of the whole screen

Alt + Prt Sc
Take a screenshot of the current window

Shift + Prt Sc
Take a screenshot of a selected rectangle on the screen

Window shortcuts


Alt + Tab
Switch between currently-open windows. Press Alt + Tab and then release Tab (but continue to hold Alt). Press Tab repeatedly to cycle through the list of available windows which appears on the screen. Release the Alt key to switch to the selected window.

Ctrl + Alt + Tab
Switch between currently-open windows in all Workspaces. Press Tab repeatedly to cycle through the list of available windows which appears on the screen. Release the Ctrl and Alt keys to switch to the selected window.

Ctrl + Alt + Left/Right Cursor
Lets you quickly switch between your Workspaces.

These might not work on every machine, but are reasonably common:
Alt+F7
Moves the current window (can be moved with mouse or keyboard).

Alt+F8
Resizes current window (again, can be moved with mouse or keyboard).

Alt+F9
Minimises current window.

Alt+F10
Maximises current window.

Alt+Space
Brings up window menu with with 'Always on Top' and 'Minimise' and 'Maximise' and above commands.

These might change depending on the application you're using, but work for most common applications:
Alt+F5
Returns window to 'normal' or previous size.

Alt+F4
Closes window.

Desktop Effects enabled shortcuts


All of the shortcuts listed in this section require Desktop Effects to be enabled.
Ctrl + Alt + Left/Right Cursor
Spins the 'cube' that your workspaces reside on, allowing you to select the workspace you wish to use.

Ctrl + Alt + Up Cursor
Enables an 'expose' like feature that presents you with all the windows you currently have open, allowing you to select the one you wish to give focus to.

Ctrl + Alt + Down Cursor
Unfolds your workspace cube allowing you to see more than one of your workspaces at once, using the left and right cursor keys with this active will allow you to select the workspace you wish to use.

Ctrl + Alt + Tab
Switch between currently-open windows across all workspaces.

Super + W
Enables the 'scale' effect, it shows all windows from the current workspace.

Super + A
Enables the 'scale' effect, it shows all windows from all workspaces.

Super + N
Invert colours of the focused window.

Super + M
Invert colours for the whole screen.

Super + Mouse Scroll Wheel
Zooms in on the screen.

Super + Middle Mouse Button
Select a region to zoom into, using a rectangle.

Ctrl + Super + D
Toggles 'Show Desktop'.

Alt + Middle Mouse Button
Resize focused window.

Alt + Left Mouse Button
Move focused window.

Alt + Right Mouse Button
Show window menu.

Super + S
Zoom out, show workspace switcher

Common application shortcuts


These shortcuts do not apply in all applications, but usually perform the functions listed below.
Ctrl + C
Copy the selected text/object

Ctrl + X
Cut the selected text/object

Ctrl + V
Paste/insert the selected text/object

Ctrl + A
Select all text

Ctrl + B
Make the selected text bold

Ctrl + I
Make the selected text italic

Ctrl + U
Underline the selected text

Ctrl + N
Open a new document or window

Ctrl + S
Save the current document

Ctrl + O
Open another document

Ctrl + P
Print the current document

Ctrl + Z
Undo the last change you made

Ctrl + Shift + Z
Redo a change that you just undid

System shortcuts


Some of these shortcuts will restart important parts of your system. Only use them if you have to.
Ctrl + Alt + Delete
Restart the computer immediately, without saving open files

Ctrl + Alt + Plus (numeric keypad)
Rotate through supported screen resolutions

Ctrl + Alt + Minus (numeric keypad)
Rotate backwards through supported screen resolutions

Application-specific shortcuts
This section covers common keyboard shortcuts for some important applications which are installed by default in Ubuntu.

Firefox Web Browser

Ctrl + T
Open a new tab

Ctrl + Tab
Rotate through each tab

Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Rotate backwards through each tab

Ctrl + W
Close the current tab (or browser if on last tab)

Ctrl + L
Enter a new web address

Ctrl + B
Show a list of your bookmarks

Ctrl + H
Show your browsing history

Ctrl + K
Enter a new web search in the search bar

Ctrl + Y
Show a list of downloaded files

F11
Display the current page full-screen

Esc
Stop loading the current page

Ctrl + R
Reload the current page
These might not work for everyone, but can help with accessibility issues:
Alt Gr+Space Scrolls current tab/window down.
Alt Gr+Backspace Scrolls current tab/window up. You may find Alt Gr+Shift+Space works if Alt Gr+Backspace does not.
If you don't have Alt Gr, it might be labelled something else. It's usually to the right of the space bar.
See Mozilla Support for a full list of keyboard shortcuts in Firefox.

LibreOffice Writer

F7
Check the spelling of the current document

Ctrl + F
Find and replace words

Ctrl + Z
Undo the last change

Ctrl + Y
Redo a change which you just undid

Ctrl + L
Align the current paragraph/selection to the left

Ctrl + E
Align the current paragraph/selection to the center of the document

Ctrl + R
Align the current paragraph/selection to the right

Ctrl + Shift + J
Show the current document full-screen
Press Tools ▸ Customize… ▸ Keyboard to change keyboard shortcuts in LibreOffice.

Laptop Function Shortcuts


Many laptops have function (Fn) keys which you can hold down to access more functions on the laptop's keyboard. A list of these functions should be available from the manufacturer of the laptop.

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