Shortcut keys help provide an easier and usually quicker method of navigating and using computer software programs. You can open, close, and navigate the Start menu, desktop, menus, dialog boxes, and Web pages using keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts may also make it easier for you to interact with your computer. Shortcut keys are commonly accessed by using special keys(Alt, Ctrl, Shift) in conjunction with another keys (X, Y, Z). Below is a list of some of the most commonly used basic shortcut keys in Ubuntu.
General Ubuntu keyboard shortcuts
To display the keyboard list type: alt–~
Desktop shortcuts
Alt + F1 | Open the Applicationsmenu |
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 |
Desktop Effects enabled shortcuts
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 |
System shortcuts
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 |