What are the most important Ubuntu 24.04 keyboard shortcuts?

Essential Ubuntu shortcuts include Ctrl+Alt+T (open Terminal), Super key (open Activities/search), Alt+F4 (close window), Ctrl+Alt+L (lock screen), PrtScr (screenshot), and Super+D (show desktop).

How do I open a terminal in Ubuntu?

Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a new Terminal window instantly. You can also press the Super key to open the Activities search and type 'terminal'. Right-clicking the desktop may also offer 'Open in Terminal' depending on your configuration.

How do I switch between workspaces in Ubuntu?

Use Super+Page Up or Super+Page Down to switch between workspaces. Press Super+Shift+Page Up/Down to move the current window to another workspace. Use the Activities overview (Super key) to see and navigate all workspaces visually.

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Ubuntu Keyboard Shortcuts - Desktop & Terminal Cheat Sheet (2026)

Ubuntu Linux keyboard shortcuts for GNOME, Terminal, workspaces, screenshots, and window management.

147 shortcuts across 11 categories

Ubuntu Linux keyboard shortcuts for GNOME, Terminal, workspaces, screenshots, and window management.

Official documentation

Official source: GNOME Help — Useful keyboard shortcuts

Editing

Action	Shortcut	Description
Cut	`Ctrl` + `X`	Cut the selected item to the clipboard GNOME Help — Useful keyboard shortcuts
Copy	`Ctrl` + `C`	Copy the selected item to the clipboard GNOME Help — Useful keyboard shortcuts
Paste	`Ctrl` + `V`	Paste the clipboard contents at the cursor GNOME Help — Useful keyboard shortcuts
Undo	`Ctrl` + `Z`	Undo the last action GNOME Help — Useful keyboard shortcuts
Redo	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Z`	Redo the previously undone action
Select All	`Ctrl` + `A`	Select all items or text in the current context GNOME Help — Useful keyboard shortcuts
Delete	`Delete`	Delete the selected item or character after cursor
Delete Word Left	`Ctrl` + `Backspace`	Delete the word to the left of the cursor
Bold	`Ctrl` + `B`	Toggle bold formatting in text editors
Italic	`Ctrl` + `I`	Toggle italic formatting in text editors
Underline	`Ctrl` + `U`	Toggle underline formatting in text editors
Copy (Terminal)	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `C`	Copy selected text in the terminal
Paste (Terminal)	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `V`	Paste text in the terminal

File Management

Action	Shortcut	Description
Save	`Ctrl` + `S`	Save the current file or document
Save As	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `S`	Save with a new name or location
Open File	`Ctrl` + `O`	Open an existing file
New Window	`Ctrl` + `N`	Open a new window or document
Close Window	`Ctrl` + `W`	Close the current window or tab
Quit	`Ctrl` + `Q`	Quit the active application
Print	`Ctrl` + `P`	Print the current document
Move to Trash	`Delete`	Move selected file(s) to Trash in Files app
Permanently Delete	`Shift` + `Delete`	Permanently delete files without moving to Trash
Rename (Files app)	`F2`	Rename the selected file or folder
New Folder	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `N`	Create a new folder in the Files app
Open Properties	`Alt` + `Enter`	Open the Properties panel for the selected item
Show Hidden Files	`Ctrl` + `H`	Toggle visibility of hidden files in Files app

Navigation

Action	Shortcut	Description
Find / Search	`Ctrl` + `F`	Open the search bar in the current application
Activities Overview	`Super`	Open the GNOME Activities overview to search apps, files, and windows
App Search	`Super`	Type immediately after pressing Super to search for applications
Switch Apps	`Alt` + `Tab`	Cycle through running applications
Switch Windows (same app)	`Alt` + `	Cycle through windows of the same application
Switch Tabs	`Ctrl` + `Tab`	Switch between tabs in the current app
Go Back	`Alt` + `Left`	Navigate back in Files or browser
Go Forward	`Alt` + `Right`	Navigate forward in Files or browser
Switch Workspace Left	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Left`	Move to the workspace on the left
Switch Workspace Right	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Right`	Move to the workspace on the right
Move Window to Workspace Left	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `Left`	Move the active window to the workspace on the left
Move Window to Workspace Right	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `Right`	Move the active window to the workspace on the right
Show all Windows (Overview)	`Super` + `W`	Show all open windows in the current workspace

System & Display

Action	Shortcut	Description
Screenshot (Full Screen)	`PrtSc`	Open the GNOME screenshot tool with full screen selected
Screenshot (Selection)	`Shift` + `PrtSc`	Drag to capture a selected region
Screenshot (Window)	`Alt` + `PrtSc`	Capture the active window
Screenshot Tool	`Shift` + `Ctrl` + `Alt` + `R`	Start screen recording (GNOME Screencast)
Lock Screen	`Super` + `L`	Lock the screen immediately
Log Out	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Delete`	Open the power/logout dialog
Open Terminal	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `T`	Open a new terminal window
Minimize Window	`Super` + `H`	Minimize the active window
Maximize Window	`Super` + `Up`	Maximize the active window
Restore Window	`Super` + `Down`	Restore the window to its previous size
Snap Left	`Super` + `Left`	Snap the active window to the left half
Snap Right	`Super` + `Right`	Snap the active window to the right half
Close Window	`Alt` + `F4`	Close the active window
Force Quit (xkill)	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Esc`	Enable cursor to click and kill a frozen window
Run Application	`Alt` + `F2`	Open a run dialog to launch an application by name
Settings	`Super`	Search for 'Settings' after pressing Super to open system settings

Text Cursor & Selection

Action	Shortcut	Description
Move Word Left	`Ctrl` + `Left`	Move the cursor one word to the left
Move Word Right	`Ctrl` + `Right`	Move the cursor one word to the right
Move to Line Start	`Home`	Move the cursor to the beginning of the current line
Move to Line End	`End`	Move the cursor to the end of the current line
Move to Document Start	`Ctrl` + `Home`	Move the cursor to the very beginning of the document
Move to Document End	`Ctrl` + `End`	Move the cursor to the very end of the document
Select Word Left	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Left`	Extend selection one word to the left
Select Word Right	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Right`	Extend selection one word to the right
Select to Line Start	`Shift` + `Home`	Extend selection to the beginning of the line
Select to Line End	`Shift` + `End`	Extend selection to the end of the line
Select All Up	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Home`	Extend selection to the top of the document
Select All Down	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `End`	Extend selection to the bottom of the document

Terminal (GNOME)

Action	Shortcut	Description
New Terminal Tab	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `T`	Open a new tab in GNOME Terminal
New Terminal Window	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `N`	Open a new GNOME Terminal window
Close Tab	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `W`	Close the current terminal tab
Clear Screen	`Ctrl` + `L`	Clear the terminal output
Previous Command	`Up`	Recall the previous command from history
Search History	`Ctrl` + `R`	Reverse-search through command history (type to filter)
Interrupt / Cancel	`Ctrl` + `C`	Stop the currently running command
End of File / Exit	`Ctrl` + `D`	Send EOF — exits the shell or closes the tab
Autocomplete	`Tab`	Autocomplete commands, paths, and filenames
Move to Start of Line	`Ctrl` + `A`	Move cursor to the beginning of the command line
Move to End of Line	`Ctrl` + `E`	Move cursor to the end of the command line
Delete to Start of Line	`Ctrl` + `U`	Delete everything from cursor back to line start
Delete to End of Line	`Ctrl` + `K`	Delete everything from cursor to end of line
Delete Word Left	`Ctrl` + `W`	Delete the word to the left of the cursor
Zoom In (Terminal)	`Ctrl` + `+`	Increase terminal font size
Zoom Out (Terminal)	`Ctrl` + `-`	Decrease terminal font size

GNOME Panel & Workspaces

Action	Shortcut	Description
Open App Menu (App)	`Super` + `F10`	Open the application menu (top bar) of the focused app
Focus Top Bar	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Tab`	Cycle focus between GNOME top bar, dock, and windows
New Workspace Above	`Shift` + `Super` + `Page Up`	Move window to a new workspace above
New Workspace Below	`Shift` + `Super` + `Page Down`	Move window to a new workspace below
Switch Workspace Up	`Super` + `Page Up`	Switch to workspace above
Switch Workspace Down	`Super` + `Page Down`	Switch to workspace below
Show Notifications	`Super` + `V`	Open the notification list / message tray
Focus Search Bar	`Ctrl` + `F`	Focus the search in the Files app or current window
Open Settings	`Super` then Type 'Settings'	Open GNOME Settings via the Activities search
Quick Settings Panel	`Super` + `S`	Open the quick settings dropdown from the top bar

Accessibility

Action	Shortcut	Description
Zoom In	`Super` + `Alt` + `+`	Zoom in (requires Magnifier enabled in Accessibility settings)
Zoom Out	`Super` + `Alt` + `-`	Zoom out with the Magnifier
Toggle High Contrast	`Super (search 'High Contrast')`	Search for High Contrast in Settings > Accessibility
Toggle Screen Reader	`Alt` + `Super` + `S`	Toggle the Orca screen reader on or off
Toggle Zoom	`Alt` + `Super` + `8`	Enable or disable GNOME's screen magnifier
Move Zoom Focus Left	`Alt` + `Super` + `Left`	Move the zoom focus to the left
Move Zoom Focus Right	`Alt` + `Super` + `Right`	Move the zoom focus to the right
Move Zoom Focus Up	`Alt` + `Super` + `Up`	Move the zoom focus upward
Move Zoom Focus Down	`Alt` + `Super` + `Down`	Move the zoom focus downward
On-Screen Keyboard	`Super (search 'On-Screen Keyboard')`	Enable On-Screen Keyboard in Settings > Accessibility

Browser Controls

Action	Shortcut	Description
New Tab	`Ctrl` + `T`	Open a new tab in Firefox or Chrome
Close Tab	`Ctrl` + `W`	Close the current browser tab
Reopen Closed Tab	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `T`	Reopen the most recently closed tab
New Window	`Ctrl` + `N`	Open a new browser window
New Private/Incognito Window	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `P`	Open a Firefox Private Window (Ctrl+Shift+N for Chrome)
Focus Address Bar	`Ctrl` + `L`	Select the address bar to type a URL or search
Find on Page	`Ctrl` + `F`	Open the in-page search bar
Go Back	`Alt` + `Left`	Navigate to the previous page in history
Go Forward	`Alt` + `Right`	Navigate to the next page in history
Reload Page	`F5`	Reload the current page
Hard Reload (bypass cache)	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `R`	Reload the page bypassing the cache
Bookmark This Page	`Ctrl` + `D`	Add the current page to your bookmarks
Open Bookmark Manager	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `O`	Open the bookmarks manager
Open History	`Ctrl` + `H`	View your browsing history
Open Downloads	`Ctrl` + `J`	View your downloads
Jump to Tab (1–8)	`Ctrl` + `1-8`	Switch directly to the tab at that position
Jump to Last Tab	`Ctrl` + `9`	Switch to the rightmost open tab
Zoom In	`Ctrl` + `+`	Increase the page zoom level
Zoom Out	`Ctrl` + `-`	Decrease the page zoom level
Reset Zoom	`Ctrl` + `0`	Reset page zoom to 100%
Developer Tools	`F12`	Open browser Developer Tools
Reader Mode (Firefox)	`F9`	Toggle Firefox Reader View for a distraction-free article view

Files App (Nautilus)

Action	Shortcut	Description
Open New Window	`Ctrl` + `N`	Open a new Nautilus (Files) window
Open New Tab	`Ctrl` + `T`	Open a new tab in the Nautilus Files app
Close Tab	`Ctrl` + `W`	Close the current Nautilus tab
Go Home	`Alt` + `Home`	Navigate to your Home folder
Go to Parent Folder	`Alt` + `Up`	Navigate up one directory level
Go Back	`Alt` + `Left`	Navigate to the previous folder in history
Go Forward	`Alt` + `Right`	Navigate forward in folder history
Open Location / Path Bar	`Ctrl` + `L`	Open the path entry bar to type a folder path directly
Search	`Ctrl` + `F`	Open the search bar in Nautilus
Rename	`F2`	Rename the selected file or folder
New Folder	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `N`	Create a new folder in the current directory
Show Hidden Files	`Ctrl` + `H`	Toggle visibility of hidden files and folders (those starting with a dot)
Select All	`Ctrl` + `A`	Select all files in the current folder GNOME Help — Useful keyboard shortcuts
Properties	`Alt` + `Return`	Open the Properties dialog for the selected file or folder
Move to Trash	`Delete`	Move the selected item(s) to Trash
Permanently Delete	`Shift` + `Delete`	Permanently delete the selected item(s) without going to Trash
Switch to Icon View	`Ctrl` + `1`	Switch to icon grid view
Switch to List View	`Ctrl` + `2`	Switch to detailed list view
Zoom In	`Ctrl` + `+`	Increase icon size in the file browser
Zoom Out	`Ctrl` + `-`	Decrease icon size in the file browser

Printing

Action	Shortcut	Description
Print	`Ctrl` + `P`	Open the print dialog in the current application
Save Screenshot	`PrtSc`	Screenshots are saved to ~/Pictures by default; path can be changed in Settings

Ubuntu Linux Tips & Tricks

GNOME Activities = Spotlight: Press the Super key (Windows/Command key) to open GNOME Activities, then start typing to search apps, files, and settings. It's the fastest way to launch anything.
Workspaces (Virtual Desktops): Ubuntu creates dynamic workspaces automatically. Use Ctrl + Alt + Arrow keys to switch between them. Drag windows to the top of Activities view to move them to a new workspace.
Terminal Shortcuts: In the GNOME Terminal: Ctrl+Shift+T opens a new tab, Ctrl+Shift+C copies, Ctrl+Shift+V pastes, Ctrl+D closes the current tab. Tab auto-completes commands and file paths.
apt and snap Package Managers: Use 'sudo apt install <package>' to install software from the Ubuntu repositories. Use 'snap install <package>' for Snap packages, which are sandboxed and auto-updating.
Night Light: Enable Night Light in Settings > Displays > Night Light to reduce blue light emission in the evenings, which can improve sleep quality if you work late.
Keyboard Shortcut Customization: You can customize or add any keyboard shortcut in Settings > Keyboard > View and Customize Shortcuts. This includes custom shortcuts to launch specific applications or scripts.
SSH and Remote Desktop: Ubuntu includes built-in SSH server support. Enable it with 'sudo systemctl enable --now ssh'. Use 'ssh user@host' from another machine to connect remotely without installing additional software.

Frequently Asked Questions — Ubuntu Linux

What are the most important Ubuntu 24.04 keyboard shortcuts?: Essential Ubuntu shortcuts include Ctrl+Alt+T (open Terminal), Super key (open Activities/search), Alt+F4 (close window), Ctrl+Alt+L (lock screen), PrtScr (screenshot), and Super+D (show desktop).
How do I open a terminal in Ubuntu?: Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a new Terminal window instantly. You can also press the Super key to open the Activities search and type 'terminal'. Right-clicking the desktop may also offer 'Open in Terminal' depending on your configuration.
How do I switch between workspaces in Ubuntu?: Use Super+Page Up or Super+Page Down to switch between workspaces. Press Super+Shift+Page Up/Down to move the current window to another workspace. Use the Activities overview (Super key) to see and navigate all workspaces visually.

How to Learn Ubuntu Linux Keyboard Shortcuts

Ubuntu's most important shortcut to learn first is Ctrl+Alt+T, which opens a new terminal window from anywhere on the desktop. For developers and system administrators, the terminal is the heart of the workflow, and having it one key combo away removes the single biggest interruption to command-line work. After that, Super (the Windows key on most keyboards) opens the Activities overview, where you can type to launch apps, search files, and switch between open applications — it's Ubuntu's equivalent of Spotlight on macOS. These two shortcuts alone cover the vast majority of common navigation tasks.

Ubuntu's workspace system is one of its most powerful features and most underused. Ctrl+Alt+Left/Right moves between workspaces, and Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Left/Right moves the current window to another workspace. Using two or three workspaces — one for the browser, one for the terminal, one for a text editor — eliminates the clutter of Alt+Tab cycling through a dozen windows. For window management, Super+Up maximizes the current window, Super+Down restores it, and Super+Left/Right snaps it to the left or right half of the screen. Combined with workspace switching, these shortcuts provide a complete keyboard-driven window management system without any additional software.