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An Ubuntu Linux Keyboard Shortcut Reference Guide for your Dell PC

Summary: Shortcut keyboard reference guide for the Ubuntu Linux install.

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Symptoms


The following article provides information about the various keyboard shortcut commands common to Ubuntu Linux for use with your Dell PC.


Table of Contents:

  1. Keyboard Shortcut Reference Guide
  2. Shortcut Guides

 

Keyboard Shortcut Reference Guide

 

This is going to be used as a reference guide for keyboard shortcut commands. Those unique to the various utilities and those applications common to the Ubuntu Linux Operating Systems (OS).

The purpose of a shortcut guide is self-explanatory, in that it provides a quick way to use common commands. To save you having to go through a multistep process each time.

 
SLN151708_en_US__1icon Note: SUPER = The Windows logo or Apple command key on your keyboard.
 


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Shortcut Guides

 

 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
TAB Autocomplete text - Press TAB to have the system guess at completing the text already entered. Also does commands. Press twice to see the options if more than one is found.
CTRL+SHIFT+V Paste Similar to CTRL+V in other applications.
CTRL+SHIFT+T New Tab  
ALT+[number] Move to Tab [number].  
CTRL+D Close Tab Or the application if all the Tabs are closed.
CTRL+L Clear screen  
CTRL+K Delete the text before the cursor.  
CTRL+R+[text] Find command in History. for the next command>press CTRL+R again.
CTRL+A Move cursor to the beginning.  
CTRL+E Move the cursor to the end.  
CTRL+C Kill current task.  
CTRL+Z Move task to background. type 'fg'> to bring to foreground.
~ Home folder symbol. i.e. 'cd ~/Documents'
Up Cursor or CTRL+P Scrolls through the commands you have previously entered.  
Down Cursor or CTRL+N Takes you back to a more recent command.  
CTRL+A or HOME Moves the cursor to the start of a line.  
CTRL+E or END Moves the cursor to the end of a line.  
Esc+B Moves to the beginning of the previous or current word.  
CTRL+U Deletes from the start of the line to the current cursor position.  
CTRL+W Deletes the word behind the cursor.  
ALT+B Goes back one word at a time.  
ALT+F Moves forward one word at a time.  
ALT+C Capitalizes the letter where the cursor is and moves to the end of word.  
 
SLN151708_en_US__1icon Note: The mouse will not work. Use the Left and Right arrow keys to move around the line. When the cursor is where you want it in the line, typing inserts text - i.e. it does not overtype what is already there.
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
  Q   Quit  Lowercase q
  /   Search   Press N or SHIFT+N > next or previous search result.
 ALT+<    Begin  
  ALT+>   End  
  h   Help  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
Esc Shift to command mode. Vim has the following modes.
1. command Mode.
2. Insert Mode.
3. Visual Mode.
Y Yank copy line.  
U Undo line  
u Undo line  
yy  Yank current line.  
y[number] Yank [number] of lines.  
I Insert at the beginning of current line and enter insert mode.  
i Enter inset mode.  
P Paste before  
p Paste after  
D Delete to the end of the line.  
d[number] Delete [number] of lines.  
v Enter visual mode. Good for manipulating large amounts of text.
:w Save  
:new New file  
:e[filename] Open file [filename]  
:%s/x/y/g Replace x by y filewide.  
:h Help  
~ Toggle case  
:q! Quit without saving.  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
  q   Quit  
  u   Monitor [user] only.  
  # [number]   Set max. tasks displayed  
  >   Move down  
  <   Move up  
  m   Memory info  
  k [PID]   Kill [PID]   PID = Process ID.
  r [nice number]   Renice   none root: 0 to 19
 root:       -20 to 19
  h   Help  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
  CTRL+O  ENTER   Save   CTRL+O then ENTER.
  CTRL+C   Cancel  
  CTRL+X   Quit  
 

Useful Keyboard shortcuts to know when navigating the desktop and windows in Ubuntu.

 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+ALT+D Minimize all windows.  
CTRL+SUPER+Up Cursor Maximize window  
CTRL+SUPER+Down Cursor Unmaximize window  
CTRL+SUPER+Left Cursor Take 50% of the screen, on the left.  
CTRL+SUPER+Right Cursor Take 50% of the screen, on the right.  
CTRL+ALT+Cursor key Move to different workspace. down cursor > move to the bottom workspace.
CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+Cursor Move focused window to workspace.  
ALT+F4 Close window  
ALT+TAB Switch to the next window, by holding down ALT and tapping TAB to go through each window. scope - single workspace.
ALT+SHIFT+TAB Switch between windows, hold down ALT and SHIFT and tap TAB. scope - all workspaces.
ALT+` Switch to app instance scope - single workspace - ALT + [the key above TAB].
ALT+F2 or CTRL+ALT+T Run Terminal command.  
ALT+SPACE Open window menu another way to minimize or close a window.
ALT+PRTSCN Screenshot focused app  
SHIFT+PRTSCN Screenshot of area  
PRTSCN Screenshot whole desktop  
SUPER+S Workspace overview  
ALT+F1 Open the applications menu.  
ALT+F2 Run an application by typing its name in the box which appears.  
ALT+F4 Closes window  
ALT+F5 Returns window to normal or previous size.  
ALT+F7 Moves the current window. can be moved with mouse or keyboard.
ALT+F8 Resizes the current window. can be moved with mouse or keyboard.
ALT+F9 Minimizes the current window.  
ALT+F10 Maximizes the current window.  
ALT+SPACE Brings up the window menu. always on top, minimize and maximize are on that menu.
CRL+ALT+TAB Toggles between currently open windows. scope - across all workspaces.
SUPER+W Enable the scale effect. it shows all windows in current workspace.
SUPER+A Enables the scale effect. it shows all windows in all workspaces.
SUPER+N Invert colors for the current window.  
SUPER+M Invert colors for the whole screen.  
SUPER+Mouse scroll wheel Zooms in 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.
CTRL+C Copy the select text or object.  
CTRL+X Cut the selected text or object.  
CTRL+V Paste or insert the selected text or 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.  
CRL+Z Undo the last change that you made.  
CTRL+SHIFT+Z Redo a change that you just undid.  
CTRL+ALT+DEL Restart the computer immediately. without saving open files.
CTRL+ALT+'+' Rotate through supported screen resolutions. + on numeric pad.
CTRL+ALT+'-' Rotate backwards through supported screen resolutions. - on numeric pad.
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+T New tab  
CTRL+W Close tab or app if tabs are closed.
CTRL+1 Icon View  
CTRL+2 List View  
CTRL+3 Compact View  
CTRL+SHIFT+N New folder  
CTRL+L Go to location. view current path or connect to an SSH server.
CTRL+D Add bookmark bookmarks the folder that you are currently in.
CTRL+Q Close all nautilus windows. it closes all instances.
F2 Rename file or folder.  
F3 Split window  
ALT+[number] Tab [number]  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
SUPER Open Dash home lens press SUPER again to close Dash.
SUPER+A Application lens opens Dash if it is not already, can be used to immediately enter app lens.
SUPER+F File lens opens Dash if it is not already, can be used to immediately enter file lens.
SUPER + M Music lens opens Dash if it is not already, can be used to immediately enter music lens.
CTRL+TAB Switch to next lens  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
SUPER (long press) Display Unity shortcuts.  
SUPER+[number] Open starter on launcher position [number]  
SUPER+SHIFT+[number] Open new window of app at position [number]  
SUPER+TAB Switch app using the launcher  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
ALT (tap) Show HUD type to search app menu.
ALT+F10 Open traditional app menu  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+N New Document or Tab  
CTRL+W Close document  
CTRL+ALT+N New Tab group  
CTRL+SHIFT+W Close all  
CTRL+S Save  
CTRL+SHIFT+S Save as save a copy of the file with a new filename in a new location.
CTRL+SHIFT+L Save all  
CTRL+F Find text  
CTRL+H Find and replace text.  
CTRL+I Go to line. i not l.
CTRL+C Copy  
CTRL+X Cut  
CTRL+V Paste  
CTRL+Q Quit  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+N New window  
CTRL+L Focus URL bar type e.g. man:ls to see the ls man page.
ALT+Left Cursor Back  
ALT+Right Cursor Forward  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+T New Tab  
CTRL+W Close Tab  
CTRL+SHIFT+T Recover closed Tab.  
CTRL+TAB Next Tab  
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB Previous Tab  
CTRL+L Focus URL bar  
CTRL+K Focus Search bar  
CTRL+F Search Page Search bar is always visible.
CTRL+SHIFT+E Tab groups Organize task in Tab groups.
CTRL+SHIFT+Y Open download window  
CTRL+SHIFT+A Open add-on preferences  
CTRL+D Bookmark page  
CTRL+H History  
CTRL+R Reload current page.  
CTRL+B Show Bookmarks  
CTRL+Y List Downloads  
CTRL+Q Quit  
Esc Stop loading page.  
/ Quick Search If search bar not visible - CTRL+G>next.
F11 Full screen  
ALT+[1-8] Jump to Tab  
ALT+9 Jump to last Tab  
ALT+Left Cursor Back  
ALT+Right Cursor Forward  
ALT Gr+SPACE Scroll current Tab down.  
ALT Gr+BACKSPACE or ALT Gr+SHIFT+SPACE Scrolls current TAB up  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+N New Mail  
CTRL+ENTER Send Mail  
CTRL+S Save Draft  
CTRL+L Create Link  
CTRL+Q Quit  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+E Open torrent folder  
CTRL+P Pause  
CTRL+N New  
CTRL+U Open URL  
ALT+C Toggle View Normal or compact.
ALT+ENTER Torrent properties  
DELETE Remove  
CTRL+Q Quit  
SHIFT+DELETE Delete file and Remove.  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+F Find Account  
CTRL+Q Quit  
F3 History  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+N New  
CTRL+O Connect  
CTRL+E Edit  
CTRL+D Delete  
CTRL+X Quit  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+H Toggle video controls  
CTRL+S Take screenshot  
CTRL+Q Quit  
SPACE Pause  
F11 Full Screen  
F9 Toggle sidebar  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+SPACE Toggle play  
CTRL+F Search  
CTRL+J Jump to playing song  
CTRL+U Shuffle  
CTRL+R Repeat  
CTRL+D Small Mode  
CTRL+Up Cursor Increase Volume  
CTRL+Down Cursor Decrease Volume  
CTRL+Q Quit  
ALT+Cursor left Last song  
ALT+ENTER Edit song metadata.  
F11 Party mode or Fullscreen  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+I Import photos from folder.  
CTRL+N Create new event. Events act as folders for your photo content.
CTRL+F Find  
CTRL+E Enhance Automatically balance color and contrast.
CTRL+T Add Tag(s)  
CTRL+M Modify Tag(s)  
CTRL+SHIFT+P Publish photo(s) Upload your photo(s) to Facebook or other online sources.
CTRL+Q Quit  
F2 Rename photo  
F5 Start Slideshow  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+S Save current document.  
CTRL+SHIFT+S Save current document as. create a copy of the file with a new filename and save location.
CTRL+O Open existing document  
CTRL+N Create new document.  
CTRL+I Italicize text  
CTRL+B Bold text  
CTRL+U Underline text  
CTRL+ALT+C Add comment  
CTRL+P Print  
CTRL+SHIFT+V Paste text unformatted. useful when inserting preformatted content such as from web data.
CTRL+F Find  
CTRL+H Find and replace text.  
CTRL+Q Quit  
F7 Check spelling  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+S Save current spreadsheet.  
CTRL+SHIFT+S Save current spreadsheet as. create a copy of the file with a new filename and save location.
CTRL+O Open existing spreadsheet  
CTRL+F2 Insert function  
CTRL++ Insert cells  
CTRL+1 Format cells  
CTRL+M Clear formatting  
CTRL+I Italicize text  
CTRL+B Bold text  
CTRL+U Underline text  
CTRL+ALT+C Add comment  
CTRL+P Print  
CTRL+SHIFT+V Paste text unformatted. useful when inserting preformatted content such as web data.
CTRL+F Find text  
CTRL+H Find and replace text.  
CTRL+Q Quit  
CTRL+N Create new spreadsheet.  
F11 Modify styles and formatting.  
F7 Check spelling  
F9 Recalculate cell contents.  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+S Save current presentation.  
CTRL+SHIFT+S Save current presentation as. create a copy of the file with a new filename and save location.
CTRL+O Open existing presentation  
CTRL+N Create new presentation.  
CTRL+I Italicize text  
CTRL+B Bold text  
CTRL+U Underline text  
CTRL+P Print  
CTRL+SHIFT+V Paste unformatted useful when inserting preformatted content, such as web data.
CTRL+F Find text  
CTRL+H Find and replace text.  
CTRL+Q Quit  
F5 Start slideshow  
F7 Check spelling  
 
Shortcut Effect Additional Info
CTRL+S Save  
CTRL+SHIFT+S Save as Create a copy of the file with a new filename and save location.
CTRL+SHIFT+G Group  
CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+G Ungroup  
CTRL+SHIFT+K Combine  
CTRL+Q Quit  
F2 Switch to Text Mod.  
+ Zoom in  
- Zoom out  
 


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Additional Information:

 

SLN151708_en_US__1icon Note:
Software support is by Canonical through the following methods:
Technical Support is provided by Dell:


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Article Properties


Affected Product

Desktops & All-in-Ones, Laptops, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Fixed Workstations

Last Published Date

21 Feb 2021

Version

3

Article Type

Solution