Ubuntu

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) 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

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 + 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 + M	Invert colours of the focused window.
Super + N	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 + Alt + 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.

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

A list of low-level keyboard shortcuts is available on Wikipedia.

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.

OpenOffice.org 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 OpenOffice.

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.