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An Ubuntu Linux Keyboard Shortcut Reference Guide for your Dell Computer

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

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Instructions

Table of Contents:

  1. Keyboard Shortcut Reference Guide
  2. Shortcut Guides

Keyboard Shortcut Reference Guide

 

This is for use as a reference guide for keyboard shortcut commands. Those that are unique to the various utilities and those applications common to the Ubuntu Linux Operating System.

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.

Note: SUPER: This is the same key as the Windows logo or Apple command key on your keyboard.
 

Shortcut Guides

 

 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
TAB Autocomplete text - Press TAB to have the computer guess at completing the text already entered. It also does commands. Press twice to see the options if multiple are found
CTRL + SHIFT + V Paste Similar to CTRL + V in other applications
CTRL + SHIFT + T New browser tab  
ALT + [number] Move to browser tab [number]  
CTRL + D Close browser tab Or the application if all the browser tabs are closed
CTRL + L Clear screen  
CTRL + K Delete the text before the on-screen Cursor  
CTRL + R + [text] Find command in History For the next command, press the CTRL + R keys again
CTRL + A Move the on-screen Cursor to the beginning  
CTRL + E Move the on-screen Cursor to the End of the document or text  
CTRL + C Kill the current task  
CTRL + Z Move task to background Type fg to bring to the foreground
~ HOME folder symbol For example: 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 on-screen Cursor to the start of a line  
CTRL + E or END Moves the on-screen Cursor to the End of a line  
ESC + B Move to the beginning of the previous or current word  
CTRL + U Deletes from the start of the line to the current on-screen Cursors position  
CTRL + W Deletes the word behind the on-screen 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 on-screen Cursor is and moves to the End of the word  
 
Note: The mouse does not work. Use the Left arrow and Right arrow key to move around the line. When the on-screen cursor is where you want it in the line, typing inserts text. For example: It does not overtype what is already there.
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
Q   Quit  Lowercase q
/   Search   Press N or SHIFT + N next or previous search result.
ALT + <   Begin  
ALT + >   End  
h   Help  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
ESC Shift to command mode. Vim has the following modes:
1. Command Mode
2. Insert Mode
3. Visual Mode
Y Yank the copy line.  
U Undo line  
u Undo line  
yy  Yank the current line.  
y[number] Yank [number] of lines.  
I Insert at the beginning of the 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 the [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 Extra Info
  q   Quit  
  u   Monitor [user] only.  
  # [number]   Set max. tasks displayed  
  >   Move down  
  <   Move up  
  m   Memory info  
  k [PID]   Kill [PID]   Process Identification (PID)
  r [nice number]   Renice   None root: 0 to 19
  Root: -20 to 19
  h   Help  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra 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 Extra Info
CTRL + ALT + D Minimize all windows.  
CTRL + SUPER + Up Cursor Maximize window  
CTRL + SUPER + Down Cursor Un-Maximize 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 Move to a different workspace. Down Cursor > move to the bottom workspace
CTRL + SHIFT + ALT + Cursor Move focused window to workspace.  
ALT + F4 Close the 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 the area  
PRTSCN Screenshot the 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 a mouse or keyboard
ALT + F8 Resizes the current window Can be moved with a 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
CTRL + ALT + TAB Toggles between open windows Scope - across all workspaces
SUPER + W Enable the scale effect It shows all windows in the 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  
CTRL + Z Undo the last change that you made  
CTRL + SHIFT + Z Redo a change that you 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 Extra Info
CTRL + T New TAB  
CTRL + W Close browser tab Alternatively, apps 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 the location. View the current path or connect to an SSH server
CTRL + D Add a bookmark Bookmarks the folder that you are in
CTRL + Q Close all nautilus windows. It closes all instances
F2 Rename a file or folder.  
F3 Split window  
ALT + [number] TAB [number]  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra 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 the app lens
SUPER + F File lens Opens Dash if it is not already, can be used to immediately enter the file lens
SUPER + M Music lens Opens Dash if it is not already, can be used to immediately enter the music lens
CTRL + TAB Switch to the next lens  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra 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 the app using the launcher  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
ALT (tap) Show HUD Type to search app menu
ALT + F10 Open the traditional app menu  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + N New Document or browser tab  
CTRL + W Close document  
CTRL + ALT + N New browser 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 the text  
CTRL + I Go to line. I not L
CTRL + C Copy  
CTRL + X Cut  
CTRL + V Paste  
CTRL + Q Quit  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + N New window  
CTRL + L Focus URL bar Type for example: man:ls to see the ls man page
ALT + Left Cursor Back  
ALT + Right Cursor Forward  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + T New browser tab  
CTRL + W Close browser tab  
CTRL + SHIFT + T Recover closed browser tab.  
CTRL + TAB Next browser tab  
CTRL + SHIFT + TAB Previous browser tab  
CTRL + L Focus URL bar  
CTRL + K Focus Search bar  
CTRL + F Search Page Search bar is always visible
CTRL + SHIFT + E Browser tab groups Organize task in browser 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 the current page.  
CTRL + B Show Bookmarks  
CTRL + Y List Downloads  
CTRL + Q Quit  
ESC Stop loading the page.  
/ Quick Search If a search bar is not visible: CTRL + G > next
F11 Full screen  
ALT + [1-8] Go to browser tab [number]  
ALT + 9 Go to the last browser tab  
ALT + Left Cursor Back  
ALT + Right Cursor Forward  
ALT Gr + SPACE Scroll the current browser tab down.  
ALT Gr + backspace or ALT Gr + SHIFT + SPACE Scrolls current browser tab up  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + N New Mail  
CTRL + ENTER Send Mail  
CTRL + S Save Draft  
CTRL + L Create Link  
CTRL + Q Quit  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + E Open torrent folder  
CTRL + P Pause  
CTRL + N New  
CTRL + U Open URL  
ALT + C Switch View Normal or compact
ALT + ENTER Torrent properties  
DEL Remove  
CTRL + Q Quit  
SHIFT + DEL DEL file and Remove.  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + F Find Account  
CTRL + Q Quit  
F3 History  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + N New  
CTRL + O Connect  
CTRL + E Edit  
CTRL + D Delete  
CTRL + X Quit  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + H Switch video controls  
CTRL + S Take a screenshot  
CTRL + Q Quit  
SPACE Pause  
F11 Full Screen  
F9 Toggle sidebar  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + SPACE Switch play  
CTRL + F Search  
CTRL + J Play a 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 + Left Cursor Last song  
ALT + ENTER Edit song metadata.  
F11 Party mode or Fullscreen  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + I Import photos from the folder  
CTRL + N Create a new event Events act as folders for your photo content
CTRL + F Find  
CTRL + E Enhance Automatically balance color and contrast
CTRL + T Add one or more Tags  
CTRLM Modify one or more Tags  
CTRL + SHIFT + P Publish one or more photos Upload your photos to Facebook or other online source
CTRL + Q Quit  
F2 Rename photo  
F5 Start Slideshow  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + S Save the current document.  
CTRL + SHIFT + S Save the current document as. Create a copy of the file with a new filename and save the location
CTRL + O Open existing document  
CTRL + N Create a 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 the text.  
CTRL + Q Quit  
F7 Check spelling  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + S Save the current spreadsheet.  
CTRL + SHIFT + S Save the current spreadsheet as. Create a copy of the file with a new filename and save the location
CTRL + O Open an 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 the text.  
CTRL + Q Quit  
CTRL + N Create a new spreadsheet.  
F11 Modify styles and formatting.  
F7 Check spelling  
F9 Recalculate cell contents.  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + S Save the current presentation.  
CTRL + SHIFT + S Save the current presentation as. Create a copy of the file with a new filename and save the location
CTRL + O Open existing presentation  
CTRL + N Create a 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 the text.  
CTRL + Q Quit  
F5 Start slideshow  
F7 Check spelling  
 
Shortcut Effect Extra Info
CTRL + S Save  
CTRL + SHIFT + S Save as Create a copy of the file with a new filename and save the 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

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


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Affected Products

Alienware, Inspiron, Legacy Desktop Models, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, G Series, G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Legacy Laptop Models, Fixed Workstations
Article Properties
Article Number: 000131678
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 21 Aug 2024
Version:  8
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