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.
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Instructions
Table of Contents:
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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 |
Additional Information
Note:
Software support is by Canonical through the following methods:
Dell provides Technical Support:
Software support is by Canonical through the following methods:
Dell provides Technical Support:
Affected Products
Alienware, Inspiron, Legacy Desktop Models, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, G Series, G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Legacy Laptop Models, Fixed WorkstationsArticle Properties
Article Number: 000131678
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 21 Aug 2024
Version: 8
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