100 Keyboard Shortcuts to Use Linux Like a Pro

Linux veterans understand that the keyboard is mightier than the mouse because there are many actions that take multiple mouse clicks but can be accomplished with a single keyboard shortcut. Learning at least a handful of keyboard shortcuts can make you significantly more productive as a Linux user and earn you serious bragging rights in the Linux community.

Note: The Windows log key that sits between CTRL and ALT on most PC keyboards is referred to as the Super key in this article.

General Linux Shortcuts

Ctrl + C	Copy any highlighted text, image, or some other object to the clipboard.
Ctrl + V	Paste copied text, image, or some other object from the clipboard.
Ctrl + X	Cut highlighted text, image, or some other object.
Ctrl + S	Save the currently opened file.
Ctrl + N	Create a new file.
Ctrl + Z	Undo the last action.
Ctrl + Q	Quit the application in focus.
Ctrl + Alt + F1 to F6	Switch to a virtual console.
Ctrl + Alt + F7	Switch to the first graphical terminal.

GNOME Keyboard Shortcuts

Super	Enter the Activities Overview.
Alt + Tab	Cycle between running applications.
Alt + Shift + Tab	Cycle between running applications in the opposite direction.
Alt + ' (grave accent)	Cycle between windows of the same application in Alt + Tab.
Alt + F1	Open the Applications menu.
Alt + F2	Open a floating command prompt.
PrtSc	Take a screenshot of the entire screen.
Alt + PrtSc	Take a screenshot of the window in focus.
Ctrl + Alt + Arrow keys	Switch between workspaces.
Ctrl + Alt + D	Minimize all windows to show desktop.

KDE Keyboard Shortcuts

Super	Open the Application Launcher.
Alt + Space	Bing up the Command Interface.
Ctrl + Esc	Open the System Activity utility.
Super + Alt + Arrow keys	Switch between windows.
Ctrl + F1 to F4	Switch between virtual desktops.
Super + Tab	Cycle between running applications.
Super + Shift + Tab	Cycle between running applications in the opposite direction.
Ctrl + Alt + L	Lock the current session.
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Del	Instantly log out without confirmation.
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Page Up	Instantly reboot without confirmation.

Xfce Keyboard Shortcuts

Super + P	Open Xfce display settings.
Alt + F2	Open a command prompt.
Ctrl + Alt + Arrow keys	Move between virtual desktops.
Alt + Tab	Cycle between running applications.
Alt + Shift + Tab	Cycle between running applications in the opposite direction.
Alt + F4	Close the window in focus.
Alt + F10	Maximize the window in focus.
Ctrl + Alt + D	Minimize all windows to show desktop.
Ctrl + Alt + Del	Lock the current session.
Ctrl + Esc	Display context menu.

LXDE Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl + Alt + T	Launch Terminal.
Shift + Alt + Arrow keys	Move the window in focus between virtual desktops.
Ctrl + Alt + Arrow keys	Move between virtual desktops.
Alt + Tab	Cycle between running applications.
Alt + Shift + Tab	Cycle between running applications in the opposite direction.
Alt + F4	Close the window in focus.
Alt + Esc	Hide the window in focus.
Super + D	Minimize all windows to show desktop.
Super + E	Launch the default file browser.
F11	Toggle Fullscreen.

Cinnamon Keyboard Shortcuts (Linux Mint)

Ctrl + Alt + Down	Show all currently running applications on the selected workspace.
Ctrl + Alt + Up	Show running applications across all workspaces.
Alt + Tab	Cycle between running applications.
Shift + Alt + Tab.	Cycle between running applications in the opposite direction.
Alt + F2	Open a command prompt.
Alt + F4	Close the window in focus.
Super + L	Open the Cinnamon Debugger.
Super + D	Minimize all windows to show desktop.
Ctrl + Super + Arrow keys	Span the window in focus to a border.
Shift + Ctrl + Alt + Left or Right Arrow	Move the window in focus to the workspace on the left or right.

Bash Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl + A	Go to the beginning of the selected line.
Ctrl + E	Go to the end of the selected line.
Ctrl + K	Cut the part of the selected line after the cursor and copy it to the clipboard.
Arrow Up	Previously used command.
Alt + B	Move the cursor back one word.
Alt + F	Move the cursor forward one word.
Ctrl + L	Clean the current screen.
Ctrl + J	Enter the Newline control character.
Ctrl + R	Search in your Bash history.
Ctrl + G	Exit the history searching mode.

Ubuntu Keyboard Shortcuts

Super	Open Activities.
Alt + F2	Open a command prompt.
Alt + Tab	Cycle between running applications.
Super + Arrow keys	Snap the window in focus to a border.
PrtSc	Take a screenshot of the entire screen.
Alt + PrtSc	Take a screenshot of the window in focus.
Shift + PrtSc	Take a screenshot of a selected area on the screen.
Ctrl + Alt + T	Launch Terminal.
Super + L	Lock the current session.
Super + D	Minimize all windows to show desktop.

Firefox Keyboard Shortcuts

Backspace	Go back.
F5 or Ctrl + R	Reload the current page.
Ctrl + P	Print the current page.
Ctrl + S	Save the current page.
Ctrl + F	Find text on the current page.
Ctrl + K	Bring the search bar into focus.
Ctrl + W	Close the current tab.
Ctrl + N	Open a new tab.
Ctrl + Shift + P	Open a new private window.
Ctrl + Shift + Q	Exit Firefox.

ChromeOS Keyboard Shortcuts (Chromebook)

Ctrl + Shift + L	Lock the current session.
Ctrl + Shift + Q	Log out from the current session.
Alt + 1 to 8	Launch an application from the taskbar.
Alt + [ or ]	Dock the window in focus to the left or right side of the screen.
Ctrl + F5	Take a screenshot of the entire screen.
Ctrl + Shift + F5	Take a screenshot of a selected area on the screen.
Shift + Alt + M	Open the Files app.
Shift + Alt + N	Display notifications.
Ctrl + Alt +	Display all keyboard shortcuts.
Shift + Esc	Open the Task Manager.