Boost Your Ubuntu Productivity with 12 Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts greatly improve efficiency by reducing mouse usage. This guide introduces Ubuntu’s most useful shortcuts, explaining how to invoke the Super key, launch the terminal, lock the screen, show the desktop, open the applications menu, switch windows, manage workspaces, run commands, log out, close windows, and create custom shortcuts.

1) Use the Super (Windows) key

The Super key (called the Super Key in Unix) opens the search box, allowing you to type an application name and launch it, or use arrow keys to navigate the results. Pressing Super also shows an overview of all running applications.

2) Launch the terminal with a shortcut

Press CTRL + ALT + T to open a terminal window instantly, providing the fastest way to start a terminal session.

3) Lock the screen

Lock the screen quickly by pressing Super + L or CTRL + ALT + L , which is faster than navigating to the lock option in the UI.

4) Show the desktop

Minimize all windows and reveal the desktop by pressing Super + D or CTRL + ALT + D .

5) Open the applications menu

On Ubuntu 18.04 with GNOME, press Super + A to display the applications overview, which is quicker than clicking the grid button in the corner.

6) Switch between running applications

Use Super + Tab or Alt + Tab to cycle through open applications. Hold the Super key and tap Tab to move forward; release both keys to select.

7) Toggle the notification tray

Press Super + M to open the notification tray, or Super + V to switch between different notification views.

8) Snap windows to the sides

Align a window to the right half of the screen with Super + Right Arrow or to the left half with Super + Left Arrow , similar to Windows snapping.

9) Switch workspaces

If you use multiple workspaces, move between them with CTRL + ALT + Up Arrow or CTRL + ALT + Down Arrow .

10) Run a command quickly

Press Alt + F2 to open a run dialog where you can type a command or launch an application (e.g., type firefox and press Enter).

11) Log out

Press CTRL + ALT + DEL to bring up the logout prompt. Choose Cancel to stay logged in or Log Out to end the session.

12) Close a window

Close the active window with Alt + F4 . Some applications also support CTRL + Q to quit.

Custom keyboard shortcuts

Ubuntu allows you to define your own shortcuts. Open Settings → Devices → Keyboard , scroll to the bottom, click the + button, enter a name, the command to run, and press Set Shortcut to assign a key combination.