Ubuntu is a very easy-to-use open-source operating system and one of the most popular Linux distributions. It is user-friendly for new Linux users. So, if you are interested in learning Ubuntu navigation, then you are in the right place. Ten must learn Ubuntu Keyboard Shortcuts are discussed below that will definitely make your life easier.
Also Read: Top 10 Essential Applications for Ubuntu
Handy Ubuntu Keyboard Shortcuts
Here is the list of top 10 Handy Ubuntu Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know if you are a beginner to Ubuntu.
1. Shortcut to View File Details
Generally, to open the properties of a file or any folder, you will right-click on the desired file, and then further you will click on “properties”.
But to be faster and accurate, you just need to simply select the file of which you want to display the properties for, and then you have to press “Ctrl+I”. You will directly get properties panel for the desired file or folder without taking off your hands from the keyboards.
2. Quickly Switch Workspaces and Windows
Some users prefer to enable workspaces on their system; if you are one of those, you should also learn to navigate through them. The Ubuntu’s workspaces are arranged in a 2 X 2 grid which is basically essential additional desktop area.
Therefore, to access the extra space, you need all the arrow keys, that are, up, down, left and right. All these arrow keys are used along with “Ctrl + Alt” combination.
Therefore, if you want to move the second workspace, then you have to use Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow Key. Similarly, for the fourth workspace, you have to use Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow Key.
3. Close All the Windows of an Application
The default method of closing all the windows of an application is just by clicking on that cross button present at the corner of the window. However, you just have to press “Ctrl + Q”, and you are sorted. All the windows of the application will be closed with only one shortcut, and you do not need to remove your hand from the keyboard.
Moreover, if you want to close a single window, you have to press “Ctrl + W”.
4. Pop up a Command Dialogue Box
If you’re going to open the pop-up command dialogue box, you just need to press “Alt + F2” for more convenience. After that, you can simply begin typing the search items in the boxes. Moreover, if you want to open a terminal window quickly, you have to press “Ctrl + Alt + T “.
5. Switch Between Running Apps
One of the best ways to save your time while working with Ubuntu is by switching and cycling between the already opened apps. There are two ways to switch between the applications.
The first one is by pressing “Alt + Tab” keyboard combination. On the current workspace, it displays the box with icons of the currently open apps. Each press on the “Tab” key will cycle between the open apps. Once you get the one you want to open, and then release both.
6. Hide/Show the Files in the File Manager
It is really easy and faster to edit the config files with this handy shortcut. You just have to launch the file manager and then press “Ctrl + H“. After that, you can easily find the hidden file you were looking for and then hide those all back again after use.
7. Shortcut to Open Trash
If you have deleted a couple of files by mistake, but you just want to confirm once that you did not remove any important file, then you just have to check the trash to confirm it. However, if you are a keyboard friendly user, then doing the same with the mouse will be time-consuming.
Therefore, you can quickly open the trash with a super-easy keyboard shortcut, that is, Super + T. Just press it, and Ubuntu will launch the trash for you.
Note:- The “Super key” is usually the “Windows key” on a Windows keyboard, “Ubuntu”Key” on Linux and the “Command key” on a Mac keyboard.
8. Take a Screenshot
Capturing the screenshot is one of the most time-saving options to save any kind of data, displayed on the screen in the form of an image. To capture any image, you can use “prt sc” (Print Screen). Moreover, to take a screenshot of any active window, you have to press a key combination of “Alt + prt sc“.
After you press any of these key combinations, a dialogue box will be displayed to confirm the storage location of the image. You have to click on SAVE with correct storage destination.
9. Minimize a Window
If you generally have a bunch of windows open simultaneously, then this shortcut will be handy for you. By default, you can minimize the windows one by one by clicking on the corner button with your mouse. This can be pretty irritating. You can use the key combination “Ctrl + Super + D” or “Ctrl + Alt + D” as a quick shortcut to immediately minimize all the windows.
10. Spread All Windows
If you want to analyze different windows at the same time to get a bird’s eye view, just press “Super + W“. After that, all the open applications on your systems will spread out on the screen. Therefore, you can easily view what else is running on your computer.
Conclusion
The Ubuntu keyboard shortcuts make life much more comfortable, faster, and accurate with just some key combinations. There are a lot more shortcuts for Ubuntu, but these were the ten most essential ones. Eventually, you will automatically learn all of these over time and use.
