Ubuntu Desktop Cheatsheet

This cheatsheet covers common default keyboard shortcuts for the Ubuntu Desktop environment (which primarily uses GNOME). Shortcuts can often be customized in Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.

Modifier Key Legend

Super: The Windows key or Command key (⌘) on Apple keyboards.
Ctrl: Control key
Alt: Alt key
Shift: Shift key
PrtScn: Print Screen key

System & Session Management

Shortcut	Description
`Super`	Press once: Show Activities Overview & Dash.
`Super + L`	Lock the screen.
`Ctrl + Alt + Del`	Show Logout/Restart/Shutdown dialog (behavior varies).
`Alt + F2`	Run a command (opens a small command prompt).
`Ctrl + Alt + F1-F6`	Switch to a virtual console (TTY).
`Ctrl + Alt + F1/F7`	Switch back to the graphical desktop (depends on display manager setup, usually F1 or F7).

Window Management

Shortcut	Description
`Alt + Tab`	Switch between running applications.
`Alt + Shift + Tab`	Switch between running applications in reverse order.
`Super + Tab`	Switch between running applications (alternative visual).
`Super + Shift + Tab`	Switch between running applications in reverse (alternative).
`Super +` `(Backtick/Grave)`	Switch between windows of the same application.
`Alt + F4`	Close the current window.
`Super + Up Arrow`	Maximize the current window.
`Super + Down Arrow`	Restore / Minimize the current window.
`Super + Left Arrow`	Snap window to the left half of the screen.
`Super + Right Arrow`	Snap window to the right half of the screen.
`Super + H`	Hide (Minimize) the current window.
`Ctrl + Super + Up/Down Arrow`	Maximize/Restore window vertically.
`Ctrl + Super + Left/Right Arrow`	Maximize/Restore window horizontally.
`Alt + F7`	Move window (use arrow keys, then `Enter` to drop).
`Alt + F8`	Resize window (use arrow keys, then `Enter` to confirm).
`Alt + F10`	Toggle window maximization state.
`Alt + Space`	Open the window menu (Move, Resize, Maximize, Close, etc.).

Workspace (Virtual Desktop) Management

Shortcut	Description
`Super + PgUp` or `Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow`	Switch to the workspace above.
`Super + PgDown` or `Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow`	Switch to the workspace below.
`Shift + Super + PgUp`	Move the current window to the workspace above.
`Shift + Super + PgDown`	Move the current window to the workspace below.
`Super`	Show Activities Overview (displays workspaces visually).

Application Launching & Switching

Shortcut	Description
`Super`	Show Activities Overview / Dash (start typing app name).
`Super + A`	Show the Application Grid (all installed applications).
`Ctrl + Alt + T`	Launch the Terminal.
`Alt + F1`	Often switches focus between top bar, dash, and window (can vary).
`Super + [Number]`	Launch or switch to the application pinned to the Dash/Dock at that position (e.g., `Super + 1` for the first app).

Screenshots & Screen Recording

Shortcut	Description
`PrtScn`	Take a screenshot (opens the interactive screenshot tool).
`Shift + PrtScn`	Take a screenshot of a selected area (opens tool in area mode).
`Alt + PrtScn`	Take a screenshot of the current window (opens tool in window mode).
`Ctrl + PrtScn`	Copy entire screen screenshot to clipboard.
`Shift + Ctrl + PrtScn`	Copy area screenshot to clipboard.
`Ctrl + Alt + PrtScn`	Copy window screenshot to clipboard.
`Shift + Ctrl + Alt + R`	Start/Stop screen recording (saves to `Videos` folder, default 30s limit unless changed).

Note: Pressing PrtScn now usually brings up the interactive tool where you can select Area/Screen/Window and choose between Screenshot/Screen Recording. The direct shortcuts often still work but bypass the tool UI.

Common Text Editing (Works in most applications)

Shortcut	Description
`Ctrl + C`	Copy selected text/item.
`Ctrl + X`	Cut selected text/item.
`Ctrl + V`	Paste text/item from clipboard.
`Ctrl + Z`	Undo last action.
`Ctrl + Y` or `Ctrl + Shift+Z`	Redo last undone action.
`Ctrl + A`	Select all text.
`Ctrl + F`	Find text within the document/page.
`Ctrl + S`	Save the current document.
`Ctrl + P`	Print the current document.
`Ctrl + N`	Create a new document/window.
`Ctrl + O`	Open an existing document.
`Ctrl + W`	Close the current tab or document (not the app).
`Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow`	Move cursor one word left/right.
`Ctrl + Backspace`	Delete previous word.
`Ctrl + Delete`	Delete next word.
`Home`	Move cursor to the beginning of the line.
`End`	Move cursor to the end of the line.
`Ctrl + Home`	Move cursor to the beginning of the document.
`Ctrl + End`	Move cursor to the end of the document.
`Shift + Arrow Keys/Home/End`	Select text character by character or line by line.
`Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys`	Select text word by word.
`Ctrl + Shift + Home/End`	Select text to the beginning/end of the document.

Terminal Specific Shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
`Ctrl + Alt + T`	Open a new Terminal window.
`Ctrl + Shift + T`	Open a new tab within the current Terminal window.
`Ctrl + Shift + W`	Close the current Terminal tab.
`Ctrl + PgUp`	Switch to the previous Terminal tab.
`Ctrl + PgDown`	Switch to the next Terminal tab.
`Alt + [Number]`	Switch to Terminal tab number [Number] (e.g., `Alt+1`).
`Ctrl + Shift + C`	Copy selected text within the Terminal.
`Ctrl + Shift + V`	Paste text into the Terminal.
`Ctrl + L`	Clear the Terminal screen.
`Ctrl + C`	Terminate (interrupt) the current running process.
`Ctrl + D`	Logout / End of input (closes shell if empty).
`Ctrl + Z`	Suspend (pause) the current foreground process. (Use `fg` to resume, `bg` to resume in background).
`Tab`	Autocomplete commands, filenames, or paths.
`Up/Down Arrow`	Cycle through command history.
`Ctrl + R`	Reverse search through command history.

Accessibility Shortcuts (May need enabling in Settings > Accessibility)

Shortcut	Description
`Alt + Super + 8`	Toggle Zoom On/Off.
`Alt + Super + =` / `+`	Zoom In.
`Alt + Super + -`	Zoom Out.
`Shift + Alt + PrtScn`	Toggle High Contrast On/Off.
`Super + Alt + S`	Toggle Screen Reader On/Off.
(Varies by setup)	On-Screen Keyboard (Search Settings).