The world of Linux is always changing, and speed and efficiency are very important. Knowing the best Linux Keyboard Shortcuts can make all the difference in the world. The Linux operating system has a lot of keyboard shortcuts that can make things easier to use and speed up work. Linux fans can easily get around in their digital worlds, thanks to the wide-use terminal and the simple desktop environments.
By using the keyboard to its fullest, Linux users can quickly run commands, switch between virtual desktops, and change windows. The holy trinity of Ctrl, Alt, and Shift, along with letter and number keys that are placed just right, makes for a very useful combination. Linux has a lot of keyboard shortcuts that you can use whether you like the command line or the graphical user interface. Below, we have mentioned the best Linux Keyboard Shortcuts.
Why Keyboard Shortcuts Matter in Linux
In Linux, keyboard shortcuts are very useful for many reasons. By letting users do things without using a graphical interface, they greatly increase efficiency and productivity. This is especially helpful on servers, where a graphical user interface might not be available. For Linux users, learning keyboard shortcuts can also speed up and improve their workflow, making it easier to move around and control the system. Developers, system administrators, and power users can benefit the most from this skill.
Tips for Mastering Linux Keyboard Shortcuts
In Linux, learning how to use keyboard shortcuts can make you much more efficient and productive. Here are some tips to help you learn how to use Linux keyboard shortcuts:
???? Start with the basics: For example, to copy, press Ctrl+C, to cut, press Ctrl+X, to paste, press Ctrl+V, and to undo, press Ctrl+Z.
???? Check out these Terminal Shortcuts: Learn how to use important terminal shortcuts like cd to move between directories, ls to list files, and Ctrl+L to clear the screen.
????️ Master Shortcuts for Navigation: Shortcuts can help you get around in the terminal or file manager. You can use Ctrl+A to go to the start of a line and Ctrl+E to go to the end.
✏️ Learn How to Change Text: Learn how to use keyboard shortcuts to change text in text editors like Nano and Vim. ‘dd’ deletes a line in Vim, ‘yy’ copies a line, and ‘p’ pastes it.
????️ Learn Shortcuts for Window Management: For example, if you use GNOME or KDE, learn the shortcuts for managing windows. Some common ones are Alt+Tab to switch between apps and Alt+F4 to close a window.
Best Linux Keyboard Shortcuts
Learning how to use Linux keyboard shortcuts makes you more productive and efficient. To open a terminal, press Ctrl+Alt+T. To stop a process, press Ctrl+C, and to leave a terminal, press Ctrl+D. When you press Alt+Tab, you can switch between apps. Pressing Ctrl+Shift+T will open closed tabs again. Learning these shortcuts makes it easier to move around in Linux and speeds things up.
File Operations:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + N (or Cmd + N) | New File |
| Ctrl + O (or Cmd + O) | Open File |
| Ctrl + S (or Cmd + S) | Save |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Save As |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S | Save for Web |
| Ctrl + P (or Cmd + P) | |
| Ctrl + W (or Cmd + W) | Close |
| Ctrl + Shift + W | Close All |
| Ctrl + Q (or Cmd + Q) | Quit Photoshop |
Edit Operations:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Z (or Cmd + Z) | Undo |
| Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo |
| Ctrl + X (or Cmd + X) | Cut |
| Ctrl + C (or Cmd + C) | Copy |
| Ctrl + V (or Cmd + V) | Paste |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy Merged |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste Into |
| Ctrl + A (or Cmd + A) | Select All |
View Operations:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + + (or Cmd + +) | Zoom In |
| Ctrl + – (or Cmd + -) | Zoom Out |
| Ctrl + 0 (or Cmd + 0) | Fit on Screen |
| Ctrl + R (or Cmd + R) | Show/Hide Rulers |
| Ctrl + H (or Cmd + H) | Show/Hide Extras (e.g., grid, guides) |
| Toggle Screen Mode |
Tools and Layers:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| V | Move Tool |
| M | Marquee Tool (Rectangular or Elliptical) |
| L | Lasso Tool |
| W | Magic Wand Tool |
| I | Eyedropper Tool |
| B | Brush Tool |
| E | Eraser Tool |
| G | Gradient Tool |
| T | Type Tool |
| Ctrl + J (or Cmd + J) | Duplicate Layer |
| Ctrl + E (or Cmd + E) | Merge Down |
Best Linux Keyboard Shortcuts for Different Platforms
Different desktop environments in Linux, such as GNOME, KDE, and XFCE, have different keyboard shortcuts. You can open a terminal with Ctrl+Alt+T, copy with Ctrl+C, paste with Ctrl+V, and close windows with Alt+F4. Learning platform-specific shortcuts makes people more productive by making it easier for them to move around and get things done quickly on their Linux systems.
Common Linux Shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Alt + T | Open Terminal |
| Alt + F2 | Run Command |
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo |
| Ctrl + A | Select All |
| Ctrl + D | Duplicate |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Save As |
| Alt + F4 | Close Window |
Wine (Adobe Photoshop CC on Linux) Shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + N | New |
| Ctrl + O | Open |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Ctrl + W | Close |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close Tab (if applicable) |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | New Layer |
| Ctrl + J | Duplicate Layer |
| Ctrl + E | Merge Down |
| Ctrl + G | Group Layers |
| Ctrl + Shift + G | Ungroup Layers |
Troubleshooting Common Issues with Linux Keyboard Shortcuts
Finding the root cause of problems and fixing them is part of troubleshooting common issues with Linux keyboard shortcuts. Here are some things you can do if your Linux system is having trouble with keyboard shortcuts:
Look at the keyboard layout: Make sure that the layout of your keyboard is set up correctly. Some shortcuts might not work right on some layouts. Check the layout settings in your system’s settings.
Problems with keyboard shortcuts: Look for keyboard shortcuts that don’t work well together. The same shortcut may be used for more than one thing in some programmes or desktop environments. To fix conflicts, change the shortcuts in the system settings.
Check how the system is set up: Check the settings and configurations on your desktop that have to do with keyboard shortcuts. You might be able to change keyboard shortcuts in the settings manager for each desktop environment, like GNOME, KDE, or XFCE.
Start up the Desktop Environment again: If keyboard shortcuts are giving you trouble, restarting the desktop environment might fix the issue. To do this, either log out and then back in or restart your computer.
Check out Keybindings in Apps: Some programmes have their own ways of setting up keybindings. Make sure there are no conflicts or problems with shortcuts by checking the settings for each app.
FAQs
Ctrl+R: Remember the last command that matched the characters you typed.
Press and hold F7 Checks the chosen word against a thesaurus. Press and hold F12 Save the file that’s open. Like pressing Ctrl+S.
