Elementary OS Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet for Beginners
Keyboard shortcuts turn everyday actions into quick, repeatable movements. Instead of opening a menu to launch an application, arrange a window or move between workspaces, you can press a small combination of keys and keep your attention on the task. In elementary OS, the shortcuts are designed around a clean desktop, simple multitasking and a consistent visual experience.
The most important key is usually Super, which is the key marked with the Windows logo on many Australian keyboards. It sits between Ctrl and Alt on a typical desktop keyboard. Some keyboards label it Meta or Command, while compact laptops may use a function layer. Learning which physical key acts as Super is the first step in reading a keyboard shortcut cheat sheet.
Shortcuts are especially useful when you are moving from Windows or macOS and want elementary OS to feel familiar without copying every habit from your previous system. They can help you work across a Sydney office, a Melbourne university desk or a home workstation in a regional town where a simple local action is preferable to waiting for a menu or online service.
The exact list can vary slightly between elementary OS releases, installed applications and personal settings. Treat the combinations below as a practical starting point, then check System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts on your own installation. That screen is the reliable reference when a shortcut behaves differently from the one shown here.
Learn the keys before the combinations
A shortcut written as Super + A means that you hold the Super key and press A once. You do not need to press the keys at exactly the same instant: hold the first key, tap the second, and release. For three-key combinations such as Ctrl + Alt + T, hold Ctrl and Alt, then tap T.
The most common modifier keys are Ctrl, Alt, Shift and Super. Ctrl is used for many application commands, Alt often controls window and application switching, Shift modifies a command or selects a range, and Super is closely associated with the desktop shell. The labels may differ on an imported keyboard, but the physical positions normally remain clear.
Australian users may notice a few differences between laptop keyboards sold locally and overseas models. The layout usually follows the familiar Australian QWERTY arrangement, but compact keyboards can move symbols, omit a right-hand Super key or require Fn for function-row controls. If a shortcut includes a symbol, use the key that produces that symbol on your layout rather than assuming an American keyboard position.
Navigate the desktop with Super
Holding Super is one of the easiest ways to discover the desktop’s built-in shortcuts. Depending on your elementary OS version, the desktop displays a shortcut overview or opens the relevant launcher and workspace controls. This is useful when you remember the action you want but not the combination. It also prevents the common beginner mistake of memorising shortcuts from an older release.
Several desktop actions are commonly associated with Super. Super + A opens the applications view in many elementary OS setups, while Super + W displays an overview of open windows or workspaces. Super + D can show the desktop, and Super + S may open a workspace view depending on the version and configured shortcut set.
Window management shortcuts are particularly valuable on small laptop screens. Super + Left Arrow and Super + Right Arrow generally tile the active window to the corresponding side. Super + Up Arrow maximises it, while Super + Down Arrow restores or minimises it. These commands make it easier to compare a document with a browser window without dragging borders with a touchpad.
Switch applications and workspaces
Alt + Tab is the essential application switcher. Hold Alt and tap Tab to move through open applications, then release Alt when the required window is highlighted. Repeatedly pressing Tab cycles through the list. This is faster than scanning the dock, particularly when several Terminal, Files or browser windows are open.
Workspace shortcuts are useful when you separate activities. You might keep email and calendars on one workspace, writing on another, and research on a third. Elementary OS versions can use combinations such as Super + Page Up and Super + Page Down to move between workspaces, while other installations expose different bindings. Confirm the active assignment in the keyboard settings before relying on it.
A good beginner habit is to keep one workspace for communication and one for focused work. That arrangement suits a flexible Australian workday, where a person might move between a home office, a coworking space in Brisbane and a train commute into the city. The fewer windows you need to search through, the less important the physical location becomes.
To move a window into another workspace, use the window menu or the shortcut displayed in your settings. The action may differ by release, so it is better to learn the label shown by your system than to copy an unverified key combination. The principle remains the same: separate tasks visually, then switch between them with a small, repeatable movement.
Use application shortcuts every day
Desktop shortcuts control the shell, but application shortcuts usually save the most time. In Files, Ctrl + L focuses the location bar, allowing you to type a folder path. Ctrl + C, Ctrl + X and Ctrl + V copy, cut and paste selected files or text. Ctrl + A selects all items in the current view, while Ctrl + Z reverses many recent actions.
In a browser, Ctrl + L selects the address bar, Ctrl + T opens a new tab, Ctrl + W closes the current tab and Ctrl + Shift + T often restores the most recently closed tab. Ctrl + R reloads a page, and Ctrl + F searches the current page. These are common Linux application conventions, so they transfer well between elementary OS programs.
The Terminal follows another small group of useful commands. Ctrl + Shift + V usually pastes text into a terminal without treating it as typed shell input, while Ctrl + C interrupts a running command. Ctrl + Shift + T may open a new terminal tab where supported. Ctrl + Alt + T is commonly assigned to launch Terminal, although elementary OS installations can differ.
Remember that a shortcut can be claimed by both the desktop and the application. If a browser ignores a combination that works elsewhere, its own shortcut preferences may take priority. Test new commands with an unsaved document or a harmless folder, especially before using deletion, formatting or terminal operations.
Customise and troubleshoot shortcuts
Open System Settings, choose Keyboard, and review the shortcuts grouped by category. Look for sections covering desktop, windows, workspaces, applications and custom commands. You can select an existing binding, press a new combination and apply the change. If the chosen keys are already in use, the settings panel should indicate a conflict or replace the former action.
Custom shortcuts can launch a program, open a file or run a command. A simple example is assigning a spare combination to launch your preferred notes application. Keep custom bindings memorable and avoid replacing a shortcut you already use in Files, the browser or the Terminal. A short list that you remember is more effective than filling every unused key with an action.
When a shortcut fails, check the physical key first. The Super key may be disabled by a laptop manufacturer, intercepted by a virtual machine or altered by an external keyboard utility. Next, check whether the active window has captured the combination. Finally, return to the keyboard settings and look for duplicate assignments.
Screenshots deserve a little care when building your own cheat sheet. If you capture a banking page, medical record or work conversation while testing shortcuts, crop or delete the image before sharing it. Australia’s Privacy Act and workplace privacy policies make it sensible to remove personal information from support posts, even when you are only asking the elementary OS community for help.
Build a cheat sheet that fits your routine
A useful cheat sheet is short enough to keep beside the keyboard. Start with six or seven commands: Alt + Tab for switching applications, Super + Left/Right Arrow for tiling, Super + Up Arrow for maximising, Ctrl + L for a location or address field, Ctrl + F for search, Ctrl + Z for undo and Super for discovering more desktop actions.
Group the list by purpose rather than alphabetically. A “Windows” group can contain tiling and maximising commands; an “Applications” group can contain Alt + Tab; a “Files and browser” group can contain location, tab, search and undo commands. Grouping reflects how shortcuts are recalled during work and makes the page easier to scan.
Print the list in a readable size or keep a digital copy in a local folder. This is practical for people using an older laptop, a metered connection or a regional internet service where an offline reference is more dependable than opening another page. If you buy a replacement keyboard from an Australian retailer such as Officeworks or JB Hi-Fi, test the Super key and arrow layout before updating the sheet.
Keyboard shortcuts also belong in a broader maintenance routine. Before changing system settings or experimenting with shell commands, keep current copies of important files. A useful comparison of backup solutions covers Déjà Dup, Timeshift and rsync, which serve different purposes and should not be confused with one another.
Practise one shortcut at a time for several days. Begin with Alt + Tab and window tiling, then add browser navigation and workspace movement. Muscle memory develops through repetition, not through memorising a long catalogue in one sitting. If a command feels awkward, remap it rather than forcing a combination that strains your hand.
The best elementary OS keyboard shortcut cheat sheet is a living reference: small, accurate and matched to the release and keyboard in front of you. Learn Super, Alt and Ctrl first; use the keyboard settings to verify every desktop binding; and keep application commands separate from window management. The main thing to remember is that shortcuts work best when they quietly remove routine steps from the work you already do.
