elementary OS Keyboard Shortcuts: Full List and Customization
Keyboard shortcuts make elementary OS feel faster because common actions happen without a trip through menus or a reach for the mouse. A well-chosen combination can launch an application, move a window between workspaces, open a terminal, or capture part of the screen in a moment. This is especially useful on compact laptops, where trackpads are often less comfortable for repetitive tasks.
The exact list can vary slightly between elementary OS releases, installed applications, keyboard layouts, and hardware. A standard PC keyboard normally uses the Super key, marked with the Windows logo, while Apple keyboards generally use Command in places where Super is expected. Some shortcuts are provided by the desktop, while others belong to Files, a web browser, a terminal, or another application.
This guide brings together the main elementary OS keyboard commands in one place, then explains where to inspect and alter them. It also covers practical combinations for window management, workspaces, screenshots, text editing, and file browsing. The aim is a useful reference for a new installation as well as a quick refresher for experienced users.
For people setting up the system on a new machine, it helps to learn the basics after completing the operating system installation. The beginner installation guide covers the initial setup, including the point at which regional settings and keyboard layout can affect shortcut behaviour.
The Essential System Shortcuts
The Super key is the centre of many Pantheon desktop commands. Pressing Super opens the Applications menu, where you can type an application name and launch it. Super + Space opens the application launcher on many elementary OS installations, although this binding can depend on the release and current shortcut settings. If one of these combinations does not respond, check System Settings rather than assuming the keyboard is faulty.
Window controls are particularly useful when working on a laptop or a wide monitor. Super + Left Arrow and Super + Right Arrow tile the active window to the corresponding side of the screen. Super + Up Arrow maximises it, while Super + Down Arrow restores or minimises it depending on the current state. Alt + F4 closes the focused window, and Alt + Tab cycles through open applications. Hold Alt and continue pressing Tab to move through the list, then release the keys to select a window.
Common desktop commands include Super + H to hide the active window and Super + D to show the desktop, where supported by the installed version. Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow and Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow move between workspaces. Super + W opens the multitasking view on systems using that binding, giving you a visual overview of windows and workspaces. Desktop shortcuts can change across elementary OS releases, so the Keyboard panel is the definitive source for a particular installation.
Workspaces, Applications, And Navigation
Workspaces are useful when a single screen becomes crowded. You might keep a browser and email on one workspace, a document and research notes on another, and a terminal or development editor on a third. Switching with Ctrl + Alt + Left or Right is quicker than opening the multitasking view every time. On some configurations, Super combined with a number key moves directly to a numbered workspace or opens an application slot; these bindings should be verified in the shortcut settings before relying on them.
Alt + Tab is the fastest way to return to the application you were just using. It is especially effective when copying information from a browser into a document, because the focus changes without disturbing the arrangement of either window. Pressing Alt + ` can cycle through windows belonging to the same application on some desktop configurations. If that combination behaves differently on an Australian keyboard, the backtick key may be affected by the selected layout or by the presence of an international keyboard.
Inside applications, Ctrl + N commonly creates a new window or document, Ctrl + W closes the current tab or window, and Ctrl + Q quits the application. Ctrl + Shift + T reopens a recently closed browser or terminal tab in applications that support it. These are application conventions rather than universal Pantheon rules, so a program such as a specialist accounting package or an Electron application may use different commands.
The Super key also provides a quick route to everyday software. Press Super, type “terminal”, “Files”, “Mail”, or another installed application, and press Enter. This search-first approach is often faster than scanning icons. On a workday in Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane, it can save repeated mouse movement when moving between a browser, a video meeting application, and a local document.
Files, Screenshots, And Text Editing
Files includes a familiar set of keyboard commands. Ctrl + N opens a new Files window, Ctrl + T creates a new tab where tabs are supported, and Ctrl + W closes the current tab or window. Ctrl + L focuses the location bar so you can type a path, while Ctrl + F starts a file search. Ctrl + Shift + N creates a new folder, F2 renames the selected item, and Delete sends it to the Trash. Shift + Delete may permanently remove a selected item, so use it carefully.
Selecting files is faster with keyboard modifiers. Shift plus an Arrow key extends the selection from the current item, while Ctrl-click has a keyboard equivalent in many file views using Ctrl together with navigation. Ctrl + A selects all visible items. Enter opens the selected file or folder, and Backspace may move to the parent folder in some file managers, though it is not a universal Files shortcut. The safest way to check a command is to open the relevant menu and look for the displayed key binding.
Screenshot controls depend on the desktop version and the installed screenshot utility. Print Screen commonly captures the whole screen, while Alt + Print Screen captures the active window. Shift + Print Screen may allow a rectangular selection or a different capture mode. On some keyboards, especially compact laptops sold in Australia, Print Screen is shared with another key and requires Fn. Screenshots are generally saved to the Pictures folder or copied to the clipboard, depending on the command.
Text editing shortcuts work across most elementary OS applications. Ctrl + A selects all text, Ctrl + C copies, Ctrl + X cuts, and Ctrl + V pastes. Ctrl + Z undoes the last action, while Ctrl + Shift + Z or Ctrl + Y commonly redoes it. Home moves to the beginning of a line, End to its end, and Ctrl + Left or Ctrl + Right moves by word. Hold Shift with those navigation keys to select text. Ctrl + F opens search in many editors and browsers, while Ctrl + S saves the current document.
Terminal And Custom Commands
Terminal users can rely on several standard shell shortcuts. Ctrl + Alt + T is commonly assigned to open a terminal, although elementary OS installations may leave it unassigned or use another binding. Within the terminal, Ctrl + Shift + C copies selected text and Ctrl + Shift + V pastes it. Ctrl + C interrupts a running command, Ctrl + L clears the visible terminal area, and Ctrl + Shift + T opens a new terminal tab in applications that support tabs.
The terminal also has line-editing commands that are independent of the desktop. Ctrl + A moves to the beginning of the command line, Ctrl + E moves to the end, Ctrl + U removes text before the cursor, and Ctrl + K removes text after it. Up and Down Arrow recall previous commands. These combinations are valuable when administering a home server, checking logs, or following a troubleshooting instruction from the elementary OS community.
Custom shortcuts are managed through System Settings. Open Applications, launch System Settings, choose Keyboard, and select the Shortcuts area. The layout may differ slightly in elementary OS 8 or later updates, but the panel normally groups commands under categories such as Applications, Windows, Workspace, and Media. Select an existing command to inspect its binding, click the shortcut field, and press the new combination. Avoid choosing a sequence already assigned to window management or accessibility features.
A custom command can launch an application, a script, or a specific utility. For example, a shortcut can run io.elementary.terminal if that command is available on the system, open a frequently used folder, or execute a small backup script. Commands should be tested in Terminal first, because a typo in a custom binding may appear to do nothing. Use absolute paths for scripts, make sure the file is executable, and keep commands simple enough to diagnose.
Building A Reliable Shortcut Setup
A good shortcut scheme uses combinations that are easy to remember and unlikely to clash with application controls. Keep Super plus Arrow keys for window placement, Ctrl + Alt plus Arrow keys for workspace movement, and familiar Ctrl combinations for editing. Assign less common actions to Super plus a letter, provided that letter is not already used by the desktop or an application. Avoid binding important commands to keys that require Fn on a laptop, since firmware and keyboard layouts can make those combinations inconsistent.
Australian users may encounter several practical keyboard differences. A locally purchased laptop can use an Australian or UK-style layout with a tall Enter key, while an imported US-layout mechanical keyboard may place symbols in different positions. The Australian dollar sign can also involve a separate key combination, and international layouts may change the behaviour of quotation marks, backticks, or brackets. If a shortcut involving a symbol fails, open Keyboard settings and confirm the selected layout rather than copying the printed key position from another keyboard.
Accessibility settings should be checked before troubleshooting a shortcut. Sticky Keys, Slow Keys, keyboard navigation, and third-party remapping tools can alter how combinations are received. Bluetooth keyboards may also miss a command when waking from sleep or reconnecting. A wired keyboard or the built-in laptop keyboard is useful for testing. On desktop computers assembled from parts purchased through Australian retailers, motherboard firmware can reserve special function keys for volume, lighting, or media controls before elementary OS receives the input.
Document your personal bindings in a small text file. Record the action, key combination, command, and reason for the choice. This is helpful when reinstalling the system, moving from a desktop to a laptop, or comparing a shortcut with a community answer in the forums. It also prevents two custom commands from gradually taking over the same combination. After changing several bindings, test launching, window tiling, workspace movement, text editing, screenshots, and media controls.
Keyboard shortcuts are most useful when they reduce friction without becoming difficult to remember. Start with Super for launching and window control, Alt + Tab for switching applications, Ctrl + Alt plus Arrow keys for workspaces, and the standard editing commands used in every application. Then add only the custom actions that genuinely fit your daily routine, such as opening a terminal, starting a script, or reaching a regularly used folder.
The key detail to remember is that elementary OS shortcuts are a combination of desktop defaults, application commands, keyboard layout, and personal settings. Use the Keyboard panel as the final authority, test changes one at a time, and keep your custom bindings consistent so the system remains quick, predictable, and comfortable to use.
