Common Keyboard ShortcutsThe KDE Plasma Workspaces™ provide keyboard shortcuts that allow you to perform many tasks without touching your mouse. If you use your keyboard frequently, using these can save you lots of time.
This list contains the most common shortcuts supported by the workspace itself and many applications available within. Every application also provides its own shortcuts, so be sure to check their manuals for a comprehensive listing.
Note
The Meta key described below is a generic name for the custom key found on many different keyboards. On keyboards designed for Microsoft® Windows®, this key is usually called the Windows key, and will have a picture of the Windows® logo. On keyboards designed for Mac® computers, this key is known as the Command key and will have a picture of the Apple® logo and/or the ⌘ symbol. On keyboards designed for UNIX® systems, this key is really known as the Meta key and is typically labeled with a diamond: ◆.
These shortcuts allow you to perform all kinds of operations with windows, whether it be opening, closing, moving, or switching between them.
These shortcuts make it easy to start and stop programs.
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Meta | Open the Application Launcher |
| Alt+Space / Alt+F2 | Run Command Interface |
| Ctrl+Esc | System Activity |
| Alt+F4 | Close |
| Ctrl+Q | Quit |
| Ctrl+Alt+Esc | Force Quit |
These shortcuts allow you to navigate between windows, activities, and desktops efficiently.
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+F10 | Present Windows |
| Ctrl+F9 | Present Windows on current desktop |
| Ctrl+F7 | Present Windows of current application only |
| Ctrl+F12 | Show Desktop |
| Ctrl+Alt+A | Activate Window Demanding Attention |
| Alt+Tab | Walk through windows |
| Alt+Shift+Tab | Walk through windows (Reverse) |
| Alt+F3 | Open the Window Operations menu |
| Meta+Alt+Up | Switch to Window Above |
| Meta+Alt+Down | Switch to Window Below |
| Meta+Alt+Left | Switch to Window to the Left |
| Meta+Alt+Right | Switch to Window to the Right |
Need to get a closer look? The KDE Plasma Workspaces™ allow you to zoom in and out and move your entire desktop around, so you can zoom in even when the application you are using doesn't support it.
These shortcuts allow you to switch between and manage Activities and virtual desktops.
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Meta+Q / Alt+D,Alt+A | Manage Activities |
| Meta+Tab | Next Activity |
| Meta+Shift+Tab | Previous Activity |
| Ctrl+F1 | Switch to Desktop 1 |
| Ctrl+F2 | Switch to Desktop 2 |
| Ctrl+F3 | Switch to Desktop 3 |
| Ctrl+F4 | Switch to Desktop 4 |
These shortcuts allow you to work with the KDE Plasma Desktop™ and panels.
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Alt+D A | Add Widgets |
| Alt+D R | Remove this Widget |
| Alt+D L | Lock/Unlock Widgets |
| Alt+D S | Widget Settings |
| Ctrl+F12 | Show Desktop |
| Alt+D T | Run the Associated Application |
| Alt+D,Alt+S | Desktop Settings |
Need some help? The manual for the current application is only a keypress away, and some programs even have additional help that explains the element in focus.
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| F1 | Help |
| Shift+F1 | What's This? |
Whether it's a text document, spreadsheet, or web site, these shortcuts make performing many kinds of tasks with them easy.
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| F5 | Refresh |
| Ctrl+A | Select All |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl+Shift+Z | Redo |
| Ctrl+X | Cut |
| Ctrl+C | Copy |
| Ctrl+V | Paste |
| Ctrl+N | New |
| Ctrl+P | |
| Ctrl+S | Save |
| Ctrl+F | Find |
| Ctrl+W | Close Document/Tab |
Whether you are in an Open/Save dialog or the Dolphin file manager, these shortcuts save you time when performing operations on files. Note that some of the concepts used with files are the same as with documents, so several of the shortcuts are identical to their counterparts listed above.
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl+X | Cut |
| Ctrl+C | Copy |
| Ctrl+V | Paste |
| Ctrl+A | Select All |
| Ctrl+L | Replace Location |
| Ctrl+Shift+A | Invert Selection |
| Alt+Left | Back |
| Alt+Right | Forward |
| Alt+Up | Up (to folder that contains this one) |
| Alt+Home | Home Folder |
| Delete | Move to Trash |
| Shift+Delete | Delete Permanently |
In addition to the standard keys, many computer keyboards and laptops nowadays have special keys or buttons to change the speaker volume, as well as the brightness of your monitor if applicable. If present, you can use these keys in the KDE Plasma Workspaces™ to perform those tasks.
If you do not have such keys, see the section called “Modifying Shortcuts” for information on how to assign keys for these tasks.
All done? Use these shortcuts and put your computer away!
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Alt+L | Lock Screen |
| Ctrl+Alt+Del | Leave |
The shortcuts described in Working With Windows, Leaving Your Computer, Changing Volume and Brightness and Working with Activities and Virtual Desktops are called global shortcuts, since they work regardless of which window you have open on your screen. These can be modified in the Global Shortcuts panel of System Settings, where they are separated by KDE component.
The shortcuts described Working with the Desktop are immutable and cannot be modified.
The shortcuts described in Working with Documents and Getting Help are set by individual programs. Most KDE programs allow you to use the common shortcut editing dialog to modify these. The shortcuts described in Working With Files can be edited in the same manner when used inside a file manager like Dolphin or Konqueror, but cannot be modified in the case of Open/Save dialogs, etc.