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Using KDE/Shortcuts

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Default Shortcut Table

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Updated for Plasma 5 (KDE5)

Alt-Tab or Alt-Shift-Tab

Cycle through open applications

Ctrl-Tab or Ctrl-Shift-Tab

Cycle through application specific tabs or panes. Previously (KDE4) Cycle through your desktops.

Alt-F1

Open KDE Application Launcher (although not krunner, see Alt+F2). Start typing to narrow down results. Similar to Microsoft Windows Start Menu.

Alt+F2

Application launcher, command line and more (krunner in Plasma 5). Allows quick launching applications by typing their name (kmail, k3b, ...)

Alt-F3

Window Menu for specific application. Useful for Send to. . . Desktop/Screen or Minimize/Maximize with just the keyboard. Similar to Alt+Space in Microsoft Windows

Alt-F4

Close the current window

Ctrl-F{1..8}

Switch to a specific desktop

Ctrl-Alt-L

Lock your session. This will display a box with a password area for you to login back into your session, and a button that will allow someone else to login while keeping your session active.

Ctrl-Alt-Del

Display logout screen. You have 4 choices : Suspend, close your session, turn off your computer and restart your computer.

Ctrl-Esc

System Activity (similar to Microsoft Windows Task Manager). Show running processes, CPU, MEM, etc.

Ctrl-Alt-Esc

Window destroyer (every window you click on will be destroyed). Press Esc to cancel the killer cursor.

The following are shortcut keys that control X11:

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Ctrl-Alt-Backspace

This exits KDE (without saving!) Use this as a last resort.

Ctrl-Alt-Numpad +

Zoom in using the next screen resolution. You may need to configure this in your X-Server configuration for it to work

Ctrl-Alt-Numpad -

Zoom out using the previous screen resolution. You may need to configure this in your X-Server configuration for it to work.

Win-Q Displays the Activities list

Win-Tab Switches to next Activity

Defining own shortcuts

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You may not be happy with the predefined shortcuts but you can easily redefine existing shortcuts, or define your own. All you need to do is open KMenu -> Control Center-> Regional & Accessibility -> Keyboard Shortcuts. The interface of this is self-explanatory.

Here is the list of thing you may do with defined shortcuts:

  1. opening apps very quickly,
  2. kill, start, restart daemons,
  3. send commands to running apps...