Using KDE/Shortcuts
Default Shortcut Table[edit | edit source]
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:[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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:
- opening apps very quickly,
- kill, start, restart daemons,
- send commands to running apps...