Comparison of keyboard shortcuts

Main article: Keyboard shortcut

Keyboard shortcuts are a common aspect of most modern operating systems and associated
software applications. Their use is pervasive enough that some users consider them an essential
element of their routine interactions with a computer. Whether used as a matter of personal
preference or for adaptive technology, the pervasiveness of common conventions enables the
comparison of keyboard shortcuts across different systems. The following sections detail some of
these comparisons in widely used operating systems.

General shortcuts

A note regarding KDE's shortcuts is that they can be changed and the below list contains the
defaults.

KDE /
Action Windows Mac OS Emacs
GNOME
Ctrl+F2, then F (requires full
keyboard access active,
using System Preferences >
File menu Alt+F Alt+F Meta+`, then f
Keyboard > Keyboard
Shortcuts > Full Keyboard
Access > All Controls)
Edit menu Alt+E Ctrl+F2, then E Alt+E Meta+`, then e
View menu Alt+V Ctrl+F2, then V Alt+V
Ctrl+x, then u

Undo the last or Ctrl+/

Ctrl+Z Cmd+Z Ctrl+Z
operation or Ctrl+_
or Undo

Same as undo, when

undo is exhausted, it
Redo the last redoes. Move the cursor
Ctrl+Y Shift+ Cmd+Z
operation Shift+Ctrl+Z after one or more
undos, and further
undos will be redos.
Cut the Ctrl+X, or Cmd+X Ctrl+X Ctrl+w
selected area
and store it in Shift+Del
 KDE /
Action Windows Mac OS Emacs
GNOME
the clipboard
Copy the
selected area Ctrl+C, or
Cmd+C Ctrl+C Meta+w, or Ctrl+Ins
into the Ctrl+Ins
clipboard
Paste contents Ctrl+V, or
Ctrl+y, or Shift+Ins,
of clipboard at Cmd+V Ctrl+V
or
cursor Shift+Ins
Ctrl+
Paste special Ctrl+Alt+V Meta+y
Shift+V
Select
everything in
Ctrl+A Cmd+A Ctrl+A Ctrl+x, then h
focused control
or window
Cmd+Space
Ctrl+Alt+K
via KDE
Toggle among Configure desired keypress
Keyboard
installed in Keyboard and Mouse
Ctrl+\
keyboard Shift+Alt Preferences, Keyboard
Shift+Alt
languages Shortcuts, Select the next
in GNOME
source in Input menu.[1]

Navigation

Action Windows Mac OS KDE/GNOME

Win, enter executable
name or Cmd+Space, enter Alt+F2,enter
Run new application
Win+R, enter executable name executable name
executable name
Open new browser Ctrl+N (for both
window with same explorer.exe and
page as current iexplore.exe)
Make new folder Ctrl+ Shift+N Shift+ Cmd+N Ctrl+ Shift+N
Alt + "n"
Win or
Applications menu e.g. for _File_ Alt
Ctrl+Esc
+f

Lock desktop Win+L[2] Ctrl+ Shift+Eject Ctrl+Alt+L

(If "Require password after

sleep or screen saver" is
 Action Windows Mac OS KDE/GNOME

enabled in "System
Preferences Security &
Privacy")

Win+D or
Win+M (then use
Show desktop F11
Win+ Shift+M to
bring back all windows)
Log out user Shift+ Cmd+Q Ctrl+Alt+Delete
Switch active user Win+L [3]

Ctrl+ Shift+Esc,
Task manager Alt+ Cmd+Esc Ctrl+Esc
Ctrl+Alt+Delete[4]
Rename object F2 Enter F2
Open file or
Enter Cmd+O Enter
program
Alt+Tab /
Alt+Tab / Cmd+Tab /
Switch to
next/previous Alt+ Shift+Tab
Shift+Alt+Tab Shift+ Cmd+Tab
focused window

Only works within single

Switch focus to the Alt+Esc /
Applications
next/previous
window (without Shift+Alt+Esc
Cmd+` / Cmd+~
dialog)
Open the Run dialog
Win+R Cmd+Space Alt+F2
box
Cmd+Space /
Win, enter executable
Open the Search
name or
dialog box Alt+F
Win+F

Power management

Action Windows Mac OS KDE / GNOME

Sleep (available on some Sleep (available on some
Place computer
keyboards, configurable in keyboards, configurable in
into Opt+
Control Panel-->Power Control Panel-->Power
sleep/standby Cmd+Eject[5]
Options-->Advanced tab Options-->Advanced tab
mode
dialog box) dialog box)
Shutdown press window+R (shutdown Ctrl+ Opt+ Ctrl+Alt+ Shift+PageDown
computer -s -t time in seconds) Cmd+Eject
 Action Windows Mac OS KDE / GNOME

(no confirmation,
(KDE; no confirmation,
shutdown is
shutdown is immediate)
immediate)

Ctrl+
Cmd+Eject[5] Ctrl+Alt+ Shift+PageUp

Restart computer (no confirmation, (KDE; no confirmation,

restart is restart is immediate)
immediate)

Place display in Ctrl+

sleep mode Shift+Eject
Bring up
Alt+F4 (while on Desktop
power/sleep Ctrl+Eject
only)
dialog box

Screenshots

Action Windows Mac OS KDE / GNOME

Save screenshot of entire Shift+ Print Screen set the name and
Print Screen
screen as file Cmd+3 click "Save". GNOME Shell [6]
Copy screenshot of entire Print Screen or Ctrl+ Shift+ Print Screen click "Copy to
Ctrl+Print
screen to clipboard Cmd+3 Clipboard". GNOME Shell [6]
Screen

Save screenshot of window Shift+ Alt+Print Screen set the name

Cmd+4 then
as file and click "Save". GNOME [6]
Space
Ctrl+ Shift+
Copy screenshot of Alt+Print Screen click "Copy
Alt+Print Screen Cmd+4 then
window to clipboard to Clipboard". GNOME [6]
Space
Copy screenshot of Ctrl+ Shift+
arbitrary area to clipboard Cmd+4
Save screenshot of Shift+
arbitrary area as file Cmd+4
Ctrl+ Shift+Alt+R

Screencasting [7] [8]

Text editing

Many of these commands may be combined with Shift to select a region of text.[9]
 Action Windows Mac OS KDE / GNOME Emacs Vim
Delete char to Del or Fn+
the right of Backspace | Del, or Ctrl+d x
cursor Del
Opt+Del
Delete word to or
the right of Ctrl+Del Opt+ Ctrl+Del Meta+d dw
cursor Fn+
Backspace
Ctrl+
Delete word to Ctrl+ Opt+ Ctrl+ Backspace, or db
the left of cursor Backspace Backspace Backspace Meta+
Backspace
Go to start of Cmd+ or
Home Home Ctrl+a, or Home 0
line Ctrl+A
Cmd+ or
Go to end of line End End Ctrl+e, or End $
Ctrl+E
Go to start of Meta+<, or
Ctrl + Home Cmd+ Ctrl + Home gg
document Ctrl+Home
Go to end of Meta+>, or
Ctrl + End Cmd+ Ctrl + End G
document Ctrl+End
Meta+b, or
Go to previous
Ctrl+ Opt+ Ctrl+ Ctrl+, or b
word
Meta+
Meta+f, or
Go to next word Ctrl+ Opt+ Ctrl+ Ctrl+, or w
Meta+
Go to previous Ctrl+p, or k
line
Go to next line Ctrl+n, or j
Go to previous
Ctrl+(kword Meta+'{', or
line break Ctrl+ Opt+ {
or GNOME) Control+
(paragraph)
Go to next line Ctrl+ (kword Meta+'}', or
Ctrl+ Opt+ }
break or GNOME) Control+
Cmd+F Ctrl+F

Cmd+E Ctrl+K
Go to find Ctrl+F (Search with (GNOME; Ctrl+s /
current interactive
selection) search)

Ctrl+G
Go to next F3
Cmd+G (GNOME) or F3 Ctrl+s n
search result
(KDE)[10]
 Action Windows Mac OS KDE / GNOME Emacs Vim
Shift+Ctrl+G
Go to previous Shift+ (GNOME) or
Shift+F3 Ctrl+r N
search result Cmd+G Shift+F3 (KDE)
[10]

Ctrl+H
Search and
Ctrl+H Cmd+F (GNOME) or Meta+% %s/fosh/fish/gc
replace
Ctrl+R (KDE)
All search uses
Search a regular
Ctrl+Meta+s regular
expression
expressions.
Search and
replace a
Ctrl+Meta+%,
regular
expression

Text formatting

KDE /
Action Windows Mac OS Emacs Vim
GNOME[11]
Make selected
text Ctrl+B Cmd+B Ctrl+B
bold/regular
Toggle
underlining of Ctrl+U Cmd+U Ctrl+U
selected text
Make selected
text Ctrl+I Cmd+I Ctrl+I
italic/regular
Meta+u for
upper,
Shift+F3 (Works
for
gU
Change to for Microsoft Word
Opt+ Meta+l for upper,
upper/lower and Powerpoint but
Cmd+C lower, Meta+c gu for
case not Microsoft Excel)
[citation needed] for lower.
capitalized.

Ctrl+ Cmd++
(Pages and
Make selected Ctrl+
Ctrl+ Shift++ Adobe
text superscript Shift+P[12]
Applications
only?)
Make selected Ctrl+= Ctrl+ Cmd+- Ctrl+
text subscript (Pages and Shift+B[12]
Adobe
 KDE /
Action Windows Mac OS Emacs Vim
GNOME[11]
Applications
only?)
Ctrl+
Shift+>/Ctrl+
Make selected
Shift+<,
text
larger/smaller
Ctrl+[/Ctrl+]

Browsers / Go menu

KDE /
Action Windows Mac OS
GNOME
Alt+D or Alt+C
Go to Browser's Address Bar Cmd+L
according language

Go to the previous location Cmd+[ or

Alt+ or Backspace Alt+
in history Cmd+
Go to the next location in Alt+ or Shift+ Backspace Cmd+] or
Alt+
history (web browser only) Cmd+
Go up one level in the Alt+(Vista and 7 only) or
Cmd+ Alt+
navigation hierarchy Backspace(Windows Explorer)
Ctrl+Home
(KDE) /
Go to the starting page
defined by the user or Alt+Home Cmd+Home
Alt+Home
application
(GNOME)

Web browsers

KDE / Emacs-
Action Windows Mac OS
GNOME w3m
Bookmarks menu Ctrl+B Cmd+B (Firefox) Alt+B v
Cmd+ Enter
(Firefox) or
URL Shortcuts (Adds
Ctrl+ Enter Ctrl+ Enter
www. + .com) Control+ Enter
(Chrome)

URL Shortcuts (Adds Ctrl+ Shift+ Shift+ Cmd+ Ctrl+ Shift+

www. + .org) Enter Enter (Firefox) Enter
 KDE / Emacs-
Action Windows Mac OS
GNOME w3m
URL Shortcuts (Adds Shift + Shift + Enter Shift +
www. + .net) Enter (Firefox) Enter
Ctrl+B /
Add bookmark for
Ctrl+D Cmd+D a
current page Ctrl+D

Add bookmark for

Meta+a
current link
Cmd+ Opt+B
Ctrl+
(Chrome/Safari) or
Shift+R /
Manage bookmarks Ctrl+B
Cmd+ Shift+B
Ctrl+B
(Firefox)

Cmd+E (Opera) or

Focus and select Web Cmd+K (Firefox) or

Ctrl+E Ctrl+k
search bar Opt+ Cmd+F
(Safari)

Focus and select address Ctrl+L or F6 or Ctrl+L or Alt+D g

Cmd+L
bar Alt+D or F6
Refresh a webpage or Ctrl+R
F5 Cmd+R F5 or Ctrl+R R
Open a new window Ctrl+N Cmd+N (Chrome) Ctrl+N
Ctrl++ and Ctrl++ and
Zoom Options (zoom in +, Cmd++ and
Ctrl+- and Ctrl+- and
zoom out -, zoom 100%) Cmd+- and Cmd+0
Ctrl+0 Ctrl+0

Tab management

Emacs-
Action Windows Mac OS KDE / GNOME
w3m
Create a Ctrl+ Shift+N or Ctrl+ Ctrl+c, then
Ctrl+T Cmd+T
new tab Shift+T or Ctrl+T Ctrl+t
Ctrl+W Mozilla Firefox [13] &
Opera & Chrom{e,ium} [15]
[14]

& Arora [16] & Epiphany [17] &

Close Midori
current Ctrl+W Cmd+W
tab Ctrl+F4 Mozilla Firefox [13] &
Opera [14] & Chrom{e,ium} [15]
& Arora [16]
 Emacs-
Action Windows Mac OS KDE / GNOME
w3m
Close all
tabs but
Ctrl+c, then
the
Meta+w
current
one
Control+Tab or
Go to Ctrl+PageDown or Ctrl+Tab Ctrl+c, then
Ctrl+Tab Cmd+ Shift+
next tab or Ctrl+. Ctrl+n
(Safari)
Go to Shift+Control+Tab
Ctrl+ Ctrl+PageUp or Ctrl+ Ctrl+c, then
previous or Cmd+
Shift+Tab Shift+Tab or Ctrl+, Ctrl+p
tab Shift+ (Safari)
Ctrl+n
Go to tab-
(Chrome/Firefox Cmd+n (Chrome) Alt+n
n
)
Open a
Cmd+ Shift+T Ctrl+ Shift+T Ctrl+
previousl
Ctrl+ Shift+T (Firefox/Opera/Chrom (Firefox/Opera/Chrome)[15][18] Shift+T
y closed [19]
e) (Firefox)[18]
tab
Open a
previousl Ctrl+ Shift+N
y closed (Firefox)
window

Window management

Action Windows Mac OS KDE GNOME Emacs

Ctrl+`, then
Pop up window menu Alt+Space Alt+F3 Alt+Space
b
Shift+Alt+F4
or Ctrl+F4 or
Close the focused Ctrl+x, then
Ctrl+W or Cmd+W Alt+F4 Alt+F4
window k
Alt+Space then
C[20]
Ctrl+x, then
r, then j,
Restore the focused then letter
Alt+Space then
window to its Alt+F5 of the
R[20]
previous size window
state
register.
Move the focused Alt+Space then Alt+Mouse / Alt+Mouse /
window M[20] then Arrow
Keys and
 Action Windows Mac OS KDE GNOME Emacs

Alt+F3 then
Enter(to save Alt+F7 then
M then
location) Arrow Keys
Arrow Keys

Resize the focused Alt +Space then Alt+F3 then

Ctrl+x, then
Alt+F8 then
S[20] then Arrow S then
window Arrow Keys ^ vertically
Keys Arrow Keys
Meta+x,
Hide the focused then bury-
Cmd+H
window buffer RET,
then Ret
Hide all except the Cmd+
focused window Option+H
Alt+Space then
N,[20] or Meta+x,
Minimize the focused Win+ Alt+F3 then then bury-
Cmd+M Alt+F9
window (Windows 7 N buffer RET,
and Vista Home then Ret
Premium)
Alt+Space then
X,[20] or
Maximize the focused Alt+F3 then Ctrl+x, then
Win+ Alt+F10
window X 1
(Windows 7
only)
Available, Available,
Maximize
but no but no
horizontally
default default
Win+
Available, Available,
Shift+
Maximize vertically but no but no
(Windows 7
default default
only)
Available,
Win+M or
Minimize all Cmd+Alt+M but no Ctrl+Alt+D
Win+D
default
Win+Home Available,
Minimize all non
(Windows 7 but no
focused windows
only) default
Available,
Shift+
Undo minimize all but no Ctrl+Alt+D
Win+M
default
Switch
F11 F11 F11
fullscreen/normal size
Show the window in Depends on Ctrl+ Ctrl+F11
 Action Windows Mac OS KDE GNOME Emacs
application,
full screen mode, with
system default:
no border, menubar, Shift+F

toolbar or statusbar
Cmd+CTRL+F
Available,
Rollup/down window but no Alt+F12
default
F9 or

Move mouse
pointer to Win works
Show all open Ctrl+x, then
Win+Tab configured hot per desktop
windows Ctrl+b
corner or active on Gnome 3+
screen corner[21]
[22]

F3 or

Move mouse
pointer to
Show all windows of Ctrl+x, then
configured hot Ctrl+`
current application Ctrl+b
corner or active
screen corner[21]
[22]

F8 or
Win then
Move mouse
mouse over
pointer to
the desktop
Show all workspaces configured hot
bar on the
corner or active
right edge of
screen corner[21]
[22] the screen

Ctrl+Alt+
Move window to Win+/ Available, Shift+
left/right/up/down (Windows 7 but no
workspace only) default ///

Win+
Move window
Shift+/
between multiple
(Windows 7
monitors
only)
Move window to Available,
 Action Windows Mac OS KDE GNOME Emacs
but no
workspace n
default
Switch to Available,
next/previous but no
workspace list default
Go to workspace n Ctrl+n Ctrl+Fn
Ctrl+ /

Ctrl+ /
Ctrl+Alt+ /
Go to Ctrl+ / Ctrl+
[23]
left/right/up/down (OS X 10.5 to
//
workspace 10.6), Ctrl+ /
Ctrl+ (OS X
10.7)

F11 or

Move mouse
pointer to Ctrl+Alt+D
Show / hide desktop Win+D configured hot Ctrl+Alt+D user specific,
corner or active no default
screen corner[21]
[22]

Activate window
demanding attention
Alt+F4 or
Quit application of Ctrl+Alt+Es
Ctrl+F4 Cmd+Q[25] q
current window [24] c
varies
Close dialog Esc Esc
Win+(#)
where "#" is the
position of the
Open/Focus (preview)
program on the
pinned program on
Windows 7
the taskbar
Taskbar
(Windows 7
only)
Open new program Win+(#)
window of pinned where "#" is the
program in Quick position of the
Launch program on the
Quick Launch
toolbar
 Action Windows Mac OS KDE GNOME Emacs
(Windows Vista
and 7)
Win+
Shift+(#) where
Open new program "#" is the
window of the pinned position of the
program on the program on the
taskbar (if program is Windows 7
already opened) Taskbar
(Windows 7
only)
Win+T, you
can back
Focus the first
and forth. Hold
taskbar entry.
Shift to cycle
Pressing again will
backwards
cycle through them
(Windows 7
only)
F11 or

Move mouse
Win+Space pointer to
Peek at the desktop (Windows 7 configured hot
only) corner or active
screen corner[21]
[22]

Win+G
Bring gadgets to the (Windows
front of the Z-order Vista,7) or
and cycle between Win+Space
gadgets (Vista only, no
cycling)
External display Win+P
options (mirror, (Windows 7
extend desktop, etc.) only)

User interface navigation (widgets and controls)

Action Windows Mac OS KDE GNOME

Moves keyboard focus Tab / With full keyboard access Tab / Tab /
to next/previous Shift+Tab active (System Preferences > Shift+Tab
control Keyboard > Keyboard Shift+Tab
Shortcuts > Full Keyboard
 Action Windows Mac OS KDE GNOME
Access > All Controls)
Ctrl+Tab /
Tab / Shift+Tab Shift+Ctrl+Tab

Pop up tooltip for Ctrl+F1

currently focused
Shift+F1
control
Show context-sensitive
help for currently
Cmd+? Shift+F1
focused window or Shift+F1 Shift+F1
control
Give focus to Ctrl+F6 /
Cmd+` F6 / Shift+F6
next/previous pane Alt+F6
Give focus to splitter F8
bar in paned window
Cmd+ Shift+/, then type
command name, or
Ctrl+F2 (or Fn+Ctrl+F2 on
some keyboards - requires
Give focus to window's
F10 or Alt full keyboard access active Alt F10
menu bar
using System Preferences >
Keyboard > Keyboard
Shortcuts > Full Keyboard
Access > All Controls))
Varies with laptop / extended
Pop up contextual keyboard type; enable Mouse

menu for currently keys in Universal Access, Menu or
Shift+F10 Menu
selected objects (aka then Function+Ctrl+5 or Shift+F10
or Menu
context menu) Ctrl+5 (numeric keypad) or
Function+Ctrl+i (laptop)
Toggle selected state of
focused checkbox,
Space Space Space Space
radio button, or toggle
button
Activate focused Space (also Enter for
Enter Enter Enter
button, menu item etc. menu items)
Select/move to first/last Home / Home / End
item in selected widget End
/
PageUp /
Scroll selected view by
Ctrl+PageUp /
one page (or Fn+}+Fn+ on some
PageDown /
up/left/down/right keyboards)
Ctrl+PageDown

Scroll selected view to or on MacBook Pro Fn +

 Action Windows Mac OS KDE GNOME
Opt +

top/bottom or on MacBook Pro Fn +

Opt +

Ctrl+Tab ->
Ctrl+Tab /
Switch focus to the
Ctrl+Tab
next/previous tab Ctrl+ Shift+Tab
Cmd+`
within a window <-

Switch focus to the Ctrl+Alt+Tab /

next/previous panel on Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Tab
the desktop
Ctrl+Alt+Esc /
Switch focus to the
next/previous panel
(without dialog) Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Esc

Command line shortcuts

Below is a list of common keyboard shortcuts that are used in a command line environment.

Microsoft
Unix/Linux/Mac Unix/Linux/Mac
Microsoft Windows Windows
Action OS X OS X
(cmd.exe) (Windows
(bash) (POSIX shell)
PowerShell)
Scroll through
/ or
History of typed / / ESC K/ESC J
Ctrl+P/Ctrl+N
commands
Signal end-of-file Ctrl+Z Ctrl+D
Abort current
Ctrl+C Ctrl+C Ctrl+C Ctrl+C
command/typing
Erase word to the
Ctrl+ Backspace Ctrl+W
left
Erase word to the
Ctrl+Delete Alt+D
right
Erase line to the left Ctrl+Home Ctrl+U
Erase line to the
Ctrl+End Ctrl+End Ctrl+K
right
Yank/paste
previously erased Ctrl+Y
string
 Move one word to
Ctrl+ Ctrl+ Alt+B
the left (backward)
Move one word to
Ctrl+ Ctrl+ Alt+F
the right (forward)
Ctrl+A
Move to beginning Home Home
of line or Home

Ctrl+E

Move to end of line End End

or End

Reverse search of F8 F8 Ctrl+R

history
Stop execution of
Ctrl+Z
the current job
Insert the next
character typed Ctrl+V
verbatim
Tab (enabled by
Autocomplete Tab (usually Esc(usually
default in Windows Tab
command/file name once) twice)
XP and later)
Paste contents of
Shift+Ins
clipboard at cursor
Shift+PageUp
(may not work in
Scroll window up Shift+PageUp
some versions of
Windows XP)
Shift+PageDown
(may not work in
Scroll window down
some versions of Shift+PageDown
Windows XP)

Accessibility

In Windows, it is possible to disable these shortcuts using the Accessibility or Ease of

Access control panel.

In GNOME, these shortcuts are possible if Universal Access is enabled.

Action Windows Mac OS KDE GNOME

Utility Manager Win+U
(Left Alt+Left [26]
Use keyboard to control cursor
Shift+Numlock
 Action Windows Mac OS KDE GNOME
Allow user to press shortcuts ***( Shift 5
( Shift 5 times)
one key at a time times) [27]
Hear beep when -lock key (Numlock for 5
pressed seconds)
***( Shift for 8
seconds)[28]
Stop/slow repeating characters (Right Shift for 8
when key is pressed seconds) [29][30]

Left Alt+Left Cmd+

Inverse (Reverse Colors) Mode
Shift+PrtScn Opt+Ctrl+8