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Sunil Pradhan
Sunil Pradhan

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Linux Mint Keyboard Shortcuts Every Beginner Should Know

#linux #linuxmint

When I switched to Linux Mint, I quickly realized something.

I was using my mouse... a lot.

Coming from Windows, I didn't know which keyboard shortcuts worked, which were different, and which could actually make me faster.

So I started learning them one by one.

If you're also new to Linux Mint, this guide will save you time. You don't need to memorize all of them today—just learn a few, use them every day, and they'll soon become second nature.

Why Learn Keyboard Shortcuts?

Think of keyboard shortcuts like shortcuts in real life.

Imagine walking to the kitchen every time you need a glass of water. Now imagine someone installs a slide that gets you there in two seconds.

That's what keyboard shortcuts do.

Instead of clicking through menus, you press a few keys and get things done instantly.

1. Open the Menu

Shortcut

Super
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Super is simply the Windows key on your keyboard.

Press it once and Linux Mint opens the application menu.

From there you can immediately start typing.

For example:

Super
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Then type:

Firefox
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or

Terminal
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No hunting through menus.

LinuxMint Super Keyboard shorcut key

2. Open the Terminal

One shortcut you'll use a lot while learning Linux is:

Ctrl + Alt + T
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It opens the Terminal instantly.

If you're following Linux tutorials online, this shortcut alone will save hundreds of clicks.

LinuxMint Open the Terminal shortcut key

3. Switch Between Open Applications

Have several applications open?

Use:

Alt + Tab
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Keep holding Alt and press Tab repeatedly to cycle through open applications.

Think of it as flipping through cards on your desk.

4. Show the Desktop

Need to quickly see your desktop?

Press:

Super + D
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Press it again to restore all your windows.

Very handy when your screen gets crowded.

5. Snap Windows Side by Side

Working with documentation and code?

Or watching a tutorial while practicing?

Use:

Super + Left Arrow
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Moves the current window to the left half.

Super + Right Arrow
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Moves it to the right half.

This is one of my favorite productivity shortcuts.

LinuxMint - Snap Windows Side by Side

6. Maximize or Restore a Window

Instead of clicking the maximize button:

Alt + F10
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Maximizes the window.

To restore it:

Alt + F5
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7. Close the Current Window

Instead of moving your mouse to the X button:

Alt + F4
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Instantly closes the active window.

8. Rename Files Quickly

Select a file in the File Manager.

Press:

F2
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Now you can rename it immediately.

Much faster than right-clicking.

9. Show Hidden Files

One thing that surprises every new Linux user is that many important configuration folders are hidden.

For example:

.config
.local
.cache
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To show them:

Ctrl + H
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Press it again to hide them.

You'll use this shortcut a lot when customizing Linux Mint or following tutorials.

10. Workspaces – Have Multiple Desktops

One feature I didn't know existed when I started using Linux Mint was Workspaces (also called Virtual Desktops).

Think of it like having multiple desks instead of trying to fit everything onto one.

Instead of minimizing and restoring windows all day, you can organize your work across different workspaces.

For example, you could keep:

  • 🌐 Workspace 1 → Browser
  • 💻 Workspace 2 → Terminal
  • 🎵 Workspace 3 → Music or Chat applications

Now, instead of digging through dozens of open windows, you simply switch to another workspace.

LinuxMint - Workspaces

Useful Workspace Shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + Alt + Up Show Workspace Overview
Ctrl + Alt + Left Switch to the previous workspace
Ctrl + Alt + Right Switch to the next workspace

Why is this useful?

Imagine you're following a Linux tutorial.

  • On Workspace 1, you have Firefox open with the tutorial.
  • On Workspace 2, you're practicing commands in the Terminal.
  • On Workspace 3, you have Spotify, Telegram, or Slack running.

Instead of minimizing and maximizing windows all the time, you simply press a keyboard shortcut to move between workspaces. Once you get used to this workflow, it feels much cleaner and less distracting.

Tip: If you've never used virtual desktops before, try spending just one day with two workspaces—one for browsing and one for your work. It might feel unusual at first, but many Linux users end up wondering how they ever worked without them.

11. Take Screenshots

Linux Mint makes screenshots easy.

Shortcut Action
PrtSc Capture the whole screen
Alt + PrtSc Capture only the current window
Shift + PrtSc Select a specific area

Perfect if you're writing tutorials or asking for help online.

12. Lock Your Computer

This is where I got confused when I first started using Linux Mint.

Coming from Windows, I naturally pressed:

Super + L
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But instead of locking my computer, this happened:

Linux Mint opened a strange window called Looking Glass.

Looking Glass window appears instead of lock screen

At first, I thought something had gone wrong!

It turns out Looking Glass is actually Cinnamon's built-in debugging tool for developers. On some Linux Mint installations, Super + L is assigned to open it instead of locking the screen.

To lock your computer, try:

Ctrl + Alt + L
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or check your keyboard shortcuts because this can vary depending on your Linux Mint version.

You can see or change shortcuts here:

Menu
    → Preferences
        → Keyboard
            → Shortcuts
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If you prefer the Windows behavior, you can even reassign:

Super + L
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to Lock Screen.

That was one of the first customizations I made.

13. Copy, Cut and Paste

These work exactly like Windows.

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + X Cut
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + Z Undo
Ctrl + A Select All

No learning curve here.

14. Terminal Shortcuts You'll Love

Inside the Terminal, some shortcuts are different from regular applications.

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + Shift + C Copy
Ctrl + Shift + V Paste
Ctrl + L Clear the terminal
Ctrl + D Exit the terminal
Tab Auto-complete commands
↑ Arrow Previous command
Ctrl + R Search command history

Example

Instead of typing:

sudo apt install firefox
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Type:

sudo apt ins
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Then press:

Tab
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Linux often completes the rest for you.

It's a small feature that saves a surprising amount of typing.

My Advice to New Linux Mint Users

Don't try to memorize 50 shortcuts in one day.

Instead, pick five and use them every day:

  • Super
  • Ctrl + Alt + T
  • Alt + Tab
  • Super + Left/Right
  • Ctrl + H

After a week, they'll feel natural.

Then add a couple more.

You'll gradually notice that you're reaching for the mouse less often—and getting things done faster.

Final Thoughts

Learning keyboard shortcuts isn't about showing off. It's about making your daily workflow smoother.

When I first moved to Linux Mint, I kept wondering, "There has to be a quicker way to do this." Most of the time, there was—it was just a keyboard shortcut away.

If you're just starting your Linux Mint journey, learn one new shortcut today. By the end of the month, you'll be navigating your system with much more confidence, and you'll wonder how you ever managed without them.

Happy learning! 🐧

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