How to Create and Manage Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can significantly improve your productivity by allowing you to quickly access commonly used functions or execute specific actions without navigating through menus. In this guide, we will learn how to create and manage keyboard shortcuts on various platforms. Let's get started!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Creating Keyboard Shortcuts
   • Windows
   • macOS
   • Linux (GNOME)
   • Linux (KDE Plasma)
3. Managing Keyboard Shortcuts
4. Conclusion

1. Introduction

Keyboard shortcuts are a combination of keys or a single key that triggers a specific action in an application or operating system. By setting up these shortcuts, you can perform tasks quickly, saving time and effort.

2. Creating Keyboard Shortcuts

Below, we will cover how to create keyboard shortcuts on different operating systems:

Windows

1. Go to the Start menu and search for "Control Panel."
2. Open the Control Panel and click on "Ease of Access."
3. Next, select "Change how your keyboard works."
4. Scroll down and click on the "Make the keyboard easier to use" option.
5. Check the box that says, "Turn on StickyKeys, ToggleKeys, and FilterKeys."
6. Click on "Set up Sticky Keys" and follow the prompts to enable this feature.
7. Once enabled, you can set custom keyboard shortcuts by going to "Control Panel" > "Keyboard."
8. In the Keyboard Properties window, click on the "Shortcuts" tab.
9. Click the "Add" button and specify the program or action you want to associate with the shortcut.
10. Enter the desired key combination for your shortcut and click "Apply" to save the changes.

macOS

1. Open the Apple menu and go to "System Preferences."
2. Click on "Keyboard" and select the "Shortcuts" tab.
3. In the left sidebar, choose the category you want to create a shortcut for (e.g., App Shortcuts).
4. Click the "+" button below the shortcut list to add a new shortcut.
5. Enter the exact name of the menu command you want to create a shortcut for and specify the keyboard shortcut you want to assign.
6. Click "Add" to save the new shortcut.

Linux (GNOME)

1. Open the Activities Overview by clicking on the "Activities" or "Show Applications" button.
2. Search for "Settings" and open the Settings application.
3. Go to "Keyboard Shortcuts" or a similar option in the settings menu.
4. Browse the list of available shortcuts or click the "+" symbol to add a new shortcut.
5. Specify the name, command, and key combination for the new shortcut.
6. Save the changes.

Linux (KDE Plasma)

1. Right-click on the Application Launcher icon and select "Configure Application Launcher" or "Edit Applications."
2. Locate the application or action you want to set a shortcut for and click on it.
3. In the properties window, click on the current shortcut field and press the keys you want to assign as the shortcut.
4. Save the changes.

3. Managing Keyboard Shortcuts

Managing keyboard shortcuts involves modifying or removing existing shortcuts. Here's how to do it:

• Windows: Follow steps 1-7 in the "Creating Keyboard Shortcuts" section for the respective Windows version. To modify or remove a shortcut, select it from the list and click the "Change Key Sequence" or "Remove" button.
• macOS: Open the "Keyboard" preference pane and navigate to the "Shortcuts" tab. Locate the shortcut you want to modify or remove, double-click it, and enter the new shortcut or press the "Delete" key to remove it.
• Linux (GNOME): Open the settings menu and go to "Keyboard Shortcuts." Find the desired shortcut in the list and edit or delete it as needed.
• Linux (KDE Plasma): Right-click on the Application Launcher icon, select "Configure Application Launcher," then click on the desired shortcut and modify or remove it using the appropriate options.

4. Conclusion

Keyboard shortcuts are an effective way to boost your productivity and streamline your workflow. By creating and managing them, you can work more efficiently and save valuable time. Experiment with different shortcuts to find the ones that work best for you, and enjoy the benefits of faster and easier access to your most frequently used functions.