Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: Unable to use IntelliJ IDEA keyboard shortcuts on Ubuntu

IntelliJ IDEA keyboard shortcuts not working on Ubuntu

Quick Answer: Check if you have enabled the "Use system keyboard shortcuts" option in IntelliJ IDEA settings, and also ensure that the keyboard layout is set to the default one.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. 🚀 How to Resolve This Issue
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

Unable to use IntelliJ IDEAkeyboard shortcuts on Ubuntu is an issue that affects developers who have recently switched from Windows XP to Ubuntu 13.10.

This problem can be frustrating, especially for those who are used to using keyboard shortcuts in their daily development work.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this issue lies in the way Linux handles keyboard shortcuts compared to Windows. In Linux, the Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys are not recognized as standard shortcuts, but rather as modifier keys combined with other keys.
  • Another possible cause is that IntelliJ IDEA may not be properly configured to recognize keyboard shortcuts on Ubuntu.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Configuring IntelliJ IDEA to use Linux-specific keyboard shortcuts

  1. Step 1: Open IntelliJ IDEA and go to Settings (or Preferences, depending on your operating system) by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Alt + S.
  2. Step 2: In the Settings window, navigate to Keymap and click on the 'Edit' button next to the shortcut you want to configure.
  3. Step 3: Select 'Linux' as the operating system in the drop-down menu and then choose the correct keyboard layout for your Ubuntu installation.
  4. Step 4: Configure the shortcuts by assigning the desired keys or key combinations to the IntelliJ IDEA actions. You can do this by clicking on the '+' button at the bottom left of the window and selecting the action you want to assign a shortcut to.

Using the 'Customize Keyboard' feature in Ubuntu

  1. Step 1: Press Alt + F1 to open the 'Customize Keyboard' window.
  2. Step 2: In this window, click on the 'Keyboard shortcuts' tab and then select 'Application' from the drop-down menu.
  3. Step 3: Click on the '+' button at the bottom left of the window to add a new shortcut. Enter the name of the IntelliJ IDEA action you want to assign a shortcut to in the 'Action' field.
  4. Step 4: In the 'Shortcut' field, enter the key combination you want to use for the shortcut (e.g., Ctrl + Alt + arrow).

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of not being able to use IntelliJ IDEA keyboard shortcuts on Ubuntu. Remember to configure your shortcuts carefully and test them thoroughly to ensure they work as expected.

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