Deepin Linux Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete Guide

Deepin Linux is a Debian based distribution built by Wuhan Deepin Technology, known for its custom desktop environment called DDE (Deepin Desktop Environment). DDE ships with its own launcher, file manager, terminal, and screenshot tool, each with its own set of keyboard shortcuts.

This guide covers every default shortcut across the Deepin desktop, terminal, file manager, and screenshot tool, organized by task so you can find what you need fast. It also covers how to customize shortcuts and what to do when one stops working.

Key takeaways

• DDE uses the Super key (the Windows/Command key) as its main modifier, similar to GNOME and KDE.
• Shortcuts are grouped into desktop navigation, file manager, terminal, and screenshot categories, each with its own key patterns.
• Shortcuts can be changed or reset from Control Center, under Keyboard and Language.
• Exact key bindings can vary slightly between Deepin releases, so it’s worth checking Control Center on your own machine if something below doesn’t match.

Most Used Deepin Shortcuts

Window and Workspace Shortcuts

Pitcher (App Launcher) Shortcuts

File Manager Shortcuts

Screenshot Tool Shortcuts

Screenshot Drawing Shortcuts

Deepin Terminal Shortcuts

Terminal Workspace and Split Shortcuts

How to Customize Deepin Shortcuts

You can change almost every shortcut above from the desktop settings, no config file editing required for basic changes.

1. Open Control Center, either from the launcher or with Super + click the system icons in the taskbar.
2. Go to Keyboard and Language, then select Shortcuts.
3. Browse the list of system and custom shortcuts, or use the search box to find a specific action.
4. Click the current key combination next to the action you want to change, then press the new key combination you want to assign.
5. To remove a shortcut instead of replacing it, select it and press Backspace.

For advanced users, custom shortcuts are stored in ~/.config/deepin/dde-daemon/keybinding/custom.ini. This file can be edited directly or managed through the dbus-send interface to the Keybinding service, which is useful if you’re scripting shortcut setup across multiple machines.

Fixing Shortcuts That Stop Working

A few common causes account for most “my Deepin shortcut stopped working” reports:

• Missing dependency. Screenshot and screen recording shortcuts rely on separate packages such as the screen recorder tool. If a shortcut does nothing, confirm the related application is actually installed, not just the shortcut binding.
• Conflicting keyboard layout tools. If you’ve set a custom layout with a tool like setxkbmap outside of Control Center, it can override or block DDE’s own shortcut handling.
• Settings not applied until restart. After changing a shortcut, some changes only take effect after restarting the desktop session or the control center process, rather than instantly.
• Duplicate bindings. If two actions are assigned to the same key combination, DDE will usually honor only one of them. Check the full shortcut list for conflicts before assuming a shortcut is broken.

Deepin vs Ubuntu Shortcuts

If you’re moving between Deepin and Ubuntu’s default GNOME desktop, most core shortcuts map closely, though the modifier patterns differ slightly.

FAQs

What is the shortcut to show the desktop in Deepin Linux?

Press Super + D to show the desktop, and press it again to return to your open windows.

How do I open the terminal in Deepin?

Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open Deepin Terminal directly, or press Alt + F2 for Quake mode, which drops a terminal down from the top of the screen.

Can I customize Deepin Linux keyboard shortcuts?

Yes. Open Control Center, go to Keyboard and Language, then Shortcuts, and click any action to assign a new key combination.

Why do my Deepin shortcuts stop working after an update?

This is usually caused by a missing dependency for the feature the shortcut controls, or a setting that needs the desktop session restarted to take effect. Check Control Center to confirm the binding itself is still set correctly.

Is Deepin Linux based on Ubuntu or Debian?

Deepin is based on Debian, not Ubuntu, though it shares enough underlying structure with Ubuntu that many packages and shortcuts feel familiar to Ubuntu users.

What does DDE stand for in Deepin Linux?

DDE stands for Deepin Desktop Environment, the custom desktop shell, launcher, and window manager built specifically for Deepin Linux.

How many keyboard shortcuts does Deepin Linux have by default?

Deepin ships with more than 75 default shortcuts across desktop navigation, file management, the terminal, and the screenshot tool combined.

Conclusion

Deepin’s shortcuts follow a consistent, learnable pattern once you know the Super key handles desktop level actions and Ctrl-based combinations handle app level actions like copy, paste, and terminal control. Bookmark this page as a reference, and use Control Center’s Shortcuts panel any time you want to change a binding to match muscle memory from another OS.

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