Simple Ways to Open a Terminal in Ubuntu

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A step-by-step tutorial to launching Ubuntu terminals

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 29, 2025 References

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Using Keyboard Shortcuts

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Using the Dash

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Using a Launcher Shortcut

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Using Ubuntu 10.04 and Earlier

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Video

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Q&A

The quickest way to open the Terminal application in Ubuntu is to use one of the major keyboard shortcuts. You can also search for Terminal in the Dash, or add a shortcut to your Launcher. In older versions of Ubuntu, you can find it in the Applications folder.

Ubuntu Terminal Shortcuts

Press “CTRL” + “ALT” + “T.”
Press “ALT” + “F2.” Then, type “gnome_terminal”.
Press the “Dash” or “Windows” key. Then, type “terminal”.
Go to Settings > Hardware > Keyboard > Shortcuts to make your own shortcut.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

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Ctrl+Alt+T. This will launch the Terminal.^{[1]
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Alt+F2 and type gnome-terminal. This will also launch the Terminal.^{[2]
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⊞ Win+T (Xubuntu only). For general Ubuntu the shortcut is Ctrl+Alt+T This Xubuntu-specific shortcut will also launch Terminal.^{[3]
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Set a custom shortcut. You can change the shortcut from Ctrl+Alt+T to something else:^{[4]
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- Click the "System settings" button in the Launcher bar.
- Click the "Keyboard" option in the "Hardware" section.
- Click the "Shortcuts" tab.
- Click the "Launchers" category and then highlight "Launch terminal."
- Press your new keyboard shortcut.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using the Dash

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Click the Dash button or press .⊞ Win. The Dash button can be found in the upper-left corner, and has the Ubuntu logo.^{[5]
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- If you switched your Super Key from ⊞ Win to something else, press the new key instead.
^{[6]
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⏎ Return.^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using a Launcher Shortcut

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You can find this in the Launcher bar, and it has the Ubuntu logo.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Ubuntu 10.04 and Earlier

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This can be found in the Launcher bar in older versions of Ubuntu.^{[8]
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In Xubuntu, click "System" instead.^{[9]
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^{[10]
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Community Q&A

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Question

How do I stop the terminal from starting automatically when I start up my computer?

Community Answer

You can either use a software like the program "Clean my Mac" or you can put the program in your dock. When in dock, you can right click (or hold the left click button) and press ''alternatives'.' From there you may navigate to the button saying "open" on "login." If you press that button, the terminal won't open anymore.

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