How to Open Terminal in Ubuntu: Every Method Explained

The terminal is one of Ubuntu's most powerful tools — and one of the first things new users want to find. Whether you're installing software, editing config files, or running scripts, knowing how to get to a command line quickly is a foundational skill. The good news: Ubuntu offers several ways to open the terminal, and which one works best depends entirely on how you work.

What Is the Ubuntu Terminal?

The terminal (also called a command-line interface or CLI) is a text-based interface where you type commands directly to interact with the operating system. On Ubuntu, the default terminal application is GNOME Terminal, though other terminal emulators exist and can be installed.

Unlike graphical apps where you click buttons, the terminal accepts typed commands — giving you direct access to file management, networking tools, package installation, system configuration, and more.

The Fastest Way: Keyboard Shortcut ⌨️

The quickest method for most Ubuntu users is the keyboard shortcut:

Ctrl + Alt + T

This opens a new terminal window instantly from almost anywhere on the desktop. It works on Ubuntu's default GNOME desktop environment and is available out of the box on most Ubuntu versions (18.04, 20.04, 22.04, and later).

If this shortcut doesn't work on your system, it may have been remapped or disabled — which is worth checking in your keyboard settings.

Opening Terminal Through the Application Menu

If you prefer a point-and-click approach:

1. Click the Activities button (top-left corner) or press the Super key (Windows key)
2. Type "Terminal" in the search bar
3. Click the Terminal icon when it appears

This method works regardless of your familiarity with keyboard shortcuts and is reliable across Ubuntu desktop versions.

Right-Click on the Desktop

On some Ubuntu setups — particularly those using GNOME with certain extensions or older Ubuntu versions — you can right-click on an empty area of the desktop and select "Open Terminal" from the context menu.

This option isn't available by default in newer GNOME-based Ubuntu releases, but it can be re-enabled through the GNOME Tweaks tool or by installing the Nautilus-open-terminal extension.

Using the Run Dialog

Another lesser-known method:

1. Press Alt + F2 to open the Run dialog
2. Type gnome-terminal and press Enter

This is particularly handy when your desktop is unresponsive or you want to launch a specific terminal emulator by name.

Opening Terminal in a Specific Folder

When working with files, it's often useful to open a terminal directly inside a folder rather than navigating there afterward.

In the Files (Nautilus) file manager:

1. Navigate to your target folder
2. Click the hamburger menu (three lines, top-right)
3. Select "Open in Terminal"

If this option isn't visible, it can be added by installing the nautilus-extension-gnome-terminal package via the terminal or Software Center.

Terminal Options Beyond GNOME Terminal

Ubuntu's default is GNOME Terminal, but several alternatives are worth knowing about:

Each can be installed from Ubuntu's package repositories using apt. The right choice depends on your workflow — whether you need split panes, tabs, transparency, or just a bare-bones interface.

Accessing a Terminal Without a Desktop (TTY) 🖥️

If you're running Ubuntu Server, working on a headless machine, or your graphical desktop fails to load, you can access a full terminal session through a TTY (teletypewriter) session:

• Press Ctrl + Alt + F3 (or F2 through F6) to switch to a virtual console
• Log in with your username and password
• Press Ctrl + Alt + F1 or Ctrl + Alt + F7 to return to the graphical session

TTY access bypasses the desktop environment entirely and gives you a raw terminal — essential for system recovery or server management.

Opening Terminal Remotely via SSH

If you need terminal access to an Ubuntu machine from another device, SSH (Secure Shell) is the standard method:

ssh username@hostname_or_ip 

This requires the OpenSSH server to be installed and running on the Ubuntu machine (sudo apt install openssh-server). Once connected, you get a full terminal session over the network — the same as sitting in front of the machine.

What Changes Between Ubuntu Versions and Desktop Environments

Not all Ubuntu installations behave identically. The methods above assume the standard GNOME desktop that ships with Ubuntu. However:

• Kubuntu uses KDE Plasma — the keyboard shortcut and menu location differ
• Xubuntu uses XFCE — terminal is typically under Applications > System
• Ubuntu MATE has its own terminal accessible from the Applications menu
• Minimal installs may not include a terminal emulator by default

The desktop environment is the biggest variable in how and where you find the terminal. If you installed a non-standard flavor or switched desktop environments after installation, the default shortcuts and menu paths may not match what's described above.

Your Ubuntu version, desktop environment, and how you typically navigate your system all shape which method is most practical for your day-to-day use.