After installing Fedora, or most linuxes, you may realise that the Windows key that you used during the unenlightened days doesnt work anymore. Even worse, you cannot seem to use it as part of you Keyboard shortcuts. Gives some weird irony when reading about Dead Keys.

Enabling the Windows Key is easy, Just go to System -> Preferences -> Keyboard.

You will get the Keyboard Preferences window up. Choose the Layouts tab.

The Keyboard type used

The Keyboard type used

Then choose Layout Options. A new Keyboard Layout Options window comes out.

Keyboard Layout Options

Keyboard Layout Options

Expand the Alt/Win Key Behavior menu, and choose Super is mapped to Win Keys Then close all the menus. You know have a functional Windows key.

Choose the Super is mapped to Win Keys

Choose the Super is mapped to Win Keys

You can now assign shortcuts using the Keyboard Shortcuts menu. In this screenshot, I assigned Windows key + R to opening a new terminal.

A Sample Shortcut Using the Windows Key

A Sample Shortcut Using the Windows Key

Pretty handy for me. I’m sure you will be able to think of other shortcuts that suite your fancy.