Hello GNOME developers,
First of all, thank you for the continuous improvements to Nautilus. It has become one of the cleanest and most user-friendly file managers on Linux.
I would like to suggest adding a dedicated keyboard shortcut:
Ctrl + Shift + L â Open the Filter dialog (Search Filters)
Why this would be useful
Currently, users can start searching with Ctrl + F, but applying search filters (such as File Type, Date Modified, or File Size) requires reaching for the mouse.
A dedicated shortcut would:
- Improve keyboard-only navigation and accessibility.
- Speed up advanced file searches.
- Make the filter options easier to discover for power users.
- Keep the search workflow efficient without interrupting typing.
Why Ctrl + Shift + L?
- Ctrl + L is already used for Enter Location, so it should remain unchanged.
- Adding Shift creates a related, easy-to-remember shortcut without conflicting with the existing location shortcut.
- The shortcut feels consistent: Location (Ctrl + L) and Filters (Ctrl + Shift + L) are both navigation-related actions.
Possible behavior
- If the Search Filters popover is closed, Ctrl + Shift + L opens it and focuses the first filter.
- If it is already open, pressing the shortcut again closes it or returns focus to the search field.
I believe this small addition would improve keyboard productivity in Nautilus, especially for users who frequently perform advanced searches.
Thank you for considering this suggestion.