diff --git a/src/filewidgets/knewfilemenu.h b/src/filewidgets/knewfilemenu.h
--- a/src/filewidgets/knewfilemenu.h
+++ b/src/filewidgets/knewfilemenu.h
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@
      * @note If you want the "Create directory..." action shortcut to show up next to its text,
      *       make sure to have an action with name "create_dir" (and shortcut set) in @p collection.
      *       This will only work with KIO >= 5.27.
+     *       From KIO >= 5.52, an action named "create_file" (and shortcut set) in @p collection
+     *       will be linked to the creation of the first file template (either from XDG_TEMPLATES_DIR
+     *       or from :/kio5/newfile-templates)
      */
     KNewFileMenu(KActionCollection *collection, const QString &name, QObject *parent);
 
@@ -148,6 +151,17 @@
      */
     void createDirectory();
 
+    /**
+     * Call this to create a new file as if the user had done it using
+     * a popupmenu. This is useful to make sure that creating a directory with
+     * a key shortcut (e.g. Shift-F10) triggers the exact same code as when using
+     * the New menu.
+     * Requirements: call setPopupFiles first, and keep this KNewFileMenu instance
+     * alive (the copy is async).
+     * @since 5.52
+     */
+    void createFile();
+
 Q_SIGNALS:
     /**
      * Emitted once the file (or symlink) @p url has been successfully created
diff --git a/src/filewidgets/knewfilemenu.cpp b/src/filewidgets/knewfilemenu.cpp
--- a/src/filewidgets/knewfilemenu.cpp
+++ b/src/filewidgets/knewfilemenu.cpp
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@
         : m_menuItemsVersion(0),
           m_modal(true),
           m_viewShowsHiddenFiles(false),
+          m_firstFileEntry(nullptr),
           q(qq)
     {}
 
@@ -372,6 +373,8 @@
     QString m_text;
     bool m_viewShowsHiddenFiles;
 
+    KNewFileMenuSingleton::Entry *m_firstFileEntry;
+
     KNewFileMenu *q;
 
     KNewFileMenuCopyData m_copyData;
@@ -749,6 +752,20 @@
                             menu->addAction(act);
                         }
                     } else {
+                        if (!m_firstFileEntry) {
+                            m_firstFileEntry = &entry;
+                            // If there is a shortcut available in the action collection, use it.
+                            QAction *act2 = m_actionCollection->action(QStringLiteral("create_file"));
+                            if (act2) {
+                                act->setShortcuts(act2->shortcuts());
+                                // Both actions have now the same shortcut, so this will prevent the "Ambiguous shortcut detected" dialog.
+                                act->setShortcutContext(Qt::WidgetShortcut);
+                                // We also need to react to shortcut changes.
+                                QObject::connect(act2, &QAction::changed, act, [=]() {
+                                    act->setShortcuts(act2->shortcuts());
+                                });
+                            }
+                        }
                         menu->addAction(act);
                     }
                 }
@@ -1226,6 +1243,20 @@
     lineEdit->setFocus();
 }
 
+void KNewFileMenu::createFile()
+{
+    if (d->m_popupFiles.isEmpty()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    checkUpToDate();
+    if (!d->m_firstFileEntry) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    d->executeRealFileOrDir(*d->m_firstFileEntry);
+}
+
 bool KNewFileMenu::isModal() const
 {
     return d->m_modal;