Cheat sheet guide
Emacs shortcuts worth learning first
This page collects 44 searchable Emacs keyboard shortcuts across 5 categories. Start with the shortcuts for File & Buffers, Navigation, Editing, Search, then print the cheat sheet once the important ones are worth keeping nearby.
- Open fileCtrlXCtrlF
- Move forward charCtrlF
- Set mark (start selection)CtrlSpace
- Incremental search forwardCtrlS
- Split window horizontallyCtrlX2
- Save fileCtrlXCtrlS
File & Buffers
7 shortcuts
Open file
CtrlXCtrlF
WinCtrlXCtrlFMacCtrlXCtrlFLinuxCtrlXCtrlF
Save file
CtrlXCtrlS
WinCtrlXCtrlSMacCtrlXCtrlSLinuxCtrlXCtrlS
Save as
CtrlXCtrlW
WinCtrlXCtrlWMacCtrlXCtrlWLinuxCtrlXCtrlW
Kill buffer
CtrlXK
WinCtrlXKMacCtrlXKLinuxCtrlXK
Switch buffer
CtrlXB
WinCtrlXBMacCtrlXBLinuxCtrlXB
List all buffers
CtrlXCtrlB
WinCtrlXCtrlBMacCtrlXCtrlBLinuxCtrlXCtrlB
Quit Emacs
CtrlXCtrlC
WinCtrlXCtrlCMacCtrlXCtrlCLinuxCtrlXCtrlC
Navigation
13 shortcuts
Move forward char
CtrlF
WinCtrlFMacCtrlFLinuxCtrlF
Move backward char
CtrlB
WinCtrlBMacCtrlBLinuxCtrlB
Move up line
CtrlP
WinCtrlPMacCtrlPLinuxCtrlP
Move down line
CtrlN
WinCtrlNMacCtrlNLinuxCtrlN
Move forward word
AltF
WinAltFMacAltFLinuxAltF
Move backward word
AltB
WinAltBMacAltBLinuxAltB
Move to beginning of line
CtrlA
WinCtrlAMacCtrlALinuxCtrlA
Move to end of line
CtrlE
WinCtrlEMacCtrlELinuxCtrlE
Move to beginning of buffer
Alt<
WinAlt<MacAlt<LinuxAlt<
Move to end of buffer
Alt>
WinAlt>MacAlt>LinuxAlt>
Scroll up
CtrlV
WinCtrlVMacCtrlVLinuxCtrlV
Scroll down
AltV
WinAltVMacAltVLinuxAltV
Go to line
AltGG
WinAltGGMacAltGGLinuxAltGG
Editing
12 shortcuts
Set mark (start selection)
CtrlSpace
WinCtrlSpaceMacCtrlSpaceLinuxCtrlSpace
Kill (cut) region
CtrlW
WinCtrlWMacCtrlWLinuxCtrlW
Copy region
AltW
WinAltWMacAltWLinuxAltW
Yank (paste)
CtrlY
WinCtrlYMacCtrlYLinuxCtrlY
Kill to end of line
CtrlK
WinCtrlKMacCtrlKLinuxCtrlK
Kill word forward
AltD
WinAltDMacAltDLinuxAltD
Kill word backward
AltBackspace
WinAltBackspaceMacAltBackspaceLinuxAltBackspace
Delete char forward
CtrlD
WinCtrlDMacCtrlDLinuxCtrlD
Undo
CtrlXUCtrl_
WinCtrlXUCtrl_MacCtrlXUCtrl_LinuxCtrlXUCtrl_
Transpose chars
CtrlT
WinCtrlTMacCtrlTLinuxCtrlT
Upcase word
AltU
WinAltUMacAltULinuxAltU
Downcase word
AltL
WinAltLMacAltLLinuxAltL
Search
5 shortcuts
Incremental search forward
CtrlS
WinCtrlSMacCtrlSLinuxCtrlS
Incremental search backward
CtrlR
WinCtrlRMacCtrlRLinuxCtrlR
Search and replace
Alt%
WinAlt%MacAlt%LinuxAlt%
Regexp search
CtrlAltS
WinCtrlAltSMacCtrlAltSLinuxCtrlAltS
Occur (list matching lines)
AltXoccur
WinAltXoccurMacAltXoccurLinuxAltXoccur
Windows & Frames
7 shortcuts
Split window horizontally
CtrlX2
WinCtrlX2MacCtrlX2LinuxCtrlX2
Split window vertically
CtrlX3
WinCtrlX3MacCtrlX3LinuxCtrlX3
Delete other windows
CtrlX1
WinCtrlX1MacCtrlX1LinuxCtrlX1
Delete current window
CtrlX0
WinCtrlX0MacCtrlX0LinuxCtrlX0
Switch to other window
CtrlXO
WinCtrlXOMacCtrlXOLinuxCtrlXO
Execute extended command
AltX
WinAltXMacAltXLinuxAltX
Cancel command
CtrlG
WinCtrlGMacCtrlGLinuxCtrlG
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to find Emacs shortcuts on this page?
Use the search box or press /, then type an action such as open file.
Can I print this Emacs shortcut cheat sheet?
Yes. Use the Print / PDF button or your browser print command to save a compact cheat sheet.
Does this page include Windows and Mac shortcuts for Emacs?
Yes. Use the OS tabs to switch between Windows and macOS shortcuts. For example, Open file is Ctrl+X Ctrl+F on Windows and Ctrl+X Ctrl+F on macOS where available.
