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.
- Switch OS tabs for Windows, macOS, or Linux shortcuts.
- Use / to jump to search instantly.
- Use Compare mode when moving between machines.
- Print or save the page as a compact PDF cheat sheet.
File & Buffers
7 shortcuts
Open file
Ctrl+XCtrl+F
WinCtrl+XCtrl+FMacCtrl+XCtrl+FLinuxCtrl+XCtrl+F
Save file
Ctrl+XCtrl+S
WinCtrl+XCtrl+SMacCtrl+XCtrl+SLinuxCtrl+XCtrl+S
Save as
Ctrl+XCtrl+W
WinCtrl+XCtrl+WMacCtrl+XCtrl+WLinuxCtrl+XCtrl+W
Kill buffer
Ctrl+XK
WinCtrl+XKMacCtrl+XKLinuxCtrl+XK
Switch buffer
Ctrl+XB
WinCtrl+XBMacCtrl+XBLinuxCtrl+XB
List all buffers
Ctrl+XCtrl+B
WinCtrl+XCtrl+BMacCtrl+XCtrl+BLinuxCtrl+XCtrl+B
Quit Emacs
Ctrl+XCtrl+C
WinCtrl+XCtrl+CMacCtrl+XCtrl+CLinuxCtrl+XCtrl+C
Navigation
13 shortcuts
Move forward char
Ctrl+F
WinCtrl+FMacCtrl+FLinuxCtrl+F
Move backward char
Ctrl+B
WinCtrl+BMacCtrl+BLinuxCtrl+B
Move up line
Ctrl+P
WinCtrl+PMacCtrl+PLinuxCtrl+P
Move down line
Ctrl+N
WinCtrl+NMacCtrl+NLinuxCtrl+N
Move forward word
Alt+F
WinAlt+FMacAlt+FLinuxAlt+F
Move backward word
Alt+B
WinAlt+BMacAlt+BLinuxAlt+B
Move to beginning of line
Ctrl+A
WinCtrl+AMacCtrl+ALinuxCtrl+A
Move to end of line
Ctrl+E
WinCtrl+EMacCtrl+ELinuxCtrl+E
Move to beginning of buffer
Alt+<
WinAlt+<MacAlt+<LinuxAlt+<
Move to end of buffer
Alt+>
WinAlt+>MacAlt+>LinuxAlt+>
Scroll up
Ctrl+V
WinCtrl+VMacCtrl+VLinuxCtrl+V
Scroll down
Alt+V
WinAlt+VMacAlt+VLinuxAlt+V
Go to line
Alt+GG
WinAlt+GGMacAlt+GGLinuxAlt+GG
Editing
12 shortcuts
Set mark (start selection)
Ctrl+Space
WinCtrl+SpaceMacCtrl+SpaceLinuxCtrl+Space
Kill (cut) region
Ctrl+W
WinCtrl+WMacCtrl+WLinuxCtrl+W
Copy region
Alt+W
WinAlt+WMacAlt+WLinuxAlt+W
Yank (paste)
Ctrl+Y
WinCtrl+YMacCtrl+YLinuxCtrl+Y
Kill to end of line
Ctrl+K
WinCtrl+KMacCtrl+KLinuxCtrl+K
Kill word forward
Alt+D
WinAlt+DMacAlt+DLinuxAlt+D
Kill word backward
Alt+Backspace
WinAlt+BackspaceMacAlt+BackspaceLinuxAlt+Backspace
Delete char forward
Ctrl+D
WinCtrl+DMacCtrl+DLinuxCtrl+D
Undo
Ctrl+XU/Ctrl+_
WinCtrl+XU/Ctrl+_MacCtrl+XU/Ctrl+_LinuxCtrl+XU/Ctrl+_
Transpose chars
Ctrl+T
WinCtrl+TMacCtrl+TLinuxCtrl+T
Upcase word
Alt+U
WinAlt+UMacAlt+ULinuxAlt+U
Downcase word
Alt+L
WinAlt+LMacAlt+LLinuxAlt+L
Search
5 shortcuts
Incremental search forward
Ctrl+S
WinCtrl+SMacCtrl+SLinuxCtrl+S
Incremental search backward
Ctrl+R
WinCtrl+RMacCtrl+RLinuxCtrl+R
Search and replace
Alt+%
WinAlt+%MacAlt+%LinuxAlt+%
Regexp search
Ctrl+Alt+S
WinCtrl+Alt+SMacCtrl+Alt+SLinuxCtrl+Alt+S
Occur (list matching lines)
Alt+Xoccur
WinAlt+XoccurMacAlt+XoccurLinuxAlt+Xoccur
Windows & Frames
7 shortcuts
Split window horizontally
Ctrl+X2
WinCtrl+X2MacCtrl+X2LinuxCtrl+X2
Split window vertically
Ctrl+X3
WinCtrl+X3MacCtrl+X3LinuxCtrl+X3
Delete other windows
Ctrl+X1
WinCtrl+X1MacCtrl+X1LinuxCtrl+X1
Delete current window
Ctrl+X0
WinCtrl+X0MacCtrl+X0LinuxCtrl+X0
Switch to other window
Ctrl+XO
WinCtrl+XOMacCtrl+XOLinuxCtrl+XO
Execute extended command
Alt+X
WinAlt+XMacAlt+XLinuxAlt+X
Cancel command
Ctrl+G
WinCtrl+GMacCtrl+GLinuxCtrl+G
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.
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