Cheat sheet guide
Neovim shortcuts worth learning first
This page collects 60 searchable Neovim keyboard shortcuts across 6 categories. Start with the shortcuts for Normal Mode — Motion, Normal Mode — Editing, Insert Mode, Visual Mode, 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.
Normal Mode — Motion
12 shortcuts
Move left / down / up / right
H/J/K/L
WinH/J/K/LMacH/J/K/LLinuxH/J/K/L
Word forward
W
WinWMacWLinuxW
Word backward
B
WinBMacBLinuxB
End of word
E
WinEMacELinuxE
Start of line
0
Win0Mac0Linux0
First non-blank of line
^
Win^Mac^Linux^
End of line
$
Win$Mac$Linux$
Go to first line
GG
WinGGMacGGLinuxGG
Go to last line
G
WinGMacGLinuxG
Go to line N
NG
WinNGMacNGLinuxNG
Jump back
Ctrl+O
WinCtrl+OMacCtrl+OLinuxCtrl+O
Jump forward
Ctrl+I
WinCtrl+IMacCtrl+ILinuxCtrl+I
Normal Mode — Editing
13 shortcuts
Undo
U
WinUMacULinuxU
Redo
Ctrl+R
WinCtrl+RMacCtrl+RLinuxCtrl+R
Delete line
DD
WinDDMacDDLinuxDD
Delete character
X
WinXMacXLinuxX
Yank (copy) line
YY
WinYYMacYYLinuxYY
Paste after cursor
P
WinPMacPLinuxP
Paste before cursor
Shift+P
WinShift+PMacShift+PLinuxShift+P
Duplicate line
YYPP
WinYYPPMacYYPPLinuxYYPP
Replace character
R{char}
WinR{char}MacR{char}LinuxR{char}
Change to end of line
C$
WinC$MacC$LinuxC$
Join lines
Shift+J
WinShift+JMacShift+JLinuxShift+J
Indent line right
>>
Win>>Mac>>Linux>>
Indent line left
<<
Win<<Mac<<Linux<<
Insert Mode
8 shortcuts
Enter Insert mode (before)
I
WinIMacILinuxI
Enter Insert mode (after)
A
WinAMacALinuxA
Insert at start of line
Shift+I
WinShift+IMacShift+ILinuxShift+I
Append at end of line
Shift+A
WinShift+AMacShift+ALinuxShift+A
New line below
O
WinOMacOLinuxO
New line above
Shift+O
WinShift+OMacShift+OLinuxShift+O
Return to Normal mode
Esc/Ctrl+[
WinEsc/Ctrl+[MacEsc/Ctrl+[LinuxEsc/Ctrl+[
Delete word backward
Ctrl+W
WinCtrl+WMacCtrl+WLinuxCtrl+W
Visual Mode
8 shortcuts
Enter Visual mode (char)
V
WinVMacVLinuxV
Enter Visual mode (line)
Shift+V
WinShift+VMacShift+VLinuxShift+V
Enter Visual block mode
Ctrl+V
WinCtrl+VMacCtrl+VLinuxCtrl+V
Yank selection
Y
WinYMacYLinuxY
Delete selection
D
WinDMacDLinuxD
Indent selection right
>
Win>Mac>Linux>
Indent selection left
<
Win<Mac<Linux<
Toggle case
~
Win~Mac~Linux~
Search & Commands
11 shortcuts
Search forward
/
Win/Mac/Linux/
Search backward
?
Win?Mac?Linux?
Next match
N
WinNMacNLinuxN
Previous match
Shift+N
WinShift+NMacShift+NLinuxShift+N
Search word under cursor
*
Win*Mac*Linux*
Command mode
:
Win:Mac:Linux:
Save file
:W
Win:WMac:WLinux:W
Quit
:Q
Win:QMac:QLinux:Q
Save and quit
:WQ/ZZ
Win:WQ/ZZMac:WQ/ZZLinux:WQ/ZZ
Quit without saving
:Q!
Win:Q!Mac:Q!Linux:Q!
Global replace
:%S/old/new/G
Win:%S/old/new/GMac:%S/old/new/GLinux:%S/old/new/G
LSP & Code (built-in)
8 shortcuts
Go to definition
GD
WinGDMacGDLinuxGD
Go to declaration
GD(uppercase)
WinGD(uppercase)MacGD(uppercase)LinuxGD(uppercase)
Show hover documentation
K
WinKMacKLinuxK
Show signature help
Ctrl+K
WinCtrl+KMacCtrl+KLinuxCtrl+K
List references
GR
WinGRMacGRLinuxGR
Next diagnostic
]D
Win]DMac]DLinux]D
Previous diagnostic
[D
Win[DMac[DLinux[D
Code action
<Leader>CA
Win<Leader>CAMac<Leader>CALinux<Leader>CA
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to find Neovim shortcuts on this page?
Use the search box or press /, then type an action such as move left / down / up / right.
Can I print this Neovim 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 Neovim?
Yes. Use the OS tabs to switch between Windows and macOS shortcuts. For example, Move left / down / up / right is H / J / K / L on Windows and H / J / K / L on macOS where available.
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