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.
- Move left / down / up / rightHJKL
- UndoU
- Enter Insert mode (before)I
- Enter Visual mode (char)V
- Search forward/
- Go to definitionGD
Normal Mode — Motion
12 shortcuts
Move left / down / up / right
HJKL
WindowsHJKLmacOSHJKLLinuxHJKL
Word forward
W
WindowsWmacOSWLinuxW
Word backward
B
WindowsBmacOSBLinuxB
End of word
E
WindowsEmacOSELinuxE
Start of line
0
Windows0macOS0Linux0
First non-blank of line
^
Windows^macOS^Linux^
End of line
$
Windows$macOS$Linux$
Go to first line
GG
WindowsGGmacOSGGLinuxGG
Go to last line
G
WindowsGmacOSGLinuxG
Go to line N
NG
WindowsNGmacOSNGLinuxNG
Normal Mode — Editing
13 shortcuts
Undo
U
WindowsUmacOSULinuxU
Delete line
DD
WindowsDDmacOSDDLinuxDD
Delete character
X
WindowsXmacOSXLinuxX
Yank (copy) line
YY
WindowsYYmacOSYYLinuxYY
Paste after cursor
P
WindowsPmacOSPLinuxP
Duplicate line
YYPP
WindowsYYPPmacOSYYPPLinuxYYPP
Replace character
R{char}
WindowsR{char}macOSR{char}LinuxR{char}
Change to end of line
C$
WindowsC$macOSC$LinuxC$
Indent line right
>>
Windows>>macOS>>Linux>>
Indent line left
<<
Windows<<macOS<<Linux<<
Insert Mode
8 shortcuts
Enter Insert mode (before)
I
WindowsImacOSILinuxI
Enter Insert mode (after)
A
WindowsAmacOSALinuxA
New line below
O
WindowsOmacOSOLinuxO
Visual Mode
8 shortcuts
Enter Visual mode (char)
V
WindowsVmacOSVLinuxV
Yank selection
Y
WindowsYmacOSYLinuxY
Delete selection
D
WindowsDmacOSDLinuxD
Indent selection right
>
Windows>macOS>Linux>
Indent selection left
<
Windows<macOS<Linux<
Toggle case
~
Windows~macOS~Linux~
Search & Commands
11 shortcuts
Search forward
/
Windows/macOS/Linux/
Search backward
?
Windows?macOS?Linux?
Next match
N
WindowsNmacOSNLinuxN
Search word under cursor
*
Windows*macOS*Linux*
Command mode
:
Windows:macOS:Linux:
Save file
:W
Windows:WmacOS:WLinux:W
Quit
:Q
Windows:QmacOS:QLinux:Q
Save and quit
:WQZZ
Windows:WQZZmacOS:WQZZLinux:WQZZ
Quit without saving
:Q!
Windows:Q!macOS:Q!Linux:Q!
Global replace
:%S/old/new/G
Windows:%S/old/new/GmacOS:%S/old/new/GLinux:%S/old/new/G
LSP & Code (built-in)
8 shortcuts
Go to definition
GD
WindowsGDmacOSGDLinuxGD
Go to declaration
GD(uppercase)
WindowsGD(uppercase)macOSGD(uppercase)LinuxGD(uppercase)
Show hover documentation
K
WindowsKmacOSKLinuxK
List references
GR
WindowsGRmacOSGRLinuxGR
Next diagnostic
]D
Windows]DmacOS]DLinux]D
Previous diagnostic
[D
Windows[DmacOS[DLinux[D
Code action
<Leader>CA
Windows<Leader>CAmacOS<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.
Which operating systems are included for Neovim?
This reference includes shortcuts for Windows · macOS · Linux. Availability depends on the action and app version.
