Cheat sheet guide
Vim shortcuts worth learning first
This page collects 60 searchable Vim keyboard shortcuts across 6 categories. Start with the shortcuts for Modes, Navigation, Editing, Search & Replace, then print the cheat sheet once the important ones are worth keeping nearby.
- Enter Normal modeEsc
- Move left/down/up/righthjkl
- Delete characterx
- Search forward/{pattern}
- Save file:w
- Record macro into registerq{letter}
Modes
11 shortcuts
Enter Insert mode
i
WindowsimacOSiLinuxi
Insert at end of line
A
WindowsAmacOSALinuxA
Insert on new line below
o
WindowsomacOSoLinuxo
Insert on new line above
O
WindowsOmacOSOLinuxO
Enter Visual mode
v
WindowsvmacOSvLinuxv
Enter Visual Line mode
V
WindowsVmacOSVLinuxV
Enter Command-line mode
:
Windows:macOS:Linux:
Replace single character
r
WindowsrmacOSrLinuxr
Replace mode (overwrite)
R
WindowsRmacOSRLinuxR
Navigation
12 shortcuts
Move left/down/up/right
hjkl
WindowshjklmacOShjklLinuxhjkl
Next / previous word
wb
WindowswbmacOSwbLinuxwb
End of word
e
WindowsemacOSeLinuxe
Start of line (non-blank)
^
Windows^macOS^Linux^
End of line
$
Windows$macOS$Linux$
First line of file
gg
WindowsggmacOSggLinuxgg
Last line of file
G
WindowsGmacOSGLinuxG
Go to line N
:NorNgg
Windows:NorNggmacOS:NorNggLinux:NorNgg
Jump to matching bracket
%
Windows%macOS%Linux%
Jump to next/prev occurrence of char
f{char}F{char}
Windowsf{char}F{char}macOSf{char}F{char}Linuxf{char}F{char}
Center view on cursor
zz
WindowszzmacOSzzLinuxzz
Editing
15 shortcuts
Delete character
x
WindowsxmacOSxLinuxx
Delete line
dd
WindowsddmacOSddLinuxdd
Delete word
dw
WindowsdwmacOSdwLinuxdw
Delete to end of line
D
WindowsDmacOSDLinuxD
Yank (copy) line
yy
WindowsyymacOSyyLinuxyy
Yank word
yw
WindowsywmacOSywLinuxyw
Paste after / before cursor
pP
WindowspPmacOSpPLinuxpP
Change word
cw
WindowscwmacOScwLinuxcw
Change to end of line
C
WindowsCmacOSCLinuxC
Change entire line
cc
WindowsccmacOSccLinuxcc
Undo
u
WindowsumacOSuLinuxu
Repeat last change
.
Windows.macOS.Linux.
Indent / unindent line
>><<
Windows>><<macOS>><<Linux>><<
Auto-indent selection
=G(fromtop)
Windows=G(fromtop)macOS=G(fromtop)Linux=G(fromtop)
Search & Replace
8 shortcuts
Search forward
/{pattern}
Windows/{pattern}macOS/{pattern}Linux/{pattern}
Search backward
?{pattern}
Windows?{pattern}macOS?{pattern}Linux?{pattern}
Next / previous match
nN
WindowsnNmacOSnNLinuxnN
Search word under cursor
*#
Windows*#macOS*#Linux*#
Replace in line
:s/old/new/
Windows:s/old/new/macOS:s/old/new/Linux:s/old/new/
Replace all in file
:%s/old/new/g
Windows:%s/old/new/gmacOS:%s/old/new/gLinux:%s/old/new/g
Replace with confirmation
:%s/old/new/gc
Windows:%s/old/new/gcmacOS:%s/old/new/gcLinux:%s/old/new/gc
Clear search highlight
:noh
Windows:nohmacOS:nohLinux:noh
File & Buffers
9 shortcuts
Save file
:w
Windows:wmacOS:wLinux:w
Save and quit
:wq
Windows:wqmacOS:wqLinux:wq
Quit without saving
:q!
Windows:q!macOS:q!Linux:q!
Open file
:e{file}
Windows:e{file}macOS:e{file}Linux:e{file}
List buffers
:ls
Windows:lsmacOS:lsLinux:ls
Next / previous buffer
:bn:bp
Windows:bn:bpmacOS:bn:bpLinux:bn:bp
Split horizontally
:sp
Windows:spmacOS:spLinux:sp
Split vertically
:vsp
Windows:vspmacOS:vspLinux:vsp
Macros
5 shortcuts
Record macro into register
q{letter}
Windowsq{letter}macOSq{letter}Linuxq{letter}
Stop recording
q
WindowsqmacOSqLinuxq
Play macro
@{letter}
Windows@{letter}macOS@{letter}Linux@{letter}
Repeat last macro
@@
Windows@@macOS@@Linux@@
Run macro N times
N@{letter}
WindowsN@{letter}macOSN@{letter}LinuxN@{letter}
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to find Vim shortcuts on this page?
Use the search box or press /, then type an action such as enter normal mode.
Can I print this Vim 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 Vim?
This reference includes shortcuts for Windows · macOS · Linux. Availability depends on the action and app version.
