Nano Editor Shortcuts Reference
A comprehensive guide to nano text editor keystrokes and their functions.
File Handling
| Shortcut |
Function |
Ctrl+S |
Save current file |
Ctrl+O |
Offer to write file ("Save as") |
Ctrl+R |
Insert a file into current one |
Ctrl+X |
Close buffer, exit from nano |
Editing
| Shortcut |
Function |
Ctrl+K |
Cut current line into cutbuffer |
Alt+6 |
Copy current line into cutbuffer |
Ctrl+U |
Paste contents of cutbuffer |
Ctrl+] |
Complete current word |
Alt+3 |
Comment/uncomment line/region |
Alt+U |
Undo last action |
Alt+E |
Redo last undone action |
Search and Replace
| Shortcut |
Function |
Ctrl+B |
Start backward search |
Ctrl+F |
Start forward search |
Alt+B |
Find next occurrence backward |
Alt+F |
Find next occurrence forward |
Alt+R |
Start a replacing session |
Deletion
| Shortcut |
Function |
Ctrl+H |
Delete character before cursor |
Ctrl+D |
Delete character under cursor |
Alt+Bsp |
Delete word to the left |
Ctrl+Del |
Delete word to the right |
Alt+Del |
Delete current line |
Operations
| Shortcut |
Function |
Ctrl+T |
Execute some command |
Ctrl+T Ctrl+S |
Run a spell check |
Ctrl+T Ctrl+Y |
Run a syntax check |
Ctrl+T Ctrl+O |
Run a formatter |
Tab |
Indent marked region |
Shift+Tab |
Unindent marked region |
Ctrl+J |
Justify paragraph or region |
Alt+J |
Justify entire buffer |
Alt+T |
Cut until end of buffer |
Alt+: |
Start/stop recording of macro |
Alt+; |
Replay macro |
Moving Around
Basic Movement
| Shortcut |
Function |
← |
One character backward |
→ |
One character forward |
Ctrl+← |
One word backward |
Ctrl+→ |
One word forward |
Ctrl+A |
To start of line |
Ctrl+E |
To end of line |
Ctrl+P |
One line up |
Ctrl+N |
One line down |
Block and Page Movement
| Shortcut |
Function |
Ctrl+↑ |
To previous block |
Ctrl+↓ |
To next block |
Alt+Home |
To first row in viewport |
Alt+End |
To last row in viewport |
Ctrl+Y |
One page up |
Ctrl+V |
One page down |
Alt+\ |
To top of buffer |
Alt+/ |
To end of buffer |
Special Movement
| Shortcut |
Function |
Alt+G |
Go to specified line |
Alt+] |
Go to complementary bracket |
Alt+↑ |
Scroll viewport up |
Alt+↓ |
Scroll viewport down |
Alt+< |
Switch to preceding buffer |
Alt+> |
Switch to succeeding buffer |
| Shortcut |
Function |
Ctrl+C |
Report cursor position |
Alt+D |
Report line/word/character counts |
Ctrl+G |
Display help text |
Various
| Shortcut |
Function |
Alt+A |
Set or unset the mark |
Alt+V |
Enter next keystroke verbatim |
Alt+C |
Turn constant position info on/off |
Alt+N |
Turn line numbers on/off |
Alt+P |
Turn visible whitespace on/off |
Alt+S |
Turn softwrapping on/off |
Alt+X |
Hide/unhide the help lines |
Alt+Z |
Hide/unhide the info bars |
Ctrl+L |
Refresh the screen |
Quick Tips
- Most shortcuts use
Ctrl for basic operations and Alt for advanced features
- Use
Ctrl+G to access built-in help anytime
Tab and Shift+Tab work great for code indentation- The macro recording feature (
Alt+: and Alt+;) is useful for repetitive tasks
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