If you take a look at the online help in nano (Ctrl+G) you'll be presented with a list of the commands available. For your convenience, I've duplicated that list below; the ones I think are most important are marked with three asterisks. If you would like to read a short tutorial on how to use the nano editor, be sure to visit the nano tutorial page!
NOTE: Any command prefixed with a caret symbol (^) means to use the Ctrl key (e.g., ^G means to press the Ctrl+G keys at the same time). Any command prefixed with the letter M means to press the Alt key (e.g., M-R means to press the Alt+R keys together).
Most Helpful! |
Ctrl Key Combination |
Function Key |
Alt Key Combination |
Description |
*** |
^G |
F1 |
|
Display the help text |
*** |
^X |
F2 |
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Close the current file buffer / Exit from nano |
*** |
^O |
F3 |
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Write the current file to disk |
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^J |
F4 |
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Justify the current paragraph |
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^R |
F5 |
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Insert another file into the current one |
*** |
^W |
F6 |
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Search for a string or a regular expression |
*** |
^Y |
F7 |
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Move to the previous screen |
*** |
^V |
F8 |
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Move to the next screen |
*** |
^K |
F9 |
|
Cut the current line and store it in the cutbuffer |
*** |
^U |
F10 |
|
Uncut from the cutbuffer into the current line |
*** |
^C |
F11 |
|
Display the position of the cursor |
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^T |
F12 |
|
Invoke the spell checker, if available |
*** |
^_ |
F13 |
M-G |
Go to line and column number |
*** |
^\ |
F14 |
M-R |
Replace a string or a regular expression |
|
^^ |
F15 |
M-A |
Mark text at the cursor position |
*** |
|
F16 |
M-W |
Repeat last search |
*** |
|
|
M-^ or M-6 |
Copy the current line and store it in the cutbuffer |
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|
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M-} |
Indent the current line |
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|
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M-{ |
Unindent the current line |
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^F |
|
|
Move forward one character |
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^B |
|
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Move back one character |
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^Space |
|
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Move forward one word |
|
|
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M-Space |
Move back one word |
*** |
^P |
|
|
Move to the previous line |
*** |
^N |
|
|
Move to the next line |
*** |
^A |
|
|
Move to the beginning of the current line |
*** |
^E |
|
|
Move to the end of the current line |
|
|
|
M-( or M-9 |
Move to the beginning of the current paragraph |
|
|
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M-) or M-0 |
Move to the end of the current paragraph |
|
|
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M-\ or M-| |
Move to the first line of the file |
|
|
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M-/ or M-? |
Move to the last line of the file |
*** |
|
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M-] |
Move to the matching bracket |
|
|
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M-- or M-_ |
Scroll up one line without scrolling the cursor |
|
|
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M-+ or M-= |
Scroll down one line without scrolling the cursor |
*** |
|
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M-< or M-, |
Switch to the previous file buffer |
*** |
|
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M-> or M-. |
Switch to the next file buffer |
|
|
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M-V |
Insert the next keystroke verbatim |
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^I |
|
|
Insert a tab at the cursor position |
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^M |
|
|
Insert a newline at the cursor position |
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^D |
|
|
Delete the character under the cursor |
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^H |
|
|
Delete the character to the left of the cursor |
|
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M-T |
Cut from the cursor position to the end of the file |
|
|
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M-J |
Justify the entire file |
|
|
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M-D |
Count the number of words, lines, and characters |
*** |
^L |
|
|
Refresh (redraw) the current screen |
|
|
|
M-X |
Help mode enable/disable |
*** |
|
|
M-C |
Constant cursor position display enable/disable |
|
|
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M-O |
Use of one more line for editing enable/disable |
|
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M-S |
Smooth scrolling enable/disable |
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M-P |
Whitespace display enable/disable |
|
|
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M-Y |
Color syntax highlighting enable/disable |
|
|
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M-H |
Smart home key enable/disable |
*** |
|
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M-I |
Auto indent enable/disable |
|
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M-K |
Cut to end enable/disable |
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M-L |
Long line wrapping enable/disable |
|
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M-Q |
Conversion of typed tabs to spaces enable/disable |
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M-B |
Backup files enable/disable |
|
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M-F |
Multiple file buffers enable/disable |
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M-M |
Mouse support enable/disable |
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M-N |
No conversion from DOS/Mac format enable/disable |
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M-Z |
Suspension enable/disable |