index

Nano keyboard shortcuts

Nano is a text editor based on Pico text editor. Unlike Pico, Nano is

licensed under the GNU General Public License. Released as freeware by

Chris Allegretta in 1999, Nano became part of the GNU Project in 2001.

Nano has 87 shortcuts and we have listed all of them below.

File

----

Ctrl + O Write the current file to disk

F3 Write the current file to disk

Ctrl + X Close the current file buffer / Exit from Nano

F2 Close the current file buffer / Exit from Nano

Ctrl + R Insert another file into the current one

F5 Insert another file into the current one

Alt + < Switch to the previous file buffer

Alt + , Switch to the previous file buffer

Alt + > Switch to the next file buffer

Alt + . Switch to the next file buffer

Alt + D Count the number of words, lines, and characters

Ctrl + L Refresh (redraw) the current screen

Editing

-------

Alt + U Undo the last operation

Alt + E Redo the last undone operation

Alt + } Indent the current line

Alt + { Unindent the current line

Alt + ^ Copy the current line and store it in the cut

buffer

Alt + 6 Copy the current line and store it in the cut

buffer

Ctrl + K Cut the current line and store it in the cut buffer

F9 Cut the current line and store it in the cut buffer

Ctrl + U Uncut from the cut buffer into the current line

Alt + V Insert the next keystroke verbatim

Ctrl + I Insert a tab at the cursor position

Ctrl + M Insert a newline at the cursor position

Ctrl + D Delete the character under the cursor

Ctrl + H Delete the character to the left of the cursor

Alt + T Cut from the cursor position to the end of the file

Ctrl + W Search for a string or a regular expression

F6 Search for a string or a regular expression

F16 Repeat last search

Alt + W Repeat last search

Ctrl + T Invoke the spell checker, if available

F12 Ctrl + T Invoke the spell checker, if available

Ctrl + \ Replace a string or a regular expression

F14 Replace a string or a regular expression

Alt + R Replace a string or a regular expression

Formatting

----------

Ctrl + J Justify the current paragraph

F4 Justify the current paragraph

Alt + J Justify the entire file

Navigation

----------

Ctrl + Y Move to the previous screen

F7 Move to the previous screen

Ctrl + V Move to the next screen

F8 Move to the next screen

Ctrl + B Go back one character

Ctrl + F Go forward one character

Alt + Space Go back one word

Ctrl + Space go forward one word

Ctrl + _ Go to line and column number

F13 Go to line and column number

Alt + G Go to line and column number

Ctrl + ^ Mark text at the cursor position

F15 Mark text at the cursor position

Alt + A Mark text at the cursor position

Ctrl + C Display the position of the cursor

F11 Display the position of the cursor

Ctrl + A Move to the beginning of the current line

Ctrl + E Move to the end of the current line

Alt + ( Move to the beginning of the current paragraph

Alt + 9 Move to the beginning of the current paragraph

Alt + ) Move to the end of the current paragraph

Alt + 0 Move to the end of the current paragraph

Alt + \ Move to the first line of the file

Alt + | Move to the first line of the file

Alt + / Move to the last line of the file

Alt + ? Move to the last line of the file

M + ] Move to the matching bracket

Alt + - Scroll up one line without scrolling the cursor

Alt + _ Scroll up one line without scrolling the cursor

Alt + + Scroll down one line without scrolling the cursor

Alt + = Scroll down one line without scrolling the cursor

Enable / Disable settings

-------------------------

Alt + X Help mode enable/disable

Alt + C Constant cursor position display enable/disable

Alt + O Use of one more line for editing enable/disable

Alt + S Smooth scrolling enable/disable

Alt + $ Soft wrapping of overlong lines enable/disable

Alt + P Whitespace display enable/disable

Alt + Y Colour syntax highlighting enable/disable

Alt + H Smart home key enable/disable

Alt + I Auto indent enable/disable

Alt + K Cut to end enable/disable

Alt + L Long line wrapping enable/disable

Alt + Q Conversion of typed tabs to spaces enable/disable

Alt + B Backup files enable/disable

Alt + F Multiple file buffers enable/disable

Alt + M Mouse support enable/disable

Alt + N No conversion from DOS/Mac format enable/disable

Alt + Z Suspension enable/disable