# 'Nano' commands cheet sheet
**URL:** https://www.bathindahelper.com/t/nano-commands-cheet-sheet/3818
**Category:** Lessons on Life & Computers
**Tags:** software
**Created:** [July 21, 2022, 9:42am UTC](https://www.bathindahelper.com/t/nano-commands-cheet-sheet/3818 "2022-07-21T09:42:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Bathinda\_Helper](https://www.bathindahelper.com/u/Bathinda_Helper)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2022, 9:42am UTC](https://www.bathindahelper.com/t/nano-commands-cheet-sheet/3818/1 "2022-07-21T09:42:50Z")
### Overview of nano’s shortcuts: The editor’s keystrokes and their functions
**File handling**
* * *
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**
* * *
Ctrl+K Cut current line into cutbuffer
Alt+6 Copy current line into cutbuffer
Ctrl+U Paste contents of cutbuffer
Alt+T Cut until end of buffer
Ctrl+] Complete current word
Alt+3 Comment/uncomment line/region
Alt+U Undo last action
Alt+E Redo last undone action
**Search and replace**
* * *
Ctrl+Q Start backward search
Ctrl+W Start forward search
Alt+Q Find next occurrence backward
Alt+W Find next occurrence forward
Alt+R Start a replacing session
**Deletion**
* * *
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**
* * *
Ctrl+T Execute some command
Ctrl+J Justify paragraph or region
Alt+J Justify entire buffer
Alt+B Run a syntax check
Alt+F Run a formatter/fixer/arranger
Alt+: Start/stop recording of macro
Alt+; Replay macro
**Moving around**
* * *
Ctrl+B One character backward
Ctrl+F 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
Ctrl+ **↑** To previous block
Ctrl+ **↓** To next block
Ctrl+Y One page up
Ctrl+V One page down
Alt+\ To top of buffer
Alt+/ To end of buffer
**Special movement**
* * *
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
**Information**
* * *
Ctrl+C Report cursor position
Alt+D Report line/word/character count
Ctrl+G Display help text
**Various**
* * *
Alt+A Turn the mark on/off
Tab Indent marked region
Shift+Tab Unindent marked region
Alt+V Enter next keystroke verbatim
Alt+N Turn line numbers on/off
Alt+P Turn visible whitespace on/off
Alt+X Hide or unhide the help lines
Ctrl+L Refresh the screen
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### Author:  [@system](https://www.bathindahelper.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://www.bathindahelper.com/t/nano-commands-cheet-sheet/3818/8 "2025-09-13T17:17:18Z")
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### Author:  [@system](https://www.bathindahelper.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2025, 11:56am UTC](https://www.bathindahelper.com/t/nano-commands-cheet-sheet/3818/9 "2025-11-25T11:56:05Z")
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### Author:  [@system](https://www.bathindahelper.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2026, 8:07am UTC](https://www.bathindahelper.com/t/nano-commands-cheet-sheet/3818/10 "2026-02-07T08:07:23Z")
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### Author:  [@system](https://www.bathindahelper.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2026, 3:31am UTC](https://www.bathindahelper.com/t/nano-commands-cheet-sheet/3818/11 "2026-06-22T03:31:48Z")
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### Author:  [@system](https://www.bathindahelper.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://www.bathindahelper.com/t/nano-commands-cheet-sheet/3818/12 "2026-09-05T12:43:38Z")