GNU Emacs shortcuts
- 37 shortcuts
- 5 sections
- Development
- Verified against official docs
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Do these shortcuts work for you?
Many Emacs shortcuts take two steps: a prefix first, then a second key. The File and Buffer & Window sections work this way, as in Find open file, Save file and Switch buffer. Navigation moves the cursor without the arrow keys: Forward one character, Next line, Beginning of line, End of line.
Start with these
- Find open file
- Save file
- Cancel current command
- Undo
- Incremental search forward
- Switch buffer
Tips for GNU Emacs
- Emacs calls cutting “killing” and pasting “yanking”. Cut kill region ⌃W, Copy kill ring save ⌥W and Paste yank ⌃Y are its cut, copy and paste.
- Cancel current command ⌃G stops a command you started by mistake.
- Incremental search forward ⌃S and Incremental search backward ⌃R search in the two directions.
Jump to section
File6
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Find open file | |
| Save file | |
| Save some buffers | |
| Write file save as | |
| Quit emacs | |
| Insert file at cursor |
Edit10
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Cut kill region | |
| Copy kill ring save | |
| Paste yank | |
| Cycle paste yank pop | |
| Undo | |
| Cancel current command | |
| Kill to end of line | |
| Kill word forward | |
| Kill word backward | |
| Delete character forward |
Search3
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Incremental search forward | |
| Incremental search backward | |
| Query replace |
Buffer & Window6
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Switch buffer | |
| Kill buffer | |
| Split window horizontally | |
| Split window vertically | |
| Delete other windows | |
| Switch to other window |
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Related resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many keyboard shortcuts does GNU Emacs have on macOS?
GNU Emacs has 37 keyboard shortcuts on macOS, organized into 5 sections: File, Edit, Navigation, Search, and more. This page lists all of them with searchable, organized shortcut tables.
Which GNU Emacs shortcuts should I learn first?
Start with Find open file (⌃X ⌃F), Save file (⌃X ⌃S), Cancel current command (⌃G), Undo (⌃/), Incremental search forward (⌃S), Switch buffer (⌃X B). The sections on this page list the rest.
Can I download GNU Emacs shortcuts as a PDF?
Yes. Click the download button at the top of this page to generate a printable PDF cheat sheet with all 37 GNU Emacs shortcuts. The PDF includes organized sections, keycap-style key labels, and space for your own notes.
Where is the official GNU Emacs keyboard shortcuts documentation?
The official GNU Emacs keyboard shortcuts documentation is available on their website. Every shortcut on this page is sourced from and verified against the official documentation to ensure accuracy.
Do these GNU Emacs shortcuts work on all Mac keyboards?
Yes. These shortcuts work on all Mac keyboards, including MacBook built-in keyboards and external Apple keyboards. The modifier keys are Command (⌘), Option (⌥), Control (⌃), and Shift (⇧). On keyboards without a Function row, some F-key shortcuts may require holding the Fn key.
Maintained by Vladik Didyk
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