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Insert Mode in Vim (macOS)

Press I to start typing text before the cursor.

What it does

In Insert mode the keys type text, as in any other editor. This command starts it at the position in front of the cursor. Related commands start it elsewhere: after the cursor, at the start or the end of the line, or on a new line under or over the current one. Everything typed until you leave Insert mode counts as one change for undo and repeat.

The same shortcut on other platforms

PlatformShortcut
macOSthis pageI
Linux

More Vim shortcuts: Entering Insert Mode

  • Insert At Line Start
  • Append After Cursor
  • Append At Line End
  • Open Line Below
  • Open Line Above

All 38 Vim shortcuts for macOSThe full list has a search and a printable PDF.

Questions

What is the Vim shortcut for Insert Mode on macOS?

I. Press it to start typing text before the cursor.

What is the shortcut for Insert Mode in Vim on Linux?

On Linux it is i.