Nano keystrokes
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