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GNU Emacs Keyboard shortcuts

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GNU Emacs is a highly extensible text editor and computing environment that users tailor with Lisp for coding, writing, and beyond. Famous for its keyboard-driven design, its shortcuts and chords let you navigate, edit, and run commands almost entirely from the keys.

Official:Official site

All GNU Emacs keyboard shortcuts (Windows)

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55 shortcuts

Motion 13

Action Shortcut
Move to beginning of line CtrlA
Move to end of line CtrlE
Move forward one character CtrlF
Move backward one character CtrlB
Next line CtrlN
Previous line CtrlP
Go to buffer beginning AltShift,
Go to buffer end AltShift.
Move forward one word AltF
Move backward one word AltB
Scroll to next screen CtrlV
Scroll to previous screen AltV
Go to line AltGthenAltG

Killing and Deleting 7

Action Shortcut
Kill (cut) to end of line CtrlK
Kill region (cut) CtrlW
Copy region to kill ring AltW
Yank (paste) last kill CtrlY
Delete character forward CtrlD
Kill word forward AltD
Replace last yank with previous kill AltY

Files 6

Action Shortcut
Find (open) file CtrlXthenCtrlF
Save file CtrlXthenCtrlS
Save all files CtrlXthenS
Write buffer to a file CtrlXthenCtrlW
Insert file into buffer CtrlXthenI
Toggle read-only status of buffer CtrlXthenCtrlQ

Windows 5

Action Shortcut
Delete all other windows CtrlXthen1
Switch cursor to another window CtrlXthenO
Split window above and below CtrlXthen2
Split window side by side CtrlXthen3
Delete this window CtrlXthen0

Editing 5

Action Shortcut
Execute extended command (M-x) AltX
Indent line (mode-dependent) Tab
Insert newline after point CtrlO
Transpose characters CtrlT
Fill (reflow) paragraph AltQ

Search 4

Action Shortcut
Incremental search forward CtrlS
Incremental search backward CtrlR
Query replace AltShift5
Regular expression search CtrlAltS

Help 4

Action Shortcut
Run tutorial CtrlHthenT
Apropos: commands matching a string CtrlHthenA
Describe the function a key runs CtrlHthenK
Describe a function CtrlHthenF

Error Recovery 3

Action Shortcut
Abort current command CtrlG
Undo an unwanted change CtrlXthenU
Redraw garbaged screen CtrlL

Marking 3

Action Shortcut
Set mark here CtrlSpace
Mark entire buffer CtrlXthenH
Exchange point and mark CtrlXthenCtrlX

Buffers 3

Action Shortcut
Select another buffer CtrlXthenB
List all buffers CtrlXthenCtrlB
Kill a buffer CtrlXthenK

Leaving Emacs 2

Action Shortcut
Exit Emacs permanently CtrlXthenCtrlC
Suspend / iconify Emacs CtrlZ

Sourced from gnu.org Last verified

Unofficial reference. ShortcutPosters is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by GNU Emacs. All product names, logos, and trademarks are property of their respective owners. See our licensing & trademark notice.

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GNU EMACSKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · WINDOWS · 47 ESSENTIAL12345Alt ShiftQuery repl…67890QAltFill (reflow)…WCtrlKill regionECtrlMove to en…RCtrlIncrement…TCtrlTranspose…YCtrlYank (past…UIOCtrlInsert newl…PCtrlPrevious li…ACtrlMove to b…SCtrlIncrement…DCtrlDelete cha…FCtrlMove forw…GCtrlAbort curr…HCtrlRun tutorialJKCtrlKill (cut) to…LCtrlRedraw ga…ZCtrlSuspend / i…XCtrlFind (open…CVCtrlScroll to ne…BCtrlMove back…NCtrlNext lineMMORE SHORTCUTSSave fileCtrlX›CtrlSUndo an unwant…CtrlX›UExecute extende…AltXCopy region to ki…AltWSelect another b…CtrlX›BExit Emacs perm…CtrlX›CtrlCSet mark hereCtrlSpaceMark entire bufferCtrlX›HDelete all other…CtrlX›1Switch cursor to…CtrlX›OSave all filesCtrlX›SGo to buffer begi…AltShift,Go to buffer endAltShift.Split window ab…CtrlX›2Split window sid…CtrlX›3Delete this wind…CtrlX›0List all buffersCtrlX›CtrlBKill a bufferCtrlX›KIndent lineTabWrite buffer to a…CtrlX›CtrlWMove forward on…AltFMove backward…AltBScroll to previou…AltVGo to lineAltG›AltGKill word forwardAltDshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU EMACS · WINDOWS
FILESFind (open) fileCtrlX›CtrlFSave fileCtrlX›CtrlSSave all filesCtrlX›SWrite buffer to a fileCtrlX›CtrlWInsert file into bufferCtrlX›IToggle read-only status of bufferCtrlX›CtrlQKILLING AND DELETINGKill (cut) to end of lineCtrlKKill region (cut)CtrlWCopy region to kill ringAltWYank (paste) last killCtrlYDelete character forwardCtrlDKill word forwardAltDReplace last yank with previous killAltYLEAVING EMACSExit Emacs permanentlyCtrlX›CtrlCSuspend / iconify EmacsCtrlZHELPRun tutorialCtrlH›TApropos: commands matching a s…CtrlH›ADescribe the function a key runsCtrlH›KDescribe a functionCtrlH›FERROR RECOVERYAbort current commandCtrlGUndo an unwanted changeCtrlX›URedraw garbaged screenCtrlLEDITINGExecute extended command (M-x)AltXIndent line (mode-dependent)TabInsert newline after pointCtrlOTranspose charactersCtrlTFill (reflow) paragraphAltQBUFFERSSelect another bufferCtrlX›BList all buffersCtrlX›CtrlBKill a bufferCtrlX›KMARKINGSet mark hereCtrlSpaceMark entire bufferCtrlX›HExchange point and markCtrlX›CtrlXSEARCHIncremental search forwardCtrlSIncremental search backwardCtrlRQuery replaceAltShift5Regular expression searchCtrlAltSMOTIONMove to beginning of lineCtrlAMove to end of lineCtrlEMove forward one characterCtrlFMove backward one characterCtrlBNext lineCtrlNPrevious lineCtrlPGo to buffer beginningAltShift,Go to buffer endAltShift.Move forward one wordAltFMove backward one wordAltBScroll to next screenCtrlVScroll to previous screenAltVGo to lineAltG›AltGWINDOWSDelete all other windowsCtrlX›1Switch cursor to another windowCtrlX›OSplit window above and belowCtrlX›2Split window side by sideCtrlX›3Delete this windowCtrlX›0GNU EmacsKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · WINDOWS · 55BOTH LAYOUTSQWERTYQWERTYAZERTYAZERTYshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU EMACS · WINDOWS
FILES06Find (open) fileCtrlX›CtrlFSave fileCtrlX›CtrlSSave all filesCtrlX›SWrite buffer to a fileCtrlX›CtrlWInsert file into bufferCtrlX›IToggle read-only status of b…CtrlX›CtrlQKILLING AND DELETING07Kill (cut) to end of lineCtrlKKill region (cut)CtrlWCopy region to kill ringAltWYank (paste) last killCtrlYDelete character forwardCtrlDKill word forwardAltDReplace last yank with previ…AltYLEAVING EMACS02Exit Emacs permanentlyCtrlX›CtrlCSuspend / iconify EmacsCtrlZHELP04Run tutorialCtrlH›TApropos: commands matching a…CtrlH›ADescribe the function a key…CtrlH›KDescribe a functionCtrlH›FERROR RECOVERY03Abort current commandCtrlGUndo an unwanted changeCtrlX›URedraw garbaged screenCtrlLEDITING05Execute extended commandAltXIndent line (mode-dependent)TabInsert newline after pointCtrlOTranspose charactersCtrlTFill (reflow) paragraphAltQBUFFERS03Select another bufferCtrlX›BList all buffersCtrlX›CtrlBKill a bufferCtrlX›KMARKING03Set mark hereCtrlSpaceMark entire bufferCtrlX›HExchange point and markCtrlX›CtrlXSEARCH04Incremental search forwardCtrlSIncremental search backwardCtrlRQuery replaceAltShift5Regular expression searchCtrlAltSMOTION13Move to beginning of lineCtrlAMove to end of lineCtrlEMove forward one characterCtrlFMove backward one characterCtrlBNext lineCtrlNPrevious lineCtrlPGo to buffer beginningAltShift,Go to buffer endAltShift.Move forward one wordAltFMove backward one wordAltBScroll to next screenCtrlVScroll to previous screenAltVGo to lineAltG›AltGWINDOWS05Delete all other windowsCtrlX›1Switch cursor to another win…CtrlX›OSplit window above and belowCtrlX›2Split window side by sideCtrlX›3Delete this windowCtrlX›0GNU EmacsKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · WINDOWS · 55BOTH LAYOUTSQWERTYQWERTYAZERTYAZERTYshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU EMACS · WINDOWS
GNU EMACS · KEYBOARD SHORTCUTSWindows · 11 SETS · No.01GNU EMACSTOTAL55SHORTCUTSFOR WINDOWS · SHIPPED COMBOSSETSFILES06ERROR RECOVER03SEARCH04EDITING05MOTION13KILLING AND D07BUFFERS03LEAVING EMACS02MARKING03WINDOWS05HELP04REF. EDITION · JAN 2026shortcutposters.comFind (open) fileCtrlX›CtrlFSave fileCtrlX›CtrlSSave all filesCtrlX›SWrite buffer to a fileCtrlX›CtrlWInsert file into bufferCtrlX›IToggle read-only stat…CtrlX›CtrlQAbort current commandCtrlGUndo an unwanted changeCtrlX›URedraw garbaged screenCtrlLIncremental search forwardCtrlSIncremental search backwardCtrlRQuery replaceAltShift5Regular expression searchCtrlAltSExecute extended command (M-x)AltXIndent line (mode-dependent)TabInsert newline after pointCtrlOTranspose charactersCtrlTFill (reflow) paragraphAltQMove to beginning of lineCtrlAMove to end of lineCtrlEMove forward one characterCtrlFMove backward one characterCtrlBNext lineCtrlNPrevious lineCtrlPGo to buffer beginningAltShift,Go to buffer endAltShift.Move forward one wordAltFMove backward one wordAltBScroll to next screenCtrlVScroll to previous screenAltVGo to lineAltG›AltGKill (cut) to end of lineCtrlKKill region (cut)CtrlWCopy region to kill ringAltWYank (paste) last killCtrlYDelete character forwardCtrlDKill word forwardAltDReplace last yank with previous killAltYSelect another bufferCtrlX›BList all buffersCtrlX›CtrlBKill a bufferCtrlX›KExit Emacs permanen…CtrlX›CtrlCSuspend / iconify EmacsCtrlZSet mark hereCtrlSpaceMark entire bufferCtrlX›HExchange point and…CtrlX›CtrlXDelete all other windowsCtrlX›1Switch cursor to another win…CtrlX›OSplit window above and belowCtrlX›2Split window side by sideCtrlX›3Delete this windowCtrlX›0Run tutorialCtrlH›TApropos: commands matchi…CtrlH›ADescribe the function a key r…CtrlH›KDescribe a functionCtrlH›F

Windows edition · 55 shortcuts

A printable, framed-quality poster of the essential GNU Emacs shortcuts for Windows — the keys worth keeping in view, designed to stay readable on a wall.

Edition
Apple Mac Windows Windows

Free PNG is web-resolution & watermarked.

Customise this poster Pick the shortcuts, restyle the colours — download free. Get the framed-quality print Full 300 DPI, print-ready — at home or shipped to your door.

Frequently asked questions

Does the poster include every GNU Emacs shortcut?
GNU Emacs has 55 keyboard shortcuts on Windows — the complete list is free to read on this page. The poster features the most essential ones, curated to stay readable on a wall.
Can I print it at home?
Yes. The digital download is a high-resolution 300 DPI file you can print at home or at any print shop, in standard frame sizes.
Does it cover both Mac and Windows?
We sell a separate edition per platform so every key matches your keyboard exactly. This page is the Windows edition.
Is this an official GNU Emacs product?
No. This is an unofficial reference poster and is not affiliated with or endorsed by GNU Emacs. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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