ShortcutPosters
Promote Request an app

GNU nano Keyboard shortcuts

Get the poster

GNU nano is a small, friendly terminal text editor that shows its most common commands right at the bottom of the screen. Its key bindings use Ctrl (shown as ^) and Meta (the Alt key, shown as M-) and are identical on every platform, so the same muscle memory works whether you are on macOS, Windows, or Linux.

Official:Official site

All GNU nano keyboard shortcuts (Mac)

Layout
`
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
-
=
⌫
Tab
Q
W
E
R
T
Y
U
I
O
P
[
]
\
⇪
A
S
D
F
G
H
J
K
L
;
'
↩
Shift
Z
X
C
V
B
N
M
,
.
/
Shift
⌃
⌘
⌥
Space
⌥
⌘
⌃
↑
←
↓
→

+ 3 more controls in the table below

38 shortcuts

Navigation 9

Action Shortcut
Move to Beginning of Line ⌃A
Move to End of Line ⌃E
Go to Line / Column ⌥G
Page Up (Previous Screen) ⌃Y
Page Down (Next Screen) ⌃V
Previous Word ⌃␣
Next Word ⌥␣
Go to First Line ⌥\
Go to Last Line ⌥/

Editing 8

Action Shortcut
Undo ⌃Z
Redo ⌃Y
Set / Unset Mark (select text) ⌃6
Comment / Uncomment Lines ⌥3
Set / Unset Mark (alternate) ⌥A
Indent Marked Region ⌥RIGHTBRACE
Unindent Marked Region ⌥LEFTBRACE
Verbatim Input (insert next keystroke literally) ⌥V

Misc 8

Action Shortcut
Help ⌃G
Report Cursor Position ⌃C
Justify Current Paragraph ⌃J
Word / Line / Character Count ⌥D
Refresh Screen ⌃L
Full Justify (whole buffer) ⌥J
Record Macro ⌥:
Run / Replay Macro ⌥;

Search 6

Action Shortcut
Search (Where Is) ⌃W
Search and Replace ⌃\
Find Next (Forward) ⌥W
Backward Search ⌃Q
Find Previous (Backward) ⌥Q
Search and Replace (alternate) ⌥R

File 4

Action Shortcut
Save File (Write Out) ⌃O
Exit nano ⌃X
Read / Insert File ⌃R
Open File Browser ⌃T

Cut/Paste 3

Action Shortcut
Cut Line / Marked Region ⌃K
Paste (Uncut) ⌃U
Copy Line / Marked Region ⌥6

Sourced from nano-editor.org Last verified

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

Get the GNU nano poster

4 art directions — pick one below, click to zoom & compare.

Layout
GNU NANOKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · MAC · 38123⌥Comment…456⌥Copy Line…7890Q⌃Backward…W⌃SearchE⌃Move to E…R⌃Read / Inse…T⌃Open File…Y⌃RedoU⌃PasteIO⌃Save FilePA⌃Move to B…SD⌥Word / Lin…FG⌥Go to Line…HJ⌃Justify Cur…K⌃Cut Line…L⌃Refresh Sc…Z⌃UndoX⌃Exit nanoC⌃Report Cur…V⌃Page DownBNMMORE SHORTCUTSSearch and Replace⌃\Set / Unset Mark⌃6Help⌃GFind Next (Forward)⌥WPage Up⌃YFind Previous⌥QPrevious Word⌃␣Next Word⌥␣Go to First Line⌥\Go to Last Line⌥/Set / Unset Mark⌥ASearch and Replace⌥RIndent Marked Region⌥RIGHTBRACEUnindent Marked Reg…⌥LEFTBRACEVerbatim Input⌥VFull Justify⌥JRecord Macro⌥:Run / Replay Macro⌥;shortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU NANO · MAC
SEARCHSearch (Where Is)⌃WSearch and Replace⌃\Find Next (Forward)⌥WBackward Search⌃QFind Previous (Backward)⌥QSearch and Replace⌥RMISCHelp⌃GReport Cursor Position⌃CJustify Current Paragraph⌃JWord / Line / Character Co…⌥DRefresh Screen⌃LFull Justify (whole buffer)⌥JRecord Macro⌥:Run / Replay Macro⌥;CUT/PASTECut Line / Marked Region⌃KPaste (Uncut)⌃UCopy Line / Marked Region⌥6EDITINGUndo⌃ZRedo⌃YSet / Unset Mark⌃6Comment / Uncomment Li…⌥3Set / Unset Mark (alternate)⌥AIndent Marked Region⌥RIGHTBRACEUnindent Marked Region⌥LEFTBRACEVerbatim Input⌥VFILESave File (Write Out)⌃OExit nano⌃XRead / Insert File⌃ROpen File Browser⌃TNAVIGATIONMove to Beginning of Line⌃AMove to End of Line⌃EGo to Line / Column⌥GPage Up (Previous Screen)⌃YPage Down (Next Screen)⌃VPrevious Word⌃␣Next Word⌥␣Go to First Line⌥\Go to Last Line⌥/GNU nanoKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · MAC · 38BOTH LAYOUTSQWERTYQWERTYAZERTYAZERTYshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU NANO · MAC
SEARCH06Search (Where Is)⌃WSearch and Replace⌃\Find Next (Forward)⌥WBackward Search⌃QFind Previous⌥QSearch and Replace⌥RMISC08Help⌃GReport Cursor Position⌃CJustify Current Parag…⌃JWord / Line / Charact…⌥DRefresh Screen⌃LFull Justify⌥JRecord Macro⌥:Run / Replay Macro⌥;CUT/PASTE03Cut Line / Marked Reg…⌃KPaste (Uncut)⌃UCopy Line / Marked Re…⌥6EDITING08Undo⌃ZRedo⌃YSet / Unset Mark⌃6Comment / Uncomment L…⌥3Set / Unset Mark⌥AIndent Marked Region⌥RIGHTBRACEUnindent Marked Region⌥LEFTBRACEVerbatim Input⌥VFILE04Save File (Write Out)⌃OExit nano⌃XRead / Insert File⌃ROpen File Browser⌃TNAVIGATION09Move to Beginning of…⌃AMove to End of Line⌃EGo to Line / Column⌥GPage Up⌃YPage Down⌃VPrevious Word⌃␣Next Word⌥␣Go to First Line⌥\Go to Last Line⌥/GNU nanoKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · MAC · 38BOTH LAYOUTSQWERTYQWERTYAZERTYAZERTYshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU NANO · MAC
GNU NANO · KEYBOARD SHORTCUTSMac · 6 SETS · No.01GNU NANOTOTAL38SHORTCUTSFOR MAC · SHIPPED COMBOSSETSFILE04CUT/PASTE03SEARCH06EDITING08NAVIGATION09MISC08REF. EDITION · JAN 2026shortcutposters.comSave File (Write Out)⌃OExit nano⌃XRead / Insert File⌃ROpen File Browser⌃TCut Line / Marked Region⌃KPaste (Uncut)⌃UCopy Line / Marked Region⌥6Search (Where Is)⌃WSearch and Replace⌃\Find Next (Forward)⌥WBackward Search⌃QFind Previous (Backward)⌥QSearch and Replace (alternate)⌥RUndo⌃ZRedo⌃YSet / Unset Mark (select text)⌃6Comment / Uncomment Lines⌥3Set / Unset Mark (alternate)⌥AIndent Marked Region⌥RIGHTBRACEUnindent Marked Region⌥LEFTBRACEVerbatim Input (insert next keystroke literally)⌥VMove to Beginning of Line⌃AMove to End of Line⌃EGo to Line / Column⌥GPage Up (Previous Screen)⌃YPage Down (Next Screen)⌃VPrevious Word⌃␣Next Word⌥␣Go to First Line⌥\Go to Last Line⌥/Help⌃GReport Cursor Position⌃CJustify Current Paragraph⌃JWord / Line / Character Count⌥DRefresh Screen⌃LFull Justify (whole buffer)⌥JRecord Macro⌥:Run / Replay Macro⌥;

Mac edition · 38 shortcuts

A printable, framed-quality poster of the essential GNU nano shortcuts for Mac — 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 nano shortcut?
GNU nano has 38 keyboard shortcuts on macOS — 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 macOS edition.
Is this an official GNU nano product?
No. This is an unofficial reference poster and is not affiliated with or endorsed by GNU nano. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Promote your app

Built an app with great keyboard shortcuts? Get it into the database — a free, searchable reference page, and an optional printable poster your power users will pin to the wall.

  • Free shortcut reference page
  • Indexed & searchable
  • Optional framed poster
Get your app featuredHow it works