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GNU nano Keyboard shortcuts

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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 (Windows)

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

+ 3 more controls in the table below

38 shortcuts

Navigation 9

Action Shortcut
Move to Beginning of Line CtrlA
Move to End of Line CtrlE
Go to Line / Column AltG
Page Up (Previous Screen) CtrlY
Page Down (Next Screen) CtrlV
Previous Word CtrlSpace
Next Word AltSpace
Go to First Line Alt\
Go to Last Line Alt/

Editing 8

Action Shortcut
Undo CtrlZ
Redo CtrlY
Set / Unset Mark (select text) Ctrl6
Comment / Uncomment Lines Alt3
Set / Unset Mark (alternate) AltA
Indent Marked Region AltRIGHTBRACE
Unindent Marked Region AltLEFTBRACE
Verbatim Input (insert next keystroke literally) AltV

Misc 8

Action Shortcut
Help CtrlG
Report Cursor Position CtrlC
Justify Current Paragraph CtrlJ
Word / Line / Character Count AltD
Refresh Screen CtrlL
Full Justify (whole buffer) AltJ
Record Macro Alt:
Run / Replay Macro Alt;

Search 6

Action Shortcut
Search (Where Is) CtrlW
Search and Replace Ctrl\
Find Next (Forward) AltW
Backward Search CtrlQ
Find Previous (Backward) AltQ
Search and Replace (alternate) AltR

File 4

Action Shortcut
Save File (Write Out) CtrlO
Exit nano CtrlX
Read / Insert File CtrlR
Open File Browser CtrlT

Cut/Paste 3

Action Shortcut
Cut Line / Marked Region CtrlK
Paste (Uncut) CtrlU
Copy Line / Marked Region Alt6

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 · WINDOWS · 38123AltComment…456AltCopy Line…7890QCtrlBackward…WCtrlSearchECtrlMove to E…RCtrlRead / Inse…TCtrlOpen File…YCtrlRedoUCtrlPasteIOCtrlSave FilePACtrlMove to B…SDAltWord / Lin…FGAltGo to Line…HJCtrlJustify Cur…KCtrlCut Line…LCtrlRefresh Sc…ZCtrlUndoXCtrlExit nanoCCtrlReport Cur…VCtrlPage DownBNMMORE SHORTCUTSSearch and ReplaceCtrl\Set / Unset MarkCtrl6HelpCtrlGFind Next (Forward)AltWPage UpCtrlYFind PreviousAltQPrevious WordCtrlSpaceNext WordAltSpaceGo to First LineAlt\Go to Last LineAlt/Set / Unset MarkAltASearch and ReplaceAltRIndent Marked RegionAltRIGHTBRACEUnindent Marked Reg…AltLEFTBRACEVerbatim InputAltVFull JustifyAltJRecord MacroAlt:Run / Replay MacroAlt;shortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU NANO · WINDOWS
SEARCHSearch (Where Is)CtrlWSearch and ReplaceCtrl\Find Next (Forward)AltWBackward SearchCtrlQFind Previous (Backward)AltQSearch and ReplaceAltRMISCHelpCtrlGReport Cursor PositionCtrlCJustify Current ParagraphCtrlJWord / Line / Character Co…AltDRefresh ScreenCtrlLFull Justify (whole buffer)AltJRecord MacroAlt:Run / Replay MacroAlt;CUT/PASTECut Line / Marked RegionCtrlKPaste (Uncut)CtrlUCopy Line / Marked RegionAlt6EDITINGUndoCtrlZRedoCtrlYSet / Unset MarkCtrl6Comment / Uncomment Li…Alt3Set / Unset Mark (alternate)AltAIndent Marked RegionAltRIGHTBRACEUnindent Marked RegionAltLEFTBRACEVerbatim InputAltVFILESave File (Write Out)CtrlOExit nanoCtrlXRead / Insert FileCtrlROpen File BrowserCtrlTNAVIGATIONMove to Beginning of LineCtrlAMove to End of LineCtrlEGo to Line / ColumnAltGPage Up (Previous Screen)CtrlYPage Down (Next Screen)CtrlVPrevious WordCtrlSpaceNext WordAltSpaceGo to First LineAlt\Go to Last LineAlt/GNU nanoKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · WINDOWS · 38BOTH LAYOUTSQWERTYQWERTYAZERTYAZERTYshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU NANO · WINDOWS
SEARCH06Search (Where Is)CtrlWSearch and ReplaceCtrl\Find Next (Forward)AltWBackward SearchCtrlQFind PreviousAltQSearch and ReplaceAltRMISC08HelpCtrlGReport Cursor PositionCtrlCJustify Current Parag…CtrlJWord / Line / Charact…AltDRefresh ScreenCtrlLFull JustifyAltJRecord MacroAlt:Run / Replay MacroAlt;CUT/PASTE03Cut Line / Marked Reg…CtrlKPaste (Uncut)CtrlUCopy Line / Marked Re…Alt6EDITING08UndoCtrlZRedoCtrlYSet / Unset MarkCtrl6Comment / Uncomment L…Alt3Set / Unset MarkAltAIndent Marked RegionAltRIGHTBRACEUnindent Marked RegionAltLEFTBRACEVerbatim InputAltVFILE04Save File (Write Out)CtrlOExit nanoCtrlXRead / Insert FileCtrlROpen File BrowserCtrlTNAVIGATION09Move to Beginning of…CtrlAMove to End of LineCtrlEGo to Line / ColumnAltGPage UpCtrlYPage DownCtrlVPrevious WordCtrlSpaceNext WordAltSpaceGo to First LineAlt\Go to Last LineAlt/GNU nanoKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · WINDOWS · 38BOTH LAYOUTSQWERTYQWERTYAZERTYAZERTYshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU NANO · WINDOWS
GNU NANO · KEYBOARD SHORTCUTSWindows · 6 SETS · No.01GNU NANOTOTAL38SHORTCUTSFOR WINDOWS · SHIPPED COMBOSSETSFILE04CUT/PASTE03SEARCH06EDITING08NAVIGATION09MISC08REF. EDITION · JAN 2026shortcutposters.comSave File (Write Out)CtrlOExit nanoCtrlXRead / Insert FileCtrlROpen File BrowserCtrlTCut Line / Marked RegionCtrlKPaste (Uncut)CtrlUCopy Line / Marked RegionAlt6Search (Where Is)CtrlWSearch and ReplaceCtrl\Find Next (Forward)AltWBackward SearchCtrlQFind Previous (Backward)AltQSearch and Replace (alternate)AltRUndoCtrlZRedoCtrlYSet / Unset Mark (select text)Ctrl6Comment / Uncomment LinesAlt3Set / Unset Mark (alternate)AltAIndent Marked RegionAltRIGHTBRACEUnindent Marked RegionAltLEFTBRACEVerbatim Input (insert next keystroke literally)AltVMove to Beginning of LineCtrlAMove to End of LineCtrlEGo to Line / ColumnAltGPage Up (Previous Screen)CtrlYPage Down (Next Screen)CtrlVPrevious WordCtrlSpaceNext WordAltSpaceGo to First LineAlt\Go to Last LineAlt/HelpCtrlGReport Cursor PositionCtrlCJustify Current ParagraphCtrlJWord / Line / Character CountAltDRefresh ScreenCtrlLFull Justify (whole buffer)AltJRecord MacroAlt:Run / Replay MacroAlt;

Windows edition · 38 shortcuts

A printable, framed-quality poster of the essential GNU nano 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 nano shortcut?
GNU nano has 38 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 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.

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