Emacs Commands Quick Reference

NOTE: As of writing the version of Emacs I used is GNU Emacs 27.1 (build 1, x86_64-w64-mingw32) of 2020-08-22.

Commands

• Key-bindings (or shortcuts) are represented with symbols specified in the key notations table.
• Key-bindings that are not packed with Emacs or other packages are marked with an *.

Key notations

Symbol	Meaning
C	Ctrl key
M	Meta/Alt key
S	Shift key
-	Hyphen. Keys connected with hyphens should be pressed together
	White space, indicating a short pause between key pressings
RET	Return/Enter key
SPC	Space key
DEL	Backspace key
CMD	Command
,	Comma, used to separate optional or closely-related commands
A|B	Either A or B
[A]	A is optional, i.e., it can be omitted or present
…	Repeat the last stroke indefinitely

Help

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-h ?	Show general help commands	help-for-help
C-h C-a	Show welcome screen	about-emacs
C-h t	Open Emacs tutorial	help-with-tutorial
C-h i	Open the info buffer	info
C-h k	Look up key	describe-key
C-h f	Look up command	describe-function
C-h v	Look up variable	describe-variable
C-h P	Describe package	describe-package
C-h .	Display tooltip in the echo area	display-local-help
<prefix> {C-h|F1}	Show the list of key-bindings starting with the prefix key, e.g. C-x C-h displays the list of key-bindings starting with C-x.

Navigation

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-f	Go forward a character	forward-char
C-b	Go backward a character	backward-char
M-b	Go to word start	backward-word
M-f	Go to word end	forward-word
C-p	Go to previous line	previous-line
C-n	Go to next line	next-line
C-a	Go to line start	move-beginning-of-line
C-e	Go to line end	move-end-of-line
M-a	Go to sentence start	backward-sentence
M-e	Go to sentence end	forward-sentence
M-}	Go to next paragraph	forward-paragraph
M-{	Go to previous paragraph	backward-paragraph
M-]	Go to next blank line separated block	xah-forward-block *
M-[	Go to previous blank line separated block	xah-backward-block *
M-<	Go to buffer start	beginning-of-buffer
M->	Go to buffer end	end-of-buffer
M-r	Go to buffer center, top, or bottom	move-to-window-line-top-bottom
C-M-f	Go to the matched closing bracket	forward-sexp
C-M-b	Go to the matched opening bracket	forward-sexp
C-M-e	Go to next end of defun	end-of-defun
C-M-a	Go to previous beginning of defun	beginning-of-defun
C-x <	Scroll text in the current window to the left	scroll-left
C-x >	Scroll text in the current window to the right	scroll-right
C-v	Scroll forward one screenful	scroll-up-command
M-v	Scroll backward one screenful	scroll-down-command
C-M-v	Scroll other window forward one screenful	scroll-other-window
S-C-M-v	Scroll other window backward one screenful	scroll-other-window-down
C-l	Move the text around the cursor to the center of the screen	recenter-top-bottom
M-g g	Go to line	goto-line
M-g c	Go to character	goto-char
C-u C-SPC	Go to last marked position in current buffer	set-mark-command
???	Go to next marked position in current buffer
C-x C-SPC	Go to last marked position in all buffers	set-mark-command
???	Go to next marked position in all buffers
???	Go to last edited position in current buffer
???	Go to next edited position in current buffer
???	Go to last edited position in all buffers
???	Go to next edited position in all buffers

Selection

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-x h	Select all.	mark-whole-buffer
C-S-p	Up with selection.	previous-line
C-S-n	Down with selection.	next-line
C-S-f	Forward with selection.	forward-char
C-S-b	Backward with selection.	backward-char
M-S-f	Forward with selection to word end.	forward-word
M-S-b	Backward with selection to word start.	backward-word
C-S-e	Forward with selection to line end.	move-end-of-line
C-S-a	Backward with selection to line start.	move-beginning-of-line
C-SPC	Toggle sticky selection.	set-mark-command
C-x SPC	Toggle rectangle mark mode.	rectangle-mark-mode
M-=	Show the number of lines, words, and characters in selected region.	count-words-region

Editing

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-d	Delete next character.	delete-char
DEL	Delete previous character.	backward-delete-char-untabify
???	Delete entire line.
M-d	Kill next word.	kill-word
{M¦C}-DEL	Kill previous word.	backward-kill-word
C-k	Kill to line end. M-0 ~ to kill to line start.	kill-line
C-S-DEL	Kill entire line.	kill-whole-line
C-w	Kill region.	kill-region
M-w	Copy region/rectangle	kill-ring-save
C-y	Yank/Paste last killed region/rectangle.	yank
C-x r k	Kill rectangle	kill-rectangle
C-x r y	Yank rectangle	yank-rectangle
C-/	Undo. C-f ~ to redo.	undo
M-c	Capitalize word.	capitalize-word
	Capitalize region.	capitalize-region
M-u	Turn all letters of next word uppercase.	upcase-word
M-l	Turn all letters of next word lowercase	downcase-word
C-x C-u	Turn all letters of selected region uppercase.	upcase-region
C-x C-l	Turn all letters of selected region lowercase.	downcase-region
C-g	Quit a command.	keyboard-quit
C-o	Insert a new line and leave the cursor unmoved.	open-line
M-\	Delete all spaces and tabs around cursor.	delete-horizontal-space
C-x C-o	Delete blank lines surrounding the cursor.	delete-blank-lines
???	Toggle camelcase-aware editing for current buffer.
S-RET	Open line below without breaking current line.	newline-below-without-break (*)
C-S-RET	Open line above without breaking current line.	newline-above-without-break (*)
TAB	Indent current line. Use C-u <n> C-x Tab to indent the selected region n columns. Use negative number for n to unindent.	indent-for-tab-command
C-q	Read next input character and insert it. This is useful for inserting control characters.	quoted-insert
C-x =	Describe character at point. C-u ~ to show more details.	what-cursor-position

Searching

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-s	Incremental search forward.	isearch-forward
C-r	Incremental finding backward.	isearch-backward
M-%	Query and replace.	query-replace

Buffers, windows and frames

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-x b	Switch to buffer in current window. Create new buffer if the given buffer name doesn’t exist.	switch-to-buffer
C-x 4 b	Switch to buffer in another window.	switch-to-buffer-other-window
C-x 4 C-o	Display buffer in another window.	display-buffer
C-x 5 b	Switch to buffer in another frame.	switch-to-buffer-other-frame
C-x <left>	Switch to previous buffer.	previous-buffer
C-x <right>	Switch to next buffer	next-buffer
C-x C-b	List buffers	list-buffers
M-n	Go to next window	other-window
M-p	Go to previous window	prev-window
C-x k	Kill buffer	kill-buffer
C-x C-s	Save buffer	save-buffer
C-x s	Save some modified file-visiting buffers.	save-some-buffers
C-x 0	Close current window.	delete-window
C-x 1	Go back to one-window editing.	delete-other-windows
C-x 2	Split window below. C-u <n> ~ to specify height.	split-window-below
C-x 3	Split window right. C-u <n> ~ to specify width.	split-window-right
S-<arrow>*	Switch directionally between windows. By default it’s not enabled. Type `M-x windmove-default-keybingds` to enable it or add `(windmove-default-keybindings)` to init file to enable it for future sessions.	windmove-*
C-x C-c	Kill all buffers and exit emacs.	save-buffers-kill-terminal
	Open shell. C-u M-x ~ to open another running shell.	shell
	Open Emacs shell.	eshell
C-c C-l	Display a list of recent inputs entered into the current buffer.	comint-dynamic-list-input-ring
C-x m	Open mail buffer.	compose-mail
C-x C-=	Adjust font size.	text-scale-adjust
	Truncate long lines or wrap them.	toggle-word-wrap
C-z	Suspend emacs. In shell type %emacs to resume.	suspend-frame

Files and directories

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-x C-f	Open or create a file in current window	find-file
C-x 4 f	Open or create a file in another window	find-file-other-window
M-F2	Open file in browser. (global-set-key (kbd "<M-f2>") 'browse-url-of-file)	browse-url-of-file
C-x C-d	Display a brief directory listing. C-u ~ to display verbosely.	list-directory

Dired mode

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-x d	Enter dired mode in current window.	dired
C-x 4 d	Enter dired mode in another window.	dired-other-window

When in dired more:

Keys	Meaning	Command
d	Flag files for deletion.	dired-flag-file-deletion
D	Delete file on current line.	dired-do-delete
x	Delete flaged files.	dired-do-flagged-delete
g	Refresh the mode buffer.	revert-buffer

Diff mode

Keys	Meaning	Command
	Enter diff mode in current window which compares two files	diff
	Enter diff mode in current window which compares current buffer with its file.	diff-buffer-with-file

When in diff mode:

Keys	Meaning	Command
g	Refresh the mode buffer

Meta commands

Commands on commands

Keys	Meaning	Command
{M-<n>¦C-u <n>} CMD	Run a command n times. See C-h i (emacs)Arguments.	digit-argument
M-x	Run a command.	execute-extended-command
M-!	Run a shell command.	shell-command
C-x z	Run last command. Press z continuously to repeat more times.	repeat
M-:	Evaluate EXP and print value in the echo area.	eval-expression
C-x C-e	Evaluate sexp before point; print value in the echo area.	eval-last-sexp
C-j	Evaluate sexp before point; print value into current buffer.	eval-print-last-sexp

Org mode

Headings and subtrees

Keys	Meaning	Command
TAB	Expand/Collapse outline entry, or indent plain list item	org-cycle
S-TAB	Cycle visibility through all top-level headings, all headings, and everything.	org-shifttab
C-c C-n	Go to next heading	org-next-visible-heading
C-c C-p	Go to previous heading	org-previous-visible-heading
C-c C-f	Go to next heading of same level	org-forward-heading-same-level
C-c C-b	Go to previous heading of same level	org-backward-heading-same-level
C-c C-u	Go to parent heading	outline-up-heading
C-c C-j	Go to …	org-goto
M-RET	Add a heading below or before current heading	org-meta-return
C-u M-RET	Add a heading after current subtree	org-meta-return
C-u C-u M-RET	Add a heading at the end of the parent subtree	org-meta-return
C-RET	Add a heading after the current subtree	org-insert-heading-respect-content
M-S-RET	Add a TODO heading below or before current heading	org-insert-todo-heading
C-S-RET	Add a TODO heading after current subtree	org-insert-todo-heading-respect-content
C-c *	Toggle heading for current line or region	org-ctrl-c-star
C-c C-t	Toggle TODO on current heading	org-todo
M–	Cycle the thing at point	org-shiftleft
M-+	Cycle the thing at point	org-shiftright
M-n	Cycle the thing at point	org-shiftdown
M-p	Cycle the thing at point	org-shiftup
C-c C-s	Add scheduled date	org-schedule
C-c C-d	Add deadline	org-deadline
<M-up>	Move current subtree up	org-metaup
<M-down>	Move current subtree down	org-metadown
<M-left>	Promote current heading by one level	org-metaleft
<M-right>	Demote current heading by one level	org-metaright
<M-S-left>	Promote current subtree by one level	org-shiftmetaleft
<M-S-right>	Demote current subtree by one level	org-shiftmetaright
M-h	Select current element (and subsequent elements)	org-mark-element
C-c @	Select current subtree (and subsequent subtrees)	org-mark-subtree
C-c C-x C-w	Kill subtree (and the next N subtrees)	org-cut-special
C-c C-x M-w	Copy subtree (and the next N subtrees)	org-copy-special
C-c C-x C-y	Yank subtree	org-paste-special
C-c C-x c	Clone subtree	org-clone-subtree-with-time-shift
C-c C-x b	Show the current subtree in an indirect buffer	org-tree-to-indirect-buffer
C-c ^	Sort same-level entries	org-sort
C-c /	Search and show results in a sparse tree	org-sparse-tree
M-g n	Go to next match in sparse tree	next-error
M-g p	Go to previous match in sparse tree	previous-error
C-c C-c	While in sparse tree view, abort matching hightlights	org-ctrl-c-ctrl-c
C-c C-x d	Insert a drawer. C-u ~ to insert a property drawer	org-insert-drawer

Lists

Keys	Meaning	Command
M-RET	Insert an item of same level on next line.	org-meta-return
<M-up>	Move item and its children up to the same level.	org-metaup
<M-down>	Move item and its children down to the same level.	org-metadown
<M-left>	Promote item but not its children.	org-metaleft
<M-right>	Demote item but not its children.	org-metaright
<M-S-left>	Promote list item and its children.	org-shiftmetaleft
<M-S-right>	Demote list item and its children.	org-shiftmetaright
C-c -	Toggle bullet presence at current line or region, or cycle bullet styles.	org-ctrl-c-minus
C-c C-*	Convert the whole plain list into a subtree of the heading at point.	org-list-make-subtree
M-S-RET	Insert an empty checkbox on next line.	org-insert-todo-heading
C-c C-c	Toggle checkbox status on current item.	org-ctrl-c-ctrl-c
C-u C-c C-c	Toggle checkbox presence on current item.	^
???	Toggle checkbox status for selected region.
C-u C-u C-c C-c	Set checkbox to intermediate state [-].	^
C-c C-x C-b	Toggle checkbox status or presence on current item.	org-toggle-checkbox
C-u C-c C-x C-b	Toggle checkbox presence for selected list or list under a heading.	^
C-u C-u C-c C-x C-b	Same as above but set the checkboxes to [-].	^
C-c C-x o	Toggle if the checkboxes must be checked off in sequence.	org-toggle-ordered-property
C-c #	Update the statistics cookie in current heading.	org-update-statistics-cookies
C-u C-c #	Update all cookies in the buffer.	^

Links

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-c C-l	Insert or edit link.	org-insert-link
C-c C-o	Follow link.	org-open-at-point
C-c &	Return to link after following it.	org-mark-ring-goto
C-c C-x C-n	Go to next link. C-u ~ to go to previous link.	org-next-link
C-c C-x C-p	Go to previous link	org-previous-link

Tables

Keys	Meaning	Command
TAB	Re-align the table, move to the next field. Creates a new row if necessary.	org-cycle
S-TAB	Re-align, move to previous field.	org-shifttab
C-c C-c	Re-align the table and don’t move to another field.	org-ctrl-c-ctrl-c
C-c RET	Create a table with horizontal line or insert a horizontal line below.	org-ctrl-c-ret
C-c ¦	Create a table or convert an active region into a table.	org-table-create-or-convert-from-region
M-e	Move to end of the current table field, or on to the next field.	org-forward-sentence
M-a	Move to beginning of the current table field, or on to the previous field.	org-backward-sentence
C-c SPC	Blank the field at point.	org-table-blank-field
C-c `	Edit field.	org-table-edit-field
C-c C-c	Exit editing field.	org-ctrl-c-ctrl-c
S-RET	Copy the field at point to the field below.	org-table-copy-down
<M-right>	Move the current column right.	org-metaright
<M-left>	Move the current column left.	org-metaleft
<M-up>	Move the current row up.	org-metaup
<M-down>	Move the current row down.	org-metadown
<M-S-left>	Delete current column.	org-shiftmetaleft
<M-S-right>	Insert a new column to the left.	org-shiftmetaright
C-o	Insert a new row above.	org-open-line
C-c -	Insert a horizontal line below current row.	org-ctrl-c-minus
C-u C-c -	Insert a horizontal line above current row.	^
C-c ^	Sort the table.	org-sort
C-j	Goto next table row or insert a newline and indent.	org-return-indent

Navigation

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-c &	Go back to previous position (after following a link etc.).	org-mark-ring-goto
C-c %	Put the current position into the mark ring and rotate it.	org-mark-ring-push

Agenda views

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-c a	Open agenda views	org-agenda

In agenda views:

Keys	Meaning	Command
a	Open week view. Use prefix arg C-u <n> to specify days to display	org-agenda-list

In week view: ref

Keys	Meaning	Command
SPC	Show original location in another window	org-agenda-show-and-scroll-up
TAB	Go to original location in another window	org-agenda-goto
RET	Go to the original location of the item and delete other windows.	org-agenda-switch-to
F	Toggle follow mode	org-agenda-follow-mode
C-c C-x b	Display subtree	org-agenda-tree-to-indirect-buffer
C-c C-o	Follow a link in the entry	org-agenda-open-link

Info mode

Keys	Meaning	Command
	Clone buffer	clone-buffer

Programming

Project awareness

1. Projectile

   Keys	Meaning	Command
   M-p f	Find file in current project. C-u M-p f to clear cache first.	projectile-find-file
   M-p F	Find file in all projects
   M-p g	Find file in current project based on context
   M-p e	Find recently visited file in project
   M-p T	Find test file in current project
   M-p o	Find keywords in current project buffers
   M-p s g	Find keywords in current project files with grep
   M-p s s	Find keywords in current project files with ag.el
   M-p d	Find directory in current project
   M-p 4 C-o	Display a project buffer in another window without selecting it
   M-p b	Switch to project buffer
   M-p LEFT	Switch to previous project buffer
   M-p RIGHT	Switch to next project buffer
   M-p a	Switch between files with the same name but different extensions
   M-p t	Toggle between an implementation file and its test file
   M-p p	Open or switch project
   M-p D	Browse project root in dired
   M-p v	Browse project root in vc-dir or magit
   M-p V	Browse dirty version controlled projects
   M-p r	Replace in current project
   M-p S	Save all project buffers
   M-p k	Kill all project buffers
   M-p m	Invoke a command
   M-p i	Invalidates the project cache (if existing)
   M-p R	Regenerates the projects TAGS file
   M-p j	Find tag in project’s TAGS file
   M-p E	Open the root dir-locals-file of the project
   M-p !	Run shell-command in the root directory of the project
   M-p &	Run async-shell-command in the root directory of the project
   M-p E	Opens the root dir-locals-file of the project
   M-p z	Add the currently visited file to the cached
   M-p C-h	View all projectile key-bindings

2. Treemacs

   Keys	Meaning	Command
   C-x t	Initialize or toggle treemacs	treemacs
   C-c t	Select treemacs window	treemacs-select-window
   C-c C-p ?	Show keys relating to project administration

Navigation

Keys	Meaning	Command
M-.	Find or go to definition	xref-find-definitions
C-x 4 .	Find or go to definition in another window	xref-find-definitions-other-window
M-?	Find references to the identifier at point	xref-find-references
M-S-s	Find references to the identifier at point	lsp-find-references
M-h	Go to next reference	lsp-ui-find-next-reference
M-S-h	Go to previous reference	lsp-ui-find-prev-reference
M-.	Go to implementation	lsp-goto-implementation
C-<	Go to super	lsp-java-open-super-implementation
M-n	Go to next error	flymake-goto-next-error
M-p	Go to previous error	flymake-goto-prev-error

Documentation

Keys	Meaning	Command
M-;	Insert or indent comment on current line C-u ~ to kill the comment.	comment-dwim
M-j	Continue comment on another line	indent-new-comment-line
C-x C-;	Comment or uncomment current line	comment-line

Magit

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-x g	Open magit buffer (Def)	magit-status
C-c g	Show transient command list buffer from any buffer.	magit-file-dispatch
h,?	Show command list in a transient buffer.	magit-dispatch
TAB	Expand or collapse section at point.	magit-section-toggle
C-TAB	Cycle visibility of current section and its children.	magit-section-cycle
s	Stage changes.	magit-stage-file
u	Unstage changes.	magit-unstage-file
c	Show commit buffer.	magit-commit
- c	Commit changes and show commit message buffer.	magit-commit-create
- - C-c C-c	Submit commit message.
P	Show push commands transient buffer.	magit-push
- p	Push commits.	magit-push-current-to-pushremote
F	Show pull commands transient buffer.	magit-pull
- p	Pull commits.	magit-pull-from-pushremote
q	Quit status buffer.	magit-mode-bury-buffer

Automation

Keys	Meaning	Command
M-/	Auto-completing	dabbrev-expand
C-f5	Format buffer	lsp-format-buffer
C-S-f5	Format region	lsp-format-region
C-f2	Rename	lsp-rename
C-c c	Show company candidates	company-complete

1. Company mode

   After the suggestion window is started, run the following commands to select or navigate through the candidates.

   Keys	Meaning	Command
   M-n	Move highlighting down
   M-p	Move highlighting up
   C-v	Next page
   M-v	Previous page
   C-s	Search for candidates
   C-M-s	Filter candidates
   M-0 .. 9	Select the N-th candidates (1)
   C-h/F1	Show doc of highlighted item in another buffer
   C-g	Abort

Run/Debug

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-f9	Debug	dap-debug
C-S-f9	Restart	dap-debug-restart

Verb

Keys below are used after prefix keys C-c C-r.

Keys	Meaning	Command
C-r	Send request. C-u C-c C-r C-r to see complete request before sending	verb-send-request-on-point-other-window-stay
C-f	Resend request.	verb-send-request-on-point

Custom key-bindings

• newline-below-without-break and newline-above-without-break

  ;; Open new line below current line without breaking current line
  (defun newline-below-without-break ()
  "1.Move to end of line; 2. Insert newline with index"
  (interactive)
  (let ((oldpos (point))) (end-of-line) (newline-and-indent)))
  (global-set-key (kbd "<S-return>") 'newline-below-without-break)
      
  ;; Open new line above current line without breaking current line
  (defun newline-above-without-break ()
  "Insert an empty line above the currentline. Position the cursor at its beginning, according the current mode"
  (interactive)
  (move-beginning-of-line nil)
  (newline-and-indent)
  (forward-line -1)
  (indent-according-to-mode))
  (global-set-key (kbd "<C-S-return>") 'newline-above-without-break)
  

• xah-forward-block and xah-backward-block

  ;; Move to next blank line separated block
  (defun xah-forward-block (&optional n)
  "Move cursor beginning of next text block.
  A text block is separated by blank lines.
  This command similar to `forward-paragraph', but this command's behavior is the same regardless of syntax table.
  URL `http://ergoemacs.org/emacs/emacs_move_by_paragraph.html'
  Version 2016-06-15"
  (interactive "p")
  (let ((n (if (null n) 1 n)))
  (re-search-forward "\n[\t\n ]*\n+" nil "NOERROR" n)))
  (global-set-key (kbd "M-]") 'xah-forward-block)
      
  ;; Move to previous blank line separated block
  (defun xah-backward-block (&optional n)
  "Move cursor to previous text block.
  See: `xah-forward-block'
  URL `http://ergoemacs.org/emacs/emacs_move_by_paragraph.html'
  Version 2016-06-15"
  (interactive "p")
  (let ((n (if (null n) 1 n))
        ($i 1))
        (while (<= $i n)
        (if (re-search-backward "\n[\t\n ]*\n+" nil "NOERROR")
        (progn (skip-chars-backward "\n\t "))
        (progn (goto-char (point-min))
        (setq $i n)))
        (setq $i (1+ $i)))))
  (global-set-key (kbd "M-[") 'xah-backward-block)
  

Functions

format, user-full-name, read-string