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GNU EMACSKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · MAC · 47 ESSENTIAL12345⌥ ⇧Query re…67890Q⌥Fill (re…W⌃Kill reg…E⌃Move to …R⌃Incremen…T⌃Transpos…Y⌃Yank (pa…UIO⌃Insert n…P⌃Previous…A⌃Move to …S⌃Incremen…D⌃Delete c…F⌃Move for…G⌃Abort cu…H⌃Run tuto…JK⌃Kill (cu…L⌃Redraw g…Z⌃Suspend …X⌃Find (op…CV⌃Scroll t…B⌃Move bac…N⌃Next lineMMORE SHORTCUTSSave file⌃X›⌃SUndo an unwan…⌃X›UExecute exten…⌥XCopy region t…⌥WSelect anothe…⌃X›BExit Emacs pe…⌃X›⌃CSet mark here⌃␣Mark entire b…⌃X›HDelete all ot…⌃X›1Switch cursor…⌃X›OSave all files⌃X›SGo to buffer …⌥⇧,Go to buffer …⌥⇧.Split window …⌃X›2Split window …⌃X›3Delete this w…⌃X›0List all buff…⌃X›⌃BKill a buffer⌃X›KIndent line (…⇥Write buffer …⌃X›⌃WMove forward …⌥FMove backward…⌥BScroll to pre…⌥VGo to line⌥G›⌥GKill word for…⌥Dshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU EMACS · MAC
Isometric
FILESFind (open) file⌃X›⌃FSave file⌃X›⌃SSave all files⌃X›SWrite buffer to a file⌃X›⌃WInsert file into buffer⌃X›IToggle read-only status of…⌃X›⌃QKILLING AND DELETINGKill (cut) to end of line⌃KKill region (cut)⌃WCopy region to kill ring⌥WYank (paste) last kill⌃YDelete character forward⌃DKill word forward⌥DReplace last yank with pre…⌥YLEAVING EMACSExit Emacs permanently⌃X›⌃CSuspend / iconify Emacs⌃ZHELPRun tutorial⌃H›TApropos: commands matching…⌃H›ADescribe the function a ke…⌃H›KDescribe a function⌃H›FERROR RECOVERYAbort current command⌃GUndo an unwanted change⌃X›URedraw garbaged screen⌃LEDITINGExecute extended command (…⌥XIndent line (mode-dependen…⇥Insert newline after point⌃OTranspose characters⌃TFill (reflow) paragraph⌥QBUFFERSSelect another buffer⌃X›BList all buffers⌃X›⌃BKill a buffer⌃X›KMARKINGSet mark here⌃␣Mark entire buffer⌃X›HExchange point and mark⌃X›⌃XSEARCHIncremental search forward⌃SIncremental search backward⌃RQuery replace⌥⇧5Regular expression search⌃⌥SMOTIONMove to beginning of line⌃AMove to end of line⌃EMove forward one character⌃FMove backward one character⌃BNext line⌃NPrevious line⌃PGo to buffer beginning⌥⇧,Go to buffer end⌥⇧.Move forward one word⌥FMove backward one word⌥BScroll to next screen⌃VScroll to previous screen⌥VGo to line⌥G›⌥GWINDOWSDelete all other windows⌃X›1Switch cursor to another w…⌃X›OSplit window above and bel…⌃X›2Split window side by side⌃X›3Delete this window⌃X›0GNU EmacsKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · MAC · 55BOTH LAYOUTSQWERTYQWERTYAZERTYAZERTYshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU EMACS · MAC
Typewriter
FILES06Find (open) file⌃X›⌃FSave file⌃X›⌃SSave all files⌃X›SWrite buffer to a file⌃X›⌃WInsert file into buffer⌃X›IToggle read-only status of b…⌃X›⌃QKILLING AND DELETING07Kill (cut) to end of line⌃KKill region (cut)⌃WCopy region to kill ring⌥WYank (paste) last kill⌃YDelete character forward⌃DKill word forward⌥DReplace last yank with previ…⌥YLEAVING EMACS02Exit Emacs permanently⌃X›⌃CSuspend / iconify Emacs⌃ZHELP04Run tutorial⌃H›TApropos: commands matching a…⌃H›ADescribe the function a key …⌃H›KDescribe a function⌃H›FERROR RECOVERY03Abort current command⌃GUndo an unwanted change⌃X›URedraw garbaged screen⌃LEDITING05Execute extended command (M-…⌥XIndent line (mode-dependent)⇥Insert newline after point⌃OTranspose characters⌃TFill (reflow) paragraph⌥QBUFFERS03Select another buffer⌃X›BList all buffers⌃X›⌃BKill a buffer⌃X›KMARKING03Set mark here⌃␣Mark entire buffer⌃X›HExchange point and mark⌃X›⌃XSEARCH04Incremental search forward⌃SIncremental search backward⌃RQuery replace⌥⇧5Regular expression search⌃⌥SMOTION13Move to beginning of line⌃AMove to end of line⌃EMove forward one character⌃FMove backward one character⌃BNext line⌃NPrevious line⌃PGo to buffer beginning⌥⇧,Go to buffer end⌥⇧.Move forward one word⌥FMove backward one word⌥BScroll to next screen⌃VScroll to previous screen⌥VGo to line⌥G›⌥GWINDOWS05Delete all other windows⌃X›1Switch cursor to another win…⌃X›OSplit window above and below⌃X›2Split window side by side⌃X›3Delete this window⌃X›0GNU EmacsKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · MAC · 55BOTH LAYOUTSQWERTYQWERTYAZERTYAZERTYshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU EMACS · MAC

Mac edition · 55 shortcuts

GNU Emacs Keyboard Shortcuts Poster

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

Edition Apple Mac Windows Windows

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A printable GNU Emacs shortcuts poster isn't published yet — the full shortcut list below is free to use in the meantime. You can also request a digital edition — a high-resolution, print-ready PDF — at any time.

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GNU EMACSKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · MAC · 47 ESSENTIAL12345⌥ ⇧Query re…67890Q⌥Fill (re…W⌃Kill reg…E⌃Move to …R⌃Incremen…T⌃Transpos…Y⌃Yank (pa…UIO⌃Insert n…P⌃Previous…A⌃Move to …S⌃Incremen…D⌃Delete c…F⌃Move for…G⌃Abort cu…H⌃Run tuto…JK⌃Kill (cu…L⌃Redraw g…Z⌃Suspend …X⌃Find (op…CV⌃Scroll t…B⌃Move bac…N⌃Next lineMMORE SHORTCUTSSave file⌃X›⌃SUndo an unwan…⌃X›UExecute exten…⌥XCopy region t…⌥WSelect anothe…⌃X›BExit Emacs pe…⌃X›⌃CSet mark here⌃␣Mark entire b…⌃X›HDelete all ot…⌃X›1Switch cursor…⌃X›OSave all files⌃X›SGo to buffer …⌥⇧,Go to buffer …⌥⇧.Split window …⌃X›2Split window …⌃X›3Delete this w…⌃X›0List all buff…⌃X›⌃BKill a buffer⌃X›KIndent line (…⇥Write buffer …⌃X›⌃WMove forward …⌥FMove backward…⌥BScroll to pre…⌥VGo to line⌥G›⌥GKill word for…⌥Dshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH GNU EMACS · MAC

Free PNG is web-resolution and lightly watermarked. The printable PDF is 300 DPI, print-ready, and watermark-free.

All GNU Emacs keyboard shortcuts (Mac)

The complete list of 55 GNU Emacs keyboard shortcuts for Mac, grouped by category. The poster itself features the most essential of these — the keys worth keeping in view, sized to stay readable on a wall.

Motion 13

Action Shortcut
Move to beginning of line ⌃A
Move to end of line ⌃E
Move forward one character ⌃F
Move backward one character ⌃B
Next line ⌃N
Previous line ⌃P
Go to buffer beginning ⌥⇧,
Go to buffer end ⌥⇧.
Move forward one word ⌥F
Move backward one word ⌥B
Scroll to next screen ⌃V
Scroll to previous screen ⌥V
Go to line ⌥Gthen⌥G

Killing and Deleting 7

Action Shortcut
Kill (cut) to end of line ⌃K
Kill region (cut) ⌃W
Copy region to kill ring ⌥W
Yank (paste) last kill ⌃Y
Delete character forward ⌃D
Kill word forward ⌥D
Replace last yank with previous kill ⌥Y

Files 6

Action Shortcut
Find (open) file ⌃Xthen⌃F
Save file ⌃Xthen⌃S
Save all files ⌃XthenS
Write buffer to a file ⌃Xthen⌃W
Insert file into buffer ⌃XthenI
Toggle read-only status of buffer ⌃Xthen⌃Q

Windows 5

Action Shortcut
Delete all other windows ⌃Xthen1
Switch cursor to another window ⌃XthenO
Split window above and below ⌃Xthen2
Split window side by side ⌃Xthen3
Delete this window ⌃Xthen0

Editing 5

Action Shortcut
Execute extended command (M-x) ⌥X
Indent line (mode-dependent) ⇥
Insert newline after point ⌃O
Transpose characters ⌃T
Fill (reflow) paragraph ⌥Q

Search 4

Action Shortcut
Incremental search forward ⌃S
Incremental search backward ⌃R
Query replace ⌥⇧5
Regular expression search ⌃⌥S

Help 4

Action Shortcut
Run tutorial ⌃HthenT
Apropos: commands matching a string ⌃HthenA
Describe the function a key runs ⌃HthenK
Describe a function ⌃HthenF

Error Recovery 3

Action Shortcut
Abort current command ⌃G
Undo an unwanted change ⌃XthenU
Redraw garbaged screen ⌃L

Marking 3

Action Shortcut
Set mark here ⌃␣
Mark entire buffer ⌃XthenH
Exchange point and mark ⌃Xthen⌃X

Buffers 3

Action Shortcut
Select another buffer ⌃XthenB
List all buffers ⌃Xthen⌃B
Kill a buffer ⌃XthenK

Leaving Emacs 2

Action Shortcut
Exit Emacs permanently ⌃Xthen⌃C
Suspend / iconify Emacs ⌃Z

Sourced from gnu.org , 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.

Frequently asked questions

Does the poster include every GNU Emacs shortcut?
GNU Emacs has 55 keyboard shortcuts in total — 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 separate Mac and Windows editions so every key matches your keyboard exactly. This page is the macOS 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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