window

`Ctrl-W`

Ctrl-W is the prefix for every window-management command. Follow it with h/j/k/l to move between splits, with =/_/| to resize, or with c/o to close windows.

Syntax

<C-w>{key}  (normal mode)

Variations

Keystroke	Effect
<C-w>h/j/k/l	Move cursor to the split in that direction
<C-w>w	Cycle to the next window
<C-w>=	Equalize all window sizes
<C-w>o	Close every window except the current one
<C-w>c	Close the current window
<C-w>_ / <C-w>\|	Maximize the current window vertically / horizontally

Examples

<C-w>l

Jump to the split to the right

<C-w>o

Turn a busy layout back into a single window

10<C-w>>

Widen the current window by 10 columns

Gotcha

Ctrl-W in INSERT mode deletes the previous word — not a window command. Escape first.

Related

:vsplit / :split / :tabnew

:split (or :sp) opens a horizontal split, :vsplit (:vsp) a vertical split, :tabnew a new tab page. All three optionally take a filename to open in the new pane/tab.

Leaves the current mode and returns to normal mode. Vim is modal — most of the time you want to be in normal mode; if you're not sure what mode you're in, mash Escape.

Edit (open) a file in the current window. With no argument, :e reloads the current file from disk — handy after external changes.

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