Remapping

Helix currently supports one-way key remapping through a simple TOML configuration file. (More powerful solutions such as rebinding via commands will be available in the future).

There are three kinds of commands that can be used in keymaps:

Types of Commands

Static Commands

Commands like move_char_right which are usually bound to keys and used for movement and editing.

A list of static commands is available in the Keymap documentation and in the source code in helix-term/src/commands.rs ↗

Typable Commands

Commands that can be executed from command mode (:), for example :write!.

See the Typed Commands documentation for a list of available typeable commands.

Also available at TypableCommandList declaration in the source code at helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs ↗.

Since master New

To use this feature, you need to build from source.

Macros

Sequences of keys that are executed in order.

These keybindings start with @ and then list any number of keys to be executed.

For example @miw can be used to select the surrounding word.

helix/config.toml

W = "@miw";

For now, macro keybindings are not allowed in keybinding sequences due to limitations in the way that command sequences are executed.

Note

Modifier keys (e.g. Alt+o) can be used like "<A-o>", e.g. "@miw<A-o>"

Remapping

To remap keys, create a config.toml file in your helix configuration directory (default ~/.config/helix on Linux systems) with a structure like this:

Tip

To set a modifier + key as a keymap, type A-X = ... or C-X = ... for Alt + X or Ctrl + X. Combine with Shift using a dash, e.g. C-S-esc.

Within macros, wrap them in <>, e.g. <A-X> and <C-X> to distinguish from the A or C keys.

Example

# At most one section each of 'keys.normal', 'keys.insert' and 'keys.select'
[keys.normal]
# Maps Ctrl-s to the typable command :w which is an alias for :write (save file)
C-s = ":w"

# Maps Ctrl-o to opening of the helix config file
C-o = ":config-open"

# Maps the 'a' key to the move_char_left command
a = "move_char_left"

# Maps the 'w' key move_line_up
w = "move_line_up"

# Maps Ctrl-Shift-Escape to extend_line
"C-S-esc" = "extend_line"

# Maps `ga` to show possible code actions
g = { a = "code_action" }

 # Maps the enter key to open_below then re-enter normal mode
"ret" = ["open_below", "normal_mode"]

# Maps Alt-x to a macro selecting the whole line and deleting it without yanking it
"A-x" = "@x<A-d>"

[keys.insert]
# Maps Alt-X to enter normal mode
"A-x" = "normal_mode"

# Maps `jk` to exit insert mode
j = { k = "normal_mode" }

Minor modes

Minor modes are accessed by pressing a key (usually from normal mode), giving access to dedicated bindings.

Bindings can be modified or added by nesting definitions.

[keys.insert.j]
# Maps `jk` to exit insert mode
k = "normal_mode"

[keys.normal.g]
# Maps `ga` to show possible code actions
a = "code_action"

# invert `j` and `k` in view mode
[keys.normal.z]
j = "scroll_up"
k = "scroll_down"

# create a new minor mode bound to `+`
[keys.normal."+"]
m = ":run-shell-command make"
c = ":run-shell-command cargo build"
t = ":run-shell-command cargo test"

Special keys and modifiers

Ctrl, Shift and Alt modifiers are encoded respectively with the prefixes C-, S- and A-. Special keys are encoded as follows:

Key name	Representation
Backspace	"backspace"
Space	"space"
Return or Enter	"ret"
-	"minus"
Left	"left"
Right	"right"
Up	"up"
Down	"down"
Home	"home"
End	"end"
Page Up	"pageup"
Page Down	"pagedown"
Tab	"tab"
Delete	"del"
Insert	"ins"
Null	"null"
Escape	"esc"

Other keys such as /, + and ? can be referenced literally.

Tip

Keys can be disabled by binding them to the no_op command.