How to Exit (Quit) Linux Vim/Vi editor

Introduction

Vim is a Linux text editor based on the older Vi editor. Vim is an enhanced version of Vi; many commands work for both Vi and Vim.

This guide will show you how to exit in the terminal or using a shortcut key.

Prerequisites

• A Linux system
• Access to a terminal window / command line (Activities > Search > Terminal)
• A user account with sudo or root privileges (editing some files may require elevated privileges)

Exit Vim in Terminal

To issue commands in Vi/Vim, switch to command mode.

1. Press the Esc key.

2. You should see the ––INSERT–– label vanish from the lower-left.

3. To save your changes before you exit, type :w , and then Enter. This will save any changes made. Vim will respond by outputting the filename, whether it’s new, and how many characters were written to the hard drive.

4. To exit Vi/Vim, type :q and hit Enter.

Exit Vim Using a Shortcut Key

In addition to command mode, Vim also has the option for shortcut keys:

• To save a file in Vim and exit, press Esc > Shift + ZZ
• To exit Vim without saving, press Esc > Shift + ZX

More Command Options to Quit Vim

Here’s a list of commands for quitting Vim:

• Esc – switch to command mode
• :w – write out changes that were made
• :q – exit Vim
• :q! – exit Vim and discard any changes
• :wq – saves the changes, and exits Vim
• :x – save the changes made, and exits Vim

Conclusion

You should now have several methods to exit Vi/Vim text editor. Next, learn other essential Vim commands.