Modes

HyprVim includes many modes from Vim. The goal is for your muscle memory from Vim to carry over seamlessly.

But some Hyprland and Desktop-specific conveniences were added for a better experience and to handle edgecases.

👁️ Visual Mode

Entering VISUAL from NORMAL

Key	Description
V	Enter visual mode
SHIFT+V	Enter line-wise visual mode

In VISUAL Mode

• Use navigation keys (h, j, k, l, w, b, etc.) to extend selection
• Press y to yank selection
• Press d to delete selection
• Press c to change selection (delete and enter insert)
• Press g to access G-VISUAL for go commands like (gg, gG, gs, gn, and gi)
• Press ESC to return to NORMAL mode

Note

gs surrounds the selected text with character(s)

gn and gi sends the selected text to Vim/Nvim for editing in NORMAL or INSERT mode, respectively

✏️ Insert Mode

Entering INSERT from NORMAL

Key	Description
I	Insert before cursor
A	Insert after cursor
SHIFT+A	Insert at line end
SHIFT+I	Insert at line start
O	Open line below
SHIFT+O	Open line above
CTRL+O	Open line below (Shift+Enter)
CTRL SHIFT+O	Open line above (Shift+Enter)

Tip

In a chat app? Use [CTRL+O] to append a new line without sending your message.

In INSERT Mode:

• All keys will pass through except for ESC. You may type normally, just like in Vim.
• Keep in mind, a submap is still active while in INSERT mode. So, only your bindu keys from Hyprland will work while in a submap.
• Press ESC to return to NORMAL mode.

Note

Learn more about bindu here, to make keybinds global to all submaps.

⌨️ Command Mode

Entering COMMAND from NORMAL

Key	Description
:	Insert before cursor

Press : from NORMAL mode to enter COMMAND mode.

Command mode provides powerful window management, workspace navigation, and system control.

File Operations

Command	Description
:w	Save file (Ctrl+S)
:wq	Save and quit
:q	Quit window (allows app to prompt for save)
:q!	Force quit window (kill immediately)
:qa	Quit all windows in current workspace
:qa!	Force quit all windows in current workspace

Window Management

Command	Description
:split, :sp	Split window horizontally
:vsplit, :vsp, :vs	Split window vertically
:only	Close all other windows (keep current)

Window States

Command	Description
:float, :f	Toggle floating mode
:fullscreen, :fs	Toggle fullscreen
:pin	Pin window to all workspaces
:center, :c	Center floating window
:pseudo	Toggle pseudo-tiling

Workspace Navigation

Command	Description
:tabn, :tn	Next workspace
:tabp, :tp	Previous workspace
:ws <num>	Switch to workspace number (e.g., :ws 3)
:move <num>	Move window to workspace (e.g., :move 5)

System Control

Command	Description
:reload, :r	Reload Hyprland config
:lock	Lock screen
:logout	Exit Hyprland

Visual

Command	Description
:opacity <value>	Set window opacity 0.0-1.0 (e.g., :opacity 0.8)

App Launching

Command	Description
:e, :edit	Open application launcher
:term, :t	Open terminal

Utilities

Command	Description
:help, :h	Show keybindings help
:%s, :s	Open native find/replace dialog (Ctrl+H)

Note

%s only opens the native find/replace dialog. Implementing a scripted find/replace is not only unreliable but also less efficient and could break formatting. You may need to [TAB] through the interface or drive the mouse cursor with your keyboard to complete the operation.

Command Examples

:w              - Save current file
:wq             - Save and close window
:float          - Toggle floating mode for current window
:ws 3           - Switch to workspace 3
:move 5         - Move current window to workspace 5
:opacity 0.7    - Set window to 70% opacity
:reload         - Reload Hyprland configuration

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