Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
The Nano text editor is a popular, user-friendly command-line text editor for Linux. While its interface is simple and easy, new users often face challenges with basic tasks like saving changes and exiting. This article explains how to save and exit Nano, and how to exit without saving.
Saving and Exiting Nano
When editing a file in Nano, follow these steps to save your changes and exit:
1. Save Changes:
- Press
Ctrl + O(the “Write Out” command). - Nano will prompt for the file name at the bottom of the screen:
File Name to Write: <filename> - Press Enter to confirm the file name and save your changes.
2. Exit Nano:
- After saving, press
Ctrl + Xto exit Nano.
Tip: If you attempt to exit Nano without saving changes, you’ll receive a prompt asking if you want to save the changes.
Exiting Nano Without Saving
To exit Nano without saving changes, follow these steps:
1. Press Ctrl + X.
2. Nano will display the following prompt:
Save modified buffer (ANSWERING "No" WILL DESTROY CHANGES) ?3. Respond to the prompt:
- Press
N: Exits without saving changes. - Press
Y: Saves changes before exiting. - Press
Ctrl + C: Cancels the exit and returns to the editor.
Command Summary
| Action | Command |
|---|---|
| Save changes | Ctrl + O |
| Exit Nano | Ctrl + X |
| Exit without saving changes | Ctrl + X, then N |
Common Use Cases
- Editing Configuration Files: Use Nano to edit system configuration files (e.g.,
/etc/hosts) and save changes after confirming the updates. - Temporary Edits: When testing scripts or commands, exit Nano without saving changes to avoid altering files unnecessarily.
- Creating New Files: Save and exit Nano after creating new files to preserve your work for future use.
References
- Stack Overflow: How to Exit Nano
- Ubuntu Nano Command Guide
- Linux Command Line Basics: Nano man page
- The GNU Nano Editor documentation
