How to exit Vim?

Exiting Vim can be confusing for new users because Vim operates in modes (e.g., Normal mode, Insert mode), and quitting requires specific commands. Below is a detailed guide with examples to exit Vim gracefully.

Step-by-Step Guide to Exit Vim

1. Ensure You’re in Normal Mode

Vim commands only work in Normal mode (not Insert mode).

• If you’re in Insert mode (where you can type text), press Esc to return to Normal mode.
• Check the bottom-left corner of the screen: if you see -- INSERT --, you’re in Insert mode.

2. Basic Exit Commands

Once in Normal mode, use one of these commands:

Command	Action
:q	Quit Vim (fails if unsaved changes exist).
:q!	Force quit without saving changes (discards edits).
:wq	Save changes and quit (write + quit).
:wq!	Force save and quit (useful for read-only files if you have sudo).
:x	Save (if changes exist) and quit (similar to :wq).
ZZ (Shift + zz)	Save and quit (shortcut for :wq).
:qa	Quit all open windows/tabs (if using splits or multiple files).

Examples

Example 1: Quit Without Saving Changes

1. Press Esc to ensure you’re in Normal mode.
2. Type :q! and press Enter.

• This exits Vim and discards all unsaved changes.

Example 2: Save and Quit

1. Press Esc.
2. Type :wq and press Enter.

• Saves changes to the file and exits.

Example 3: Save and Quit with a Filename

If you forgot to name the file when opening Vim:

1. Press Esc.
2. Type :wq filename.txt and press Enter.

• Saves the file as filename.txt and exits.

Example 4: Quit Multiple Windows/Tabs

If you have split screens or tabs:

1. Press Esc.
2. Type :qa! and press Enter.

• Closes all open files/windows without saving.

Common Mistakes & Fixes

1. “E37: No write since last change”

• You modified the file but didn’t save. Use :q! to discard changes or :wq to save.

1. “E212: Can’t open file for writing”

• You don’t have write permissions. Save with sudo:
  bash :w !sudo tee % # Force-save with sudo :q! # Then quit

1. Stuck in Visual/Command Line Mode

• Press Esc repeatedly to return to Normal mode.

Last Resort: Force-Kill Vim

If you’re truly stuck:

1. Open a new terminal window.
2. Find the Vim process ID:

   ps aux | grep vim

3. Kill the process:

   kill -9 <process_id>

• Warning: This discards all unsaved changes.

Summary Table

Scenario	Command
Quit without changes	:q
Discard changes and quit	:q!
Save and quit	:wq or ZZ
Save as root (permission fix)	:w !sudo tee %
Quit all windows/tabs	:qa!

Pro Tips

• Memorize Esc → :q! as the universal “get me out of Vim” command.
• Use :help quit in Vim to open the official documentation.
• Practice in a safe environment (e.g., open a test file with vim test.txt).

With these commands, you’ll never be trapped in Vim again!