VIM - Vi IMproved 9.2 (2026 Feb 14, compiled Nov 09 2026 22:12:14) Usage: vim [arguments] [file ..] edit specified file(s) or: vim [arguments] - read text from stdin or: vim [arguments] -t tag edit file where tag is defined or: vim [arguments] -q [errorfile] edit file with first error Arguments: -- Only file names after this -v Vi mode (like "vi") -e Ex mode (like "ex") -E Improved Ex mode -s Silent (batch) mode (only for "ex") -d Diff mode (like "vimdiff") -y Easy mode (like "evim", modeless) -R Readonly mode (like "view") -Z Restricted mode (like "rvim") -m Modifications (writing files) not allowed -M Modifications in text not allowed -b Binary mode -l Lisp mode -C Compatible with Vi: 'compatible' -N Not fully Vi compatible: 'nocompatible' -V[N][fname] Be verbose [level N] [log messages to fname] -D Debugging mode -n No swap file, use memory only -r List swap files and exit -r (with file name) Recover crashed session -L Same as -r -A Start in Arabic mode -H Start in Hebrew mode -T <terminal> Set terminal type to <terminal> --not-a-term Skip warning for input/output not being a terminal --ttyfail Exit if input or output is not a terminal --stdio-channel Use stdin and stdout as a channel -u <vimrc> Use <vimrc> instead of any .vimrc --noplugin Don't load plugin scripts -p[N] Open N tab pages (default: one for each file) -o[N] Open N windows (default: one for each file) -O[N] Like -o but split vertically + Start at end of file +<lnum> Start at line <lnum> --cmd <command> Execute <command> before loading any vimrc file -c <command> Execute <command> after loading the first file -S <session> Source file <session> after loading the first file -s <scriptin> Read Normal mode commands from file <scriptin> -w <scriptout> Append all typed commands to file <scriptout> -W <scriptout> Write all typed commands to file <scriptout> -x Edit encrypted files --remote <files> Edit <files> in a Vim server if possible --remote-silent <files> Same, don't complain if there is no server --remote-wait <files> As --remote but wait for files to have been edited --remote-wait-silent <files> Same, don't complain if there is no server --remote-tab[-wait][-silent] <files> As --remote but use tab page per file --remote-send <keys> Send <keys> to a Vim server and exit --remote-expr <expr> Evaluate <expr> in a Vim server and print result --serverlist List available Vim server names and exit --servername <name> Send to/become the Vim server <name> --startuptime <file> Write startup timing messages to <file> --log <file> Start logging to <file> early -i <viminfo> Use <viminfo> instead of .viminfo --clean 'nocompatible', Vim defaults, no plugins, no viminfo -h or --help Print Help (this message) and exit --version Print version information and exit
Options (51)
| Option | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
-v | Vi mode (like "vi") | help |
-e | Ex mode (like "ex") | help |
-E | Improved Ex mode | help |
-s | Silent (batch) mode (only for "ex") | help |
-d | Diff mode (like "vimdiff") | help |
-y | Easy mode (like "evim", modeless) | help |
-R | Readonly mode (like "view") | help |
-Z | Restricted mode (like "rvim") | help |
-m | Modifications (writing files) not allowed | help |
-M | Modifications in text not allowed | help |
-b | Binary mode | help |
-l | Lisp mode | help |
-C | Compatible with Vi: 'compatible' | help |
-N | Not fully Vi compatible: 'nocompatible' | help |
-V N][fname | Be verbose [level N] [log messages to fname] | help |
-D | Debugging mode | help |
-n | No swap file, use memory only | help |
-r | List swap files and exit | help |
-L | Same as -r | help |
-A | Start in Arabic mode | help |
-H | Start in Hebrew mode | help |
-T terminal | Set terminal type to <terminal> | help |
--not-a-term | Skip warning for input/output not being a terminal | help |
--ttyfail | Exit if input or output is not a terminal | help |
--stdio-channel | Use stdin and stdout as a channel | help |
-u vimrc | Use <vimrc> instead of any .vimrc | help |
--noplugin | Don't load plugin scripts | help |
-p N | Open N tab pages (default: one for each file) | help |
-o N | Open N windows (default: one for each file) | help |
-O N | Like -o but split vertically | help |
--cmd command | Execute <command> before loading any vimrc file | help |
-c command | Execute <command> after loading the first file | help |
-S session | Source file <session> after loading the first file | help |
-w scriptout | Append all typed commands to file <scriptout> | help |
-W scriptout | Write all typed commands to file <scriptout> | help |
-x | Edit encrypted files | help |
--remote files | Edit <files> in a Vim server if possible | help |
--remote-silent files | Same, don't complain if there is no server | help |
--remote-wait files | As --remote but wait for files to have been edited | help |
--remote-wait-silent files | Same, don't complain if there is no server | help |
--remote-tab -wait][-silent | As --remote but use tab page per file | help |
--remote-send keys | Send <keys> to a Vim server and exit | help |
--remote-expr expr | Evaluate <expr> in a Vim server and print result | help |
--serverlist | List available Vim server names and exit | help |
--servername name | Send to/become the Vim server <name> | help |
--startuptime file | Write startup timing messages to <file> | help |
--log file | Start logging to <file> early | help |
-i viminfo | Use <viminfo> instead of .viminfo | help |
--clean | 'nocompatible', Vim defaults, no plugins, no viminfo | help |
-h | or --help Print Help (this message) and exit | help |
--version | Print version information and exit | help |