OS Manuals

/usr/bin/nvim

Vim-fork focused on extensibility and agility

From neovim 0.12.6-r0 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running nvim --help (exit 0). permalink

Usage:
  nvim [options] [file ...]

Options:
  --cmd <cmd>           Execute <cmd> before any config
  +<cmd>, -c <cmd>      Execute <cmd> after config and first file
  -l <script> [args...] Execute Lua <script> (with optional args)
  -S <session>          Source <session> after loading the first file
  -s <scriptin>         Read Normal mode commands from <scriptin>
  -u <config>           Use this config file

  -d                    Diff mode
  -es, -Es              Silent (batch) mode
  -h, --help            Print this help message
  -i <shada>            Use this shada file
  -n                    No swap file, use memory only
  -o[N]                 Open N windows (default: one per file)
  -O[N]                 Open N vertical windows (default: one per file)
  -p[N]                 Open N tab pages (default: one per file)
  -R                    Read-only (view) mode
  -v, --version         Print version information
  -V[N][file]           Verbose [level][file]

  --                    Only file names after this
  --api-info            Write msgpack-encoded API metadata to stdout
  --clean               "Factory defaults" (skip user config and plugins, shada)
  --embed               Use stdin/stdout as a msgpack-rpc channel
  --headless            Don't start a user interface
  --listen <address>    Serve RPC API from this address
  --remote[-subcommand] Execute commands remotely on a server
  --server <address>    Connect to this Nvim server
  --startuptime <file>  Write startup timing messages to <file>

See ":help startup-options" for all options.
Options (38)
OptionDescriptionSource
--cmd cmdLike -c, but execute command before processing any vimrc.help + man
-S sessionExecute session after the first file argument has been read.help + man
-s scriptinRead Normal mode commands from <scriptin>help + man
-u configUse vimrc instead of the default ~/.config/nvim/init.vim.help + man
-dDiff mode.help + man
-es, -EsSilent (non-interactive) Ex mode, reading stdin as Ex commands.help + man + man
-h, --helpPrint usage information and exit.help + man
-i shadaUse shada instead of the default ~/.local/state/nvim/shada/main.shada.help + man
-nDisable the use of swap files.help + man
-o NOpen N windows (default: one per file)help + man
-O NOpen N vertical windows (default: one per file)help + man
-p NOpen N tab pages (default: one per file)help + man
-RRead-only (view) modehelp + man
-v, --versionPrint version information and exit.help + man
-V N][fileVerbose [level][file]help + man
--api-infoDump API metadata serialized to msgpack and exit.help + man
--cleanStart Nvim with “factory defaults” (only builtin plugins, no user config/plugins, no shada).help + man
--embedUse standard input and standard output as a msgpack-rpc channel.help + man
--headlessDon't start a user interfacehelp + man
--listen addressStart RPC server on this pipe or TCP socket.help + man
--server addressConnect to this Nvim serverhelp
--startuptime fileDuring startup, append timing messages to file.help + man
-t tagFinds tag in the tags file, the associated file becomes the current file and the associated command is executed. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-q errorfileQuickFix mode. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-eEx mode, reading stdin as Ex commands. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-EEx mode, reading stdin as text. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-mResets the 'write' option, to disable file modifications. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-MResets the 'write' and 'modifiable' options, to disable file and buffer modifications. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-bBinary mode. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-AArabic mode. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-HHebrew mode. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-DVimscript debug mode. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-r fileRecovery mode. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-L fileAlias for -r. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--nopluginSkip loading plugins (by setting the 'noloadplugins' option). (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-l scriptExecute Lua script with optional [args] after processing any preceding Nvim startup arguments. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-w scriptoutAppend all typed characters to scriptout. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-W scriptoutLike -w, but truncate scriptout. (in the manual page but not in --help)man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.