# Source: https://iterm2.com/documentation-copymode.html

[Table of Contents](#)

Introduction

- [Highlights for New Users](https://iterm2.com/documentation-highlights.html)

- [General Usage](https://iterm2.com/documentation-general-usage.html)

User Interface

- [Menu Items](https://iterm2.com/documentation-menu-items.html)

- [Settings](https://iterm2.com/documentation-preferences.html)

- [Touch Bar](https://iterm2.com/documentation-touch-bar.html)

- [Copy Mode](https://iterm2.com/documentation-copymode.html)

- [Fonts](https://iterm2.com/documentation-fonts.html)

- [Profile Search Syntax](https://iterm2.com/documentation-search-syntax.html)

- [Command Selection and Command URLs](https://iterm2.com/documentation-command-selection.html)

- [Status Bar](https://iterm2.com/documentation-status-bar.html)

Features

- [Automatic Profile Switching](https://iterm2.com/documentation-automatic-profile-switching.html)

- [Badges](https://iterm2.com/documentation-badges.html)

- [Buried Sessions](https://iterm2.com/documentation-buried-sessions.html)

- [Captured Output](https://iterm2.com/documentation-captured-output.html)

- [Coprocesses](https://iterm2.com/documentation-coprocesses.html)

- [Hotkeys](https://iterm2.com/documentation-hotkey.html)

- [Session Restoration](https://iterm2.com/documentation-restoration.html)

- [Shell Integration](https://iterm2.com/documentation-shell-integration.html)

- [Smart Selection](https://iterm2.com/documentation-smart-selection.html)

- [tmux Integration](https://iterm2.com/documentation-tmux-integration.html)

- [Triggers](https://iterm2.com/documentation-triggers.html)

- [Utilities](https://iterm2.com/documentation-utilities.html)

- [Web Browser](https://iterm2.com/documentation-web.html)

- [AI Chat](https://iterm2.com/documentation-ai-chat.html)

Scripting

- [Scripting Fundamentals](https://iterm2.com/documentation-scripting-fundamentals.html)

- [Scripting Variables](https://iterm2.com/documentation-variables.html)

- [Python API](https://iterm2.com/python-api)

- [Scripting with AppleScript (Deprecated)](https://iterm2.com/documentation-scripting.html)

Advanced

- [Dynamic Profiles](https://iterm2.com/documentation-dynamic-profiles.html)

- [Inline Images Protocol](https://iterm2.com/documentation-images.html)

- [Proprietary Escape Codes](https://iterm2.com/documentation-escape-codes.html)

# Copy Mode

Copy Mode allows you to make selections using the keyboard. To enter or exit Copy Mode, select Edit > Copy Mode. You can also enter copy mode by pressing  immediately after making a selection with the mouse. A special cursor rendered as a downward-pointing arrow is visible while in Copy Mode.

While in Copy Mode, the sessionâs contents will not change. You can use the keyboard to move the cursor and modify the selection using these keystrokes:

Changing Modes

    Keystroke
    Action

    <C-Space>
    Stop selecting

    <Esc>, q, <C-c>, <C-g>
    Exit copy mode

    <C-v>
    Toggle rectangular selection

    <Space>, v
    Toggle selection by character

    V
    Toggle selection by line

Basic Movement

    Keystroke
    Action

    h, <Left>
    Move left

    j, <Down>
    Move down

    k, <Up>
    Move up

    l, <Right>
    Move right

Content-Based Movement

    Keystroke
    Action

    <M-Left>, <M-b>, <S-Tab>, b
    Move back one word, treating symbols as word breaks.

    <M-Right>, <M-f>, <Tab>, w
    Move forward one word, treating symbols as word breaks.

    B
    Move back one word, treating symbols as part of a word.

    W
    Move forward one word, treating symbols as part of a word.

    [
    Move to previous mark

    ]
    Move to next mark

Screen Movement

    Keystroke
    Action

    <C-b>, <PageUp>
    Move up one screen

    <C-f>, <PageDown>
    Move down one screen

    H
    Move to top of visible area

    M
    Move to middle of visible area

    L
    Move to bottom of visible area

Line Movement

    Keystroke
    Action

    ^, <M-m>
    Move to start of indentation

    0
    Move to start of line

    $
    Move to end of line

    <Return>
    Move to start of next line

Document Movement

    Keystroke
    Action

    g
    Move to start

    G
    Move to end

Other Commands

    Keystroke
    Action

    o
    Swap cursor and other selection endpoint

    <C-k>, y
    Copy selection