Notepad++ keyboard shortcuts

Notepad++ is the free, lightweight code and text editor that lives on almost every Windows developer's machine. It opens huge files instantly, handles dozens of languages, and packs surprisingly deep editing power behind a plain interface. Its shortcuts turn quick edits, log digging, and bulk text surgery into second-nature moves. This cheat sheet covers 63 default shortcuts.

Files & Tabs

New file	`Ctrl`+`N`
Open file	`Ctrl`+`O`
Save file	`Ctrl`+`S`
Save file as	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`S`
Save all open files	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`
Close current file	`Ctrl`+`W`
Restore recently closed file	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`
Print	`Ctrl`+`P`
Exit Notepad++	`Alt`+`F4`
Next document tab	`Ctrl`+`Tab`
Previous document tab	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Tab`
Next tab (in tab-bar order)	`Ctrl`+`PgDn`
Previous tab (in tab-bar order)	`Ctrl`+`PgUp`

Basic Editing

Undo	`Ctrl`+`Z`
Redo	`Ctrl`+`Y`
Cut	`Ctrl`+`X`
Copy	`Ctrl`+`C`
Paste	`Ctrl`+`V`
Select all	`Ctrl`+`A`
Delete word to the left	`Ctrl`+`Backspace`
Delete word to the right	`Ctrl`+`Delete`
Delete to start of line	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Backspace`
Delete to end of line	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Delete`
Indent selection	`Tab`
Outdent selection	`Shift`+`Tab`

Line Operations

Duplicate current line	`Ctrl`+`D`
Cut current line	`Ctrl`+`L`
Move line or selection up	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Up`
Move line or selection down	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Down`
Join selected lines	`Ctrl`+`J`
Convert selection to UPPERCASE	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`U`
Convert selection to lowercase	`Ctrl`+`U`

Comments

Toggle single-line comment	`Ctrl`+`Q`
Add single-line comment	`Ctrl`+`K`
Remove single-line comment	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`K`
Block comment selection	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Q`

Search & Replace

Find	`Ctrl`+`F`
Replace	`Ctrl`+`H`
Find next	`F3`
Find previous	`Shift`+`F3`
Find next occurrence of selected word	`Ctrl`+`F3`
Find in files	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`
Incremental search	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`I`
Go to line	`Ctrl`+`G`
Go to matching brace	`Ctrl`+`B`

Bookmarks

Toggle bookmark on current line	`Ctrl`+`F2`
Go to next bookmark	`F2`
Go to previous bookmark	`Shift`+`F2`

Auto-Completion

Function completion	`Ctrl`+`Space`
Function parameters hint	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Space`
Word completion	`Ctrl`+`Enter`

View & Folding

Toggle full screen	`F11`
Toggle Post-It mode (frameless window)	`F12`
Fold all	`Alt`+`0`
Unfold all	`Alt`+`Shift`+`0`
Collapse current fold level	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`F`
Uncollapse current fold level	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`F`

Column Mode

Column (rectangular) selection	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Arrow keys`
Column selection with mouse	`Alt`+`Click`
Open Column Editor (insert text/numbers per line)	`Alt`+`C`

Macros & Run

Start/stop macro recording	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`R`
Play recorded macro	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`
Open Run dialog	`F5`

Put your top Notepad++ shortcuts on real keys

The five Notepad++ actions most worth binding to a physical macropad key:

Ctrl+Shift+S Save all open files One key flushes every dirty tab before a build or commit, a dozen times a day.

Ctrl+Shift+F Find in files The fastest way into project-wide log and code hunts, straight from any tab.

Ctrl+D Duplicate current line The single most repeated editing action when writing config or repetitive code.

Ctrl+Shift+P Play recorded macro Physical replay button turns a recorded edit into a machine-gun bulk operation.

Ctrl+Q Toggle single-line comment Commenting code in and out while testing is a constant loop worth one dedicated key.

I hand-build small-batch programmable macropads (QMK/VIA) in Barcelona. One press, any shortcut, any app.

See the macropads

Notepad++ shortcut FAQs

How do I edit multiple lines at once in Notepad++?

Hold Alt+Shift and use the arrow keys (or hold Alt and drag with the mouse) to make a column selection, then type to edit every selected line simultaneously. For inserting sequences like numbered lists, use the Column Editor with Alt+C.

How do I duplicate a line in Notepad++?

Press Ctrl+D with the cursor anywhere on the line. No selection is needed; the whole line is duplicated below.

How do I search across many files in Notepad++?

Press Ctrl+Shift+F to open Find in Files. You can point it at any folder, filter by file type, and even run Replace in Files across the whole set.

Can I record and replay repetitive edits in Notepad++?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Shift+R to start recording a macro, perform your edits, press Ctrl+Shift+R again to stop, then replay with Ctrl+Shift+P. The Macro menu also lets you run it multiple times or save it permanently.

How do I change keyboard shortcuts in Notepad++?

Open Settings > Shortcut Mapper. It lists every menu command, macro, and plugin command, and lets you rebind or clear any shortcut.