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# Select All Text in Vim
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/vim-select-all/
- Published: 2023-10-24T03:36:25.000Z
- Updated: 2023-10-24T03:36:25.000Z
- Description: There is no built-in keyboard shortcut to select all text in Vim. Here's what you can do in that case.
- Author: Sagar Sharma
- Tags: Vim, #hide

Want to select everything in Vim? Just follow 3 simple steps:

1. Press the `Esc` key to switch to normal mode
2. Press `gg` to jump to the beginning of the file
3. Press `V` or `Ctrl + v` to enable visual mode
4. Finally, press `Ctrl + End` to get to the end of the file

If I were to conclude it, first press `ggV` and then `Ctrl + End` and it will select everything in Vim.

Want to know everything in detail? I got you.

## Step 1: Switch to normal mode (press the `Esc` key )

Normal mode which is also known as command mode is necessary to select everything in Vim.

So if you were in insert or any other mode, press the `Esc` key to switch to the normal mode. Even if you don't know what mods are, you can still press the `Esc` key, it won't harm your system.

## Step 2: Go to the beginning of the file (press `gg`)

To select everything in the file, it is necessary to select everything and for that, you have to start the selection from the beginning.

For that, you can either use `gg` (press the `g` key twice) or `[[` and it will get you to the beginning of the file:

![Jump to the beginning of the file in Vim](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/10/Jump-to-the-beginning-of-file-in-Vim.gif)

## Step 3: Enable visual mode (press `V`)

Visual mode provides better visibility to select text in Vim which can be enabled by pressing the `V` or `Ctrl + v`. 

Once pressed, it will notify that Visual mode is enabled by saying `Visual Line`:

![Enable visual mode in Vim](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/10/Enable-visual-mode-in-Vim.png)

## Step 4: Go to the end of the file (press `Ctrl + End`)

This is the final step where all you have to do is press `Ctrl + End` to get to the end of the file in Vim and it will select everything from beginning to end:

![select all in Vim editor](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/10/Select-all-in-Vim-editor.gif)

That's it!

## Here are some helpful Vim tips and tricks 

If know the [basic commands of Vim](https://linuxhandbook.com/basic-vim-commands/?ref=itsfoss.com) and now want to learn some tips and tricks, here are tips and tricks to make you a pro-Vim user:

[11 Pro Vim Tips to Get Better Editing ExperienceYou can learn plenty of Vim tips on your own, or you can learn it from others’ experiences.![](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/08/Linux-Handbook-New-Logo.png)Linux HandbookPratham Patel![](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2022/08/pro-vim-tips.png)](https://linuxhandbook.com/pro-vim-tips/?ref=itsfoss.com)

 If you want to take your Vim skills to the next level, this is for you.

![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/10/mastering-vim-quickly-book.jpg) 

#### Mastering Vim Quickly

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I hope you will find this guide helpful.