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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/sxyazi/yazi/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

This guide will get you up and running with Yazi in under 2 minutes. Let’s learn the essential operations!

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Launching Yazi

Open your terminal and run: 
yazi
Yazi opens in your current directory. You’ll see a three-column layout:
  • Left column: Parent directory
  • Center column: Current directory (your files)
  • Right column: Preview of selected file
Tip: Launch Yazi in a specific directory: yazi /path/to/directory

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Basic Navigation

Yazi uses Vim-like keybindings for navigation:
1

Move Between Files

j  # Move down (next file)
k  # Move up (previous file)
The selected file is highlighted. The preview updates automatically.
2

Enter/Exit Directories

l  # Enter directory (go deeper)
h  # Exit directory (go to parent)
Navigate your file tree naturally - right to go deeper, left to go back.
3

Jump Around

gg     # Go to top of file list
G      # Go to bottom of file list

Ctrl-u # Move up half page
Ctrl-d # Move down half page

Ctrl-b # Move up full page
Ctrl-f # Move down full page

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Opening Files

There are multiple ways to open files:
Open with the default system application:
Enter  # Open the selected file
o      # Alternative: open file
Yazi detects the file type and opens it with the appropriate application.

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File Operations

Perform common file operations with simple keybindings:

Copy Files

# Yank (copy)
y  # Copy selected file(s)
p  # Paste in current directory
P  # Paste (force overwrite)

Cut/Move Files

# Cut
x  # Cut selected file(s)
p  # Paste (moves files)

Delete Files

# Delete
d  # Move to trash
D  # Permanently delete (careful!)

Create Files

# Create
a  # Create file/directory
   # End name with / for directory

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Selection

Select multiple files for batch operations: 
Space  # Toggle current file selection
       # Automatically moves to next file
The selected files are highlighted. Repeat to select multiple files.

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Search & Filter

Quickly find files: 
/       # Find files by name (forward)
?       # Find files by name (backward)
n       # Jump to next match
N       # Jump to previous match
The external search tools (fd, ripgrep, fzf, zoxide) require separate installation. See Installation for optional dependencies.

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Working with Tabs

Yazi supports multiple tabs for working with different directories:
1

Create & Switch Tabs

t t    # Create new tab in current directory
1-9    # Switch to tab 1-9
[      # Switch to previous tab
]      # Switch to next tab
2

Manage Tabs

t r      # Rename current tab
{        # Swap with previous tab
}        # Swap with next tab
Ctrl-c   # Close current tab

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Preview & Scrolling

The right panel shows a preview of the selected file: 
J    # Scroll preview down (5 lines)
K    # Scroll preview up (5 lines)

Tab  # Spot mode (detailed preview)
     # Press Tab again to close
Preview supports:
  • Text files with syntax highlighting
  • Images (in supported terminals)
  • Videos (thumbnail)
  • PDFs, archives, and more

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Additional Operations

r    # Rename file (cursor before extension)
  • Opens an input prompt with the current filename
  • Cursor is positioned before the file extension
  • Type the new name and press Enter
  • For multiple files: select them first, then press r for bulk rename
c c  # Copy file path
c d  # Copy directory path
c f  # Copy filename
c n  # Copy filename without extension
Useful for pasting file paths into other applications.
.    # Toggle hidden files visibility
Show or hide files starting with . (dot files).
, m  # Sort by modified time
, M  # Sort by modified time (reverse)
, a  # Sort alphabetically
, A  # Sort alphabetically (reverse)
, s  # Sort by size
, n  # Sort naturally
Change how files are ordered in the list.
;    # Run shell command
:    # Run shell command (wait for completion)
Execute commands in your current directory:
; git status        # Quick command
: make install      # Wait for completion

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Help & Exit

~      # Open help menu
F1     # Alternative: open help

# In help menu:
j/k    # Navigate
f      # Filter help items
Esc    # Close help

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Quick Reference Card

Here’s a handy reference for the most common operations:

Navigation

  • j/k - Up/Down
  • h/l - Parent/Enter
  • gg/G - Top/Bottom

Files

  • Enter - Open
  • a - Create
  • r - Rename
  • d - Delete

Selection

  • Space - Toggle
  • v - Visual mode
  • Ctrl-a - Select all

Copy/Paste

  • y - Yank (copy)
  • x - Cut
  • p - Paste

Search

  • / - Find
  • f - Filter
  • s/S - Search

System

  • ; - Shell
  • ~ - Help
  • q - Quit

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Example Workflow

Let’s walk through a complete example:
1

Launch and Navigate

yazi ~/Documents
Opens Yazi in your Documents folder.
2

Find a File

/report
Type to find files containing “report”. Press n to cycle through matches.
3

Select Multiple Files

Space    # Select first file
j        # Move down
Space    # Select second file
Or use visual mode: v then move with j/k.
4

Copy to Another Directory

y         # Yank (copy) selected files
h         # Go to parent directory
l         # Enter a different directory
p         # Paste files
5

Done!

q         # Quit Yazi

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Tips for Productivity

Instead of pressing Space multiple times:
  1. Press v to enter visual mode
  2. Use j/k to extend selection
  3. Perform operation (y, x, d, etc.)
  4. Press Esc to exit visual mode
Much faster for selecting ranges of files!
Quick navigation shortcuts:
g h    # Go to home directory (~)
g c    # Go to ~/.config
g d    # Go to ~/Downloads
Add your own in the configuration!
w      # Open task manager
When copying large files or running operations:
  • Press w to see task progress
  • x to cancel a task
  • Enter to inspect details
Use shell commands without leaving Yazi:
; git add .               # Quick git commands
: npm install             # Wait for completion
The current directory is automatically set.

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Common Questions

Yazi respects your $EDITOR environment variable. Set it in your shell config:
export EDITOR=nvim    # or vim, nano, etc.
Then text files will open in your preferred editor when you press Enter.
Yes! All keybindings are customizable. See the Configuration guide.The default keymap is located at:
~/.config/yazi/keymap.toml
Image preview support depends on your terminal. Yazi has built-in support for:
  • kitty (Kitty graphics protocol)
  • iTerm2 (Inline images protocol)
  • WezTerm (Inline images protocol)
  • foot, Windows Terminal (Sixel)
For other terminals, install Überzug++ or Chafa. See Image Preview for setup.
  • Deleted files go to trash by default (press d)
  • Use Y or X to cancel a yank/cut operation
  • Press Esc to cancel selection or exit modes
  • Press Ctrl-c to cancel ongoing operations
To permanently delete (skip trash), press D (capital D).

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Next Steps

Now that you know the basics, explore these topics:

Configuration

Customize colors, behavior, and keybindings

Full Keybindings

Complete reference of all keyboard shortcuts

Plugin System

Extend Yazi with Lua plugins

Image Preview Setup

Configure image previews for your terminal
You’re ready to use Yazi! Press ~ anytime in Yazi to see the help menu with all available commands.

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