{"id":13423,"date":"2024-07-30T12:19:19","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T12:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bodhost.com\/kb\/?p=13423"},"modified":"2026-08-03T12:52:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T12:52:35","slug":"how-to-save-and-exit-in-nano-editor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bodhost.com\/kb\/how-to-save-and-exit-in-nano-editor\/","title":{"rendered":"Save and Exit From the Nano Text Editor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nano is the simple terminal text editor that comes with most Linux distributions, macOS, and Termux. Once you open a file with nano filename, the most common question is how to save your changes and leave the editor.<\/p>\n

Here is the exact sequence that works on every modern version of GNU nano:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Press Ctrl + O<\/strong> (the letter O, not zero) to \u201cWrite Out\u201d (save).<\/li>\n
  2. Press Enter<\/strong> to confirm the filename.<\/li>\n
  3. Press Ctrl + X<\/strong> to exit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    That\u2019s it. The rest of this guide explains what you see on screen, how to save under a new name, how to quit without saving, and the small differences on Mac, Ubuntu<\/a>, and Termux.<\/p>\n

    The Basic Save-and-Exit Steps (Detailed)<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Make your edits in the file.<\/li>\n
    2. Hold the Ctrl<\/strong> key and press O<\/strong>. The bottom of the screen changes to:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      File Name to Write: yourfile.txt<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Press Enter<\/strong> to accept the current name (or type a new name if you want to \u201cSave As\u201d).<\/li>\n
      2. Nano writes the file and shows a short confirmation such as \u201cWrote X lines\u201d.<\/li>\n
      3. Hold Ctrl<\/strong> and press X<\/strong>. Nano closes and returns you to the shell.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        You can also exit first with Ctrl + X<\/strong>. If the file has unsaved changes, nano asks:<\/p>\n

        Save modified buffer?\r\nY Yes\r\nN No\r\n^C Cancel<\/pre>\n