Vim: The extremely fast and efficient open-source text editor

Thu May 21 4:57 pm EDT 2026
xtmci@atomicmail.io

Table of Contents

How to copy text from gVim to Windows system clipboard

  • Use the "+ register before copying or cutting text.
  • Press " (double quote) key and + (plus) key consecutively.

To copy text into Windows clipboard, enter Visual mode by pressing v key. Select the text using your mouse and press "+y to copy it.

When cutting the text rather than copying it, press "+x or "+d instead.

Alternatively, you can do the same thing in Normal mode. When copying a line, for example, in the Normal mode, just press "+yy.

In the case of pasting text from the system clipboard to gVim, press "+p or "+P in Normal mode. The former pastes the text after the cursor while the latter pastes it before the cursor.

How to display invisible characters

Use the :set list command to show the hidden characters:

:set list

Vim shows the End of Line as $, and the Tab as ^I.

When returning to the normal display mode, you use the :set nolist command:

:set nolist