Solved! How to Exit Vim "Ex" Mode

- 2 minutes read - 376 words

How does one exit Vim “Ex” mode? But first… how did you even get into “Ex” mode?

Probably by accidentally typing Q in normal mode:

Q c - - - - S o w m Y T T M i m o h h a * t a u e e p Q c n r p * h d d s e i s o c n * t n r i g m o o ' e s s o n t e d " e n n a e E h o n - x a a d d E " f v o n x t e e o a * m e s r b o r t n m b * d o ' a r E e a t l e x . n k v - o e g c i m t e e o a o T h p t m t d h e m i e i r p u a o * s , r p n n e d d s * i e s a - E s x s t l a x c i e i r * a e n d n e p g e * b t a n E i : " f e o X t : t d t * " e i l . r t u * i i s E k e n e 5 e a g d 0 c . . 1 t h * y p c i o n m g m a " n : d " .

If this is true you probably missed the initial instructions:

E n t e r i n g E x m o d e . T y p e " v i s u a l " t o g o t o N o r m a l m o d e .

And so, exit “Ex” mode by tying :visual or :vi in command mode.

“Ex” mode is the mode of Vim that I know the least about. I’ve been using Vim for close to a decade, and I’ve really never see it in use.