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Guide · Open source

How to use Vimium: keyboard shortcuts for faster browsing

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Vimium is a free, open-source browser extension that lets you scroll, open links, switch tabs and search pages from the keyboard, using key bindings borrowed from the Vim editor. This guide is for keyboard-first users and anyone who browses long or paginated pages often. After reading it, you will be able to install Vimium, use the core keys, and remap bindings to suit you.

Vimiumphilc/vimium · ★ 27.1k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Install the extension. Open the Chrome Web Store, Edge Add-ons or Firefox Add-ons page for Vimium and add it to your browser.
  2. 2Open the help dialog. Press ? on any web page to see the full list of key bindings.
  3. 3Practice scrolling. Use j, k, d and u to move down and up a page, and gg and G to jump to the top and bottom.
  4. 4Open links from the keyboard. Press f to open a link in the current tab or F to open it in a new tab.
  5. 5Switch and manage tabs. Use J and K to move between tabs, t to create one and x to close the current tab.
  6. 6Remap bindings if needed. Add map or unmap lines in the Custom key mappings section of the Options page.

Install Vimium in Chrome, Edge or Firefox

Vimium is listed in the official add-on stores for each supported browser. Choose the store that matches your browser, then add the extension from its page.

The project's README links to the Chrome Web Store, Edge Add-ons and Firefox Add-ons. The README also explains how to install from source, which is covered in the project's CONTRIBUTING.md file.

  • Chrome: Chrome Web Store
  • Edge: Edge Add-ons
  • Firefox: Firefox Add-ons

Learn the core keys for scrolling and links

Press ? at any time to open the help dialog, which lists all available keys. The core navigation keys are designed to be pressed with one hand. You do not need to memorize everything at once; start with scrolling and opening links.

The help dialog is also where you reach the Options page, along with the extension pages in chrome://extensions or about:addons.

  • j and k scroll down and up
  • h and l scroll left and right
  • d and u scroll down and up half a page
  • gg and G scroll to the top and bottom of the page
  • f opens a link in the current tab, F opens it in a new tab
  • i enters insert mode, where commands are ignored until you press Esc
  • / enters find mode; n and N move to the next and previous match
? show the help dialog for a list of all available keys j scroll down k scroll up f open a link in the current tab F open a link in a new tab

Manage tabs and history from the keyboard

Vimium includes commands for moving between tabs, closing and restoring them, and jumping through your history. The README notes that a count before a command repeats it, so 5t opens five tabs in rapid succession.

  • J or gT go one tab left; K or gt go one tab right
  • ^ returns to the previously visited tab
  • x closes the current tab; X restores the last closed tab
  • T searches through your open tabs
  • H and L go back and forward in history
  • yt duplicates the current tab
5t open 5 tabs in rapid succession x close current tab X restore closed tab

Browse paginated sites with next and previous links

On sites split into pages, the ]] and [[ keys follow the link labeled 'next' or '>' and 'previous' or '<'. The README describes this as helpful for browsing paginated sites.

Use <a-f> to open multiple links in a new tab, and gi to focus the first text input on the page. Press Tab to cycle through other inputs.

]] follow the link labeled 'next' or '>' [[ follow the link labeled 'previous' or '<' gi focus the first text input box on the page

Customize key mappings on the Options page

You can remap or unmap any default binding in the Custom key mappings section of the Options page. Enter one statement per line. Lines starting with " or # are treated as comments.

Modifier keys are written as <c-x> for ctrl, <a-x> for alt, <m-x> for meta and <s-x> for shift. The README shows that map overrides Chrome's default behavior for that key, and unmap restores it.

  • map key command: maps a key to a Vimium command
  • unmap key: removes a mapping and restores Chrome's default
  • unmapAll: removes all Vimium defaults so you can start from scratch
  • The full command list is in the docs at vimium.github.io/commands
map <c-d> scrollPageDown map r reload hard unmap <c-d> unmap r

Use Vimium on new tab pages

Vimium works on new tabs opened with its own createTab command, which is mapped to t by default. To make Vimium work on all new tabs, including those opened with ctrl-t or cmd-t, the README says you need the separate Vimium New Tab Page extension.

What people use it for

  • Scrolling long articles and documentation with j, k, d and u
  • Opening links from a results page without touching the mouse using f or F
  • Moving through paginated sites with ]] and [[
  • Switching, searching and restoring tabs with T, ^ and X
  • Searching the current page with / and jumping between matches with n and N

Frequently asked questions

Is Vimium free and open source?

Yes. The project is released under the MIT licence, and its source code is on GitHub at philc/vimium. The README gives the copyright as Phil Crosby and Ilya Sukhar.

Which browsers does Vimium support?

The README links to installation pages for Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Install it from the store that matches your browser.

How do I install Vimium from source?

The README says to see the installing-from-source section of CONTRIBUTING.md. The README's own install command is git clone https://github.com/philc/vimium, but the store links are the simplest route for most people.

How do I open the Vimium options page?

Press ? to open the help dialog and follow the link there. You can also use the Vimium button on the extensions page in Chrome or Edge (chrome://extensions) or in Firefox (about:addons).

Why doesn't Vimium work on my new tab page?

By default Vimium only works on new tabs opened with its own createTab command. To work on all new tabs, the README says you need the companion Vimium New Tab Page extension.

What are good alternatives to Vimium?

The project lists Surfingkeys, Vimari, Tridactyl and Vim Vixen as comparable projects. This guide does not compare their features, so check each project's documentation before choosing.

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Our verdict

Vimium suits keyboard-first users who already know Vim-style keys, and developers or readers who move between tabs and long pages all day. If you prefer the mouse and do not want to learn commands, or you need Vim-style editing inside text fields, pick a different tool, since the README describes Vimium as control of the web rather than text editing.

Install options & downloads