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AERC-BINDS(5) File Formats Manual AERC-BINDS(5) NAME aerc-binds - key bindings configuration file format for aerc(1) SYNOPSIS The binds.conf file is used for configuring keybindings used in the aerc interactive client. It is expected to be in your XDG config home plus aerc, which defaults to ~/.config/aerc/binds.conf. If the file does not exist, the built-in default will be installed. An alternate file can be specified via the --binds-conf command line argument, see aerc(1). This file is written in the ini format with key bindings defined as: <key sequence> = <command> Where <key sequence> is the keystrokes pressed (in order) to invoke this keybinding, and <command> specifies keystrokes that aerc will simulate when the keybinding is invoked. Generally this is used to execute commands, for example: rq = :reply -q<Enter> Pressing r, then q, will simulate typing in :reply -q<Enter>, and execute :reply -q accordingly. It is also possible to invoke keybindings recur- sively in a similar fashion. You may configure different keybindings for different contexts by writing them into different [sections] of the ini file. CONTEXTS The available contexts are: [messages] keybindings for the message list [view] keybindings for the message viewer [view::passthrough] keybindings for the viewer, when in key passthrough mode (toggled with :toggle-key-passthrough) [compose] keybindings for the message composer [compose::editor] keybindings for the composer, when the editor is focused [compose::review] keybindings for the composer, when reviewing the email before it's sent To customize the description shown on the review screen, add a comment (" # ") at the end of the keybinding. Example: p = :postpone<Enter> # I'll work on it later The order in which bindings are defined is preserved on the review screen. If a non-default binding is not annotated it will be displayed without any description. To hide a binding from the review screen, explicitly annotate it with a " # -" comment. Example: <C-e> = :encrypt<Enter> # - [terminal] keybindings for terminal tabs You may also configure account specific key bindings for each context: [context:account=AccountName] keybindings for this context and account, where AccountName is a regu- lar expression that matches the account name you provided in ac- counts.conf. Folder and context-specific bindings can be configured for message lists: [messages:folder=FolderName] [view:folder=FolderName] [compose:folder=FolderName] [compose::editor:folder=FolderName] [compose::review:folder=FolderName] keybindings under this section will be specific to the folder that matches the regular expression FolderName. Keybindings from a folder specifier will take precedence over account specifiers EXAMPLES [messages:account=Mailbox] c = :cf path:mailbox/** and<space> [compose::editor:account=Mailbox2] [compose::editor:folder=aerc] y = :send -t aerc [messages:folder=Drafts] <Enter> = :recall<Enter> [messages:folder=Archive/d+/.*] gi = :cf Inbox<Enter> ... You may also configure global keybindings by placing them at the beginning of the file, before specifying any context-specific sections. Parent keybindings can be erased in the context ones by specifying an "empty" binding: [compose::review] a = :attach<space> d = :detach<space> [compose::review:account=no-attachments] a = d = If you want to change the default Delete action to move to Trash instead of deleting permanently: d = :read<Enter>:move Trash<Enter> #... [messages:folder=Trash] d = :choose -o y 'Permanently delete?' delete-message<Enter> # And similarly for Spam SPECIAL OPTIONS In addition of user defined key sequences, the following special options are available in each binding context: $noinherit = true|false If set to true, global keybindings will not be effective in this con- text. Default: false $ex = <key-stroke> This can be set to a keystroke which will bring up the command input in this context. Default: : $complete = <key-stroke> This can be set to a keystroke which will trigger command completion in this context for text inputs that support it. Default: <tab> Note: automatic command completion is disabled when simulating key- strokes and re-enabled at the end. When [ui].completion-min-chars is set to manual (see aerc-config(5)), it is possible to end a keybinding with the completion key to explicitly display the completion menu. E.g.: o = :cf<space><tab> SUPPORTED KEYS In addition to letters and some characters (e.g. a, RR, gu, ?, !, etc.), special keys may be specified in <angle brackets>. The syntax for modified or special keys is: <C-A-S-key> Where C is control, A is alt, S is shift, and key is the named key or char- acter. Valid key names are: +-------------+--------------+ | Name | Description | +-------------+--------------+ | <space> | " " | +-------------+--------------+ | <semicolon> | ; | +-------------+--------------+ | <tab> | Tab | +-------------+--------------+ | <enter> | Enter | +-------------+--------------+ | <up> | Up arrow | +-------------+--------------+ | <down> | Down arrow | +-------------+--------------+ | <right> | Right arrow | +-------------+--------------+ | <left> | Left arrow | +-------------+--------------+ | <pgup> | Page Up | +-------------+--------------+ | <pgdn> | Page Down | +-------------+--------------+ | <home> | Home | +-------------+--------------+ | <end> | End | +-------------+--------------+ | <insert> | Insert | +-------------+--------------+ | <delete> | Delete | +-------------+--------------+ | <backspace> | Backspace | +-------------+--------------+ | <exit> | Exit | +-------------+--------------+ | <cancel> | Cancel | +-------------+--------------+ | <print> | Print screen | +-------------+--------------+ | <pause> | Pause | +-------------+--------------+ | <backtab> | Shift+Tab | +-------------+--------------+ | <esc> | Escape | +-------------+--------------+ SEE ALSO aerc(1) aerc-config(5) AUTHORS Originally created by Drew DeVault and maintained by Robin Jarry who is as- sisted by other open source contributors. For more information about aerc development, see https://sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/. 2026-06-13 AERC-BINDS(5)
NAME | SYNOPSIS | CONTEXTS | EXAMPLES | SPECIAL OPTIONS | SUPPORTED KEYS | SEE ALSO | AUTHORS
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