--- name: "aerc-binds" section: "5" platform: "linux" package: "aerc" version: "0.22.0-1" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/aerc-binds" --- # aerc-binds(5) key bindings configuration file format for aerc(1) ## NAME aerc-binds - key bindings configuration file format for [**aerc**(1)](/aerc/1.md) ## 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)](/aerc/1.md). This file is written in the ini format with key bindings defined as: **\** = *\* Where **\** is the keystrokes pressed (in order) to invoke this keybinding, and *\* specifies keystrokes that aerc will simulate when the keybinding is invoked. Generally this is used to execute commands, for example: **rq** = *:reply -q\* Pressing **r**, then **q**, will simulate typing in *:reply -q\*, and execute **:reply -q** accordingly. It is also possible to invoke keybindings recursively 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: **\[default\]** Global keybindings that apply to all contexts (unless overridden). Alternatively, global bindings can be placed at the beginning of the file before any section header. **\[messages\]** 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\ # 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: \ = :encrypt\ # - **\[terminal\]** 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 regular expression that matches the account name you provided in *accounts.conf*. Folder and context-specific bindings can be configured for message lists: **\[messages:folder=***FolderName***\]**\ **\[view:folder=***FolderName***\]**\ **\[view::passthrough:folder=***FolderName***\]**\ **\[compose:folder=***FolderName***\]**\ **\[compose::editor:folder=***FolderName***\]**\ **\[compose::review:folder=***FolderName***\]** 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 [compose::editor:account=Mailbox2] [compose::editor:folder=aerc] y = :send -t aerc [messages:folder=Drafts] = :recall [messages:folder=Archive/d+/.*] gi = :cf Inbox ... ``` 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 d = :detach [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:move Trash #... [messages:folder=Trash] d = :choose -o y 'Permanently delete?' delete-message # And similarly for Spam ``` ## SPECIAL OPTIONS In addition to user defined key sequences, the following special options are available in each binding context: **$noinherit** = *true*\|*false* If set to *true*, global keybindings will not be effective in this context. Default: *false* **$ex** = *\* This can be set to a keystroke which will bring up the command input in this context. Default: *:* **$complete** = *\* This can be set to a keystroke which will trigger command completion in this context for text inputs that support it. Default: *\* Note: automatic command completion is disabled when simulating keystrokes and re-enabled at the end. When **\[ui\].completion-min-chars** is set to *manual* (see [**aerc-config**(5)](/aerc-config/5.md)), it is possible to end a keybinding with the completion key to explicitly display the completion menu. E.g.: **o** = *:cf\\* ## SUPPORTED KEYS In addition to letters and some characters (e.g. **a**, **RR**, **gu**, **?**, **!**, etc.), special keys may be specified in **\**. The syntax for modified or special keys is: \ Where C is control, A is alt, S is shift, and key is the named key or character. Valid key names are: | | | | --- | --- | | **Name** | **Description** | | **\** | " " | | **\** | - | | **\** | ; | | **\** | Tab | | **\**, **\** | Enter | | **\** | Up arrow | | **\** | Down arrow | | **\** | Right arrow | | **\** | Left arrow | | **\** | Page Up | | **\** | Page Down | | **\** | Home | | **\** | End | | **\** | Insert | | **\**, **\** | Delete | | **\** | Backspace | | **\** | Exit | | **\** | Clear | | **\** | Cancel | | **\** | Print screen | | **\** | Pause | | **\** | Shift+Tab | | **\** | Escape | | **\** ... **\** | Function keys | ## SEE ALSO [**aerc**(1)](/aerc/1.md) [**aerc-config**(5)](/aerc-config/5.md) ## AUTHORS Originally created by Drew DeVault and maintained by Robin Jarry who is assisted by other open source contributors. For more information about aerc development, see *https://sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/*.