How to exit file reading mode (in `less`) in Linux terminal?

Question

I have just installed Cygwin, and I have displayed a file's contents using the less command. Now I am unable to exit that in order to type other commands:

I want to exit this mode to type some other commands. How can I do that?

I also use cygwin `cat` but it does not require to press anything when it has finished to print file. Add `cat --version` just in case to your question and perhaps a copy of your screen. — , Dec 10 '13 at 08:06
Sorry its less command I have updated my question accordingly — Elvin, Dec 10 '13 at 08:12

score 99 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 14 '16 at 11:05

99

To quit less, type q.

Also, check out man less, or type h from within less for some more, useful bits of information.

In general, assuming man has been properly installed, man xyz will tell you how to use the xyz tool. On GNU systems like Cygwin or what you call Linux at least, man will usually display through less as well, so to exit from man, again you would type q (which also works in more or most which are other pagers used by man or other commands that need paging on other systems).

edited Nov 14 '16 at 11:05

Stéphane Chazelas

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answered Dec 10 '13 at 08:24

user

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Typing `q` does not work if I am using less under tmux, is it normal case? Please see: https://superuser.com/questions/1646175/pressing-q-does-not-exit-in-less-running-in-tmux – alper May 02 '21 at 20:02
Ironically, at least in my Terminal (iTerm2), running `man xyz` will actually run `less` and leave you in the same predicament – I found this question precisely because I’d run a `man` command and couldn’t get back to the regular prompt. – Janus Bahs Jacquet Feb 02 '23 at 11:48
This is not intuitive IMO... every other command can be exited with ctrl-C – SBF Mar 16 '23 at 17:11

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 10 '13 at 08:28

2

I think you can exit by pressing Ctrl+C.

edited Dec 10 '13 at 08:28

user

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answered Dec 10 '13 at 08:06

user1218114

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Ctrl+C does not exit from less on my system, at least. – user Dec 10 '13 at 08:28
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The user said `cat` in his original question that we answered. – robbat2 Dec 10 '13 at 09:28
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less can be run with flag `-K` or `--quit-on-intr` and then it will terminate on Ctrl+C. – Rafał Krypa Jan 12 '22 at 11:21

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 13 '18 at 07:54

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Just press Q (lowercase). No need to press anything else. Some times, you need a capital letter.

edited Apr 13 '18 at 07:54

Kevdog777

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answered Apr 13 '18 at 06:50

nIZAR IBRA

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How to exit file reading mode (in `less`) in Linux terminal?

3 Answers3