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Get out of Vim command mode in Sublime Text
Return to normal typing in Sublime Text's Vintage mode, or disable Vintage while preserving your other editor settings.
Get back to typing
If Sublime Text is in Vintage's command mode, press i to enter insert mode. You can then type normally. Escape returns to command mode when you want it.
A different cursor shape alone does not prove Vintage is enabled: overwrite mode, a custom caret setting or another Vim package can look similar. Check the status bar and enabled packages before changing settings.
Turn Vintage off if you do not want it
Open Preferences → Settings and add Vintage to the ignored_packages list in your user settings. For a settings file with no other ignored packages, that looks like:
{
"ignored_packages": ["Vintage"]
}
Do not replace your whole settings file with this example. If the list already contains other package names, keep them and add "Vintage" once. Save the file and check typing in an ordinary document.
Keep Vim keys, but start in insert mode
If you like Vintage and only want new editing sessions to start with normal typing, leave the package enabled and set:
{
"vintage_start_in_command_mode": false
}
Merge that property into your existing settings object. It does not disable Vintage or configure third-party packages such as Vintageous or NeoVintageous; those have their own settings.
References: Sublime Text Vintage mode and user settings.
Original version19 June 2013
Kept here for reference and earlier links. The updated guide above is the recommended starting point; older code may depend on retired services or different software versions.
Ever found yourself fiddling around in Sublime Text, only to have the cursor change to an underscore ( _ ) and no clear way to back to normal?
It's simple, to get out of and escape underscore cursor mode - or as it's properly called VIM mode:
Just press i on your keyboard!
It's worth noting that VIM is actually worth at least looking at, as when truly mastered it can make coding much faster.
Keep exploring