Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about VimOS. For other inquiries, please use GitHub Issues.

General

Is VimOS free?

Yes. VimOS is developed as an open source project. See the repository license for details.

Supported devices?

iPhone and iPad (iOS 17.0 or later).

Compatible with desktop Vim?

Yes. VimOS uses upstream Vim, so most Vim commands and .vimrc work. Some features have alternative implementations or limitations due to iOS.

Input & Operation

Where is the Esc key on the software keyboard?

Esc appears in the accessory bar above the keyboard. With an external keyboard, you can remap Caps Lock to Esc.

Can I type in Japanese?

Yes. In Insert mode, the iOS keyboard including Japanese is available.

Files & Data

Can I edit iCloud Drive files?

Yes. Add iCloud Drive folders in Settings to edit cloud-synced files.

Where should I put .vimrc?

Place .vimrc in the VimOS home directory (Documents or the path shown in Settings).

SSH & Remote

Can I edit remote server files via SSH?

Yes. Register SSH keys and hosts in Account settings to edit files via SFTP.

What authentication methods are supported?

SSH public key authentication. Supports Ed25519, RSA, and common key formats.

Privacy & Data

Is telemetry or crash reporting sent?

No. VimOS does not collect or send telemetry or crash reports. All processing stays on device.

Where are edited files saved?

Within the app sandbox. With iCloud Drive, files save to the selected folder.

Other

Can I use plugins?

Most Vim script plugins work. Plugins depending on dlopen or external processes may not work due to iOS restrictions.

I want to contribute

Issues and Pull Requests are welcome on GitHub. Suggestions for the manual and troubleshooting are appreciated.