_ _
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/ _ \| '_ \ / _` |_ / _ \| __|
| (_) | | | | (_| |/ / (_) | |_
\___/|_| |_|\__,_/___\___/ \__|
lynx —
text web browser - usage and
tips
Lynx can access HTTP(S), Gopher, FTP, WAIS and NNTP servers.
| -dump |
| dump formatted output to stdout. |
| -source |
| dump html output to stdout. |
| -socks5_proxy=IP[:PORT] |
| use socks5 proxy. |
Lynx can use the environment variable SOCKS5_PROXY, the command
line option or work through torsocks. It will not read a socks5 proxy set on
with the http(s)_proxy environment variable.
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| -session=FILE |
| read/save session from/to FILE. |
| -sessionin=FILE |
| read session from FILE. |
| -sessionout=FILE |
| save session to FILE. |
Sessions can be saved by setting "Auto Session" to ON and setting a
"Session file". The session can be loaded with lynx
-session=FILENAME. The session will save visited links.
AUTO_SESSION:TRUE
SESSION_FILE:lynx_session
ENABLE_LYNXRC:AUTO_SESSION:ON
ENABLE_LYNXRC:SESSION_FILE:ON
auto_session=on
session_file=lynx_session
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lynx does not have options for profiles. However different
lynx.cfg, $HOME/~.lynxrc and/or session files could be used to emulate
profiles.
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Options can be changed on lynx through the options menu (o) or by
editing ~/.lynxrc.
To save the changes on the options menu, toggle "Save options
to disk" and then "Accept changes".
| colors |
| never, off, on (default), always. |
| User mode |
| Novice (default), intermediate advanced, minimal. |
| Multi-bookmarks |
| off (default), standard, advanced. |
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| h|H |
| help (if vi_keys is on, use capital) |
| g |
| go to URL. |
| G |
| edit current URL. |
| E |
| edit current selected link. |
| d |
| download selected file. |
| k|K |
| show keybindings. (if vi_keys is on, use capital) |
Lynx does not have tabs, however, any link can be revisited by
going to the visited links (V).
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Lynx can also be used for directory editing by using lynx on a
directory. lynx PATH_TO_DIR
| c |
| create a (f)ile or (d)irectory. |
| r |
| remove a file or directory. |
| e |
| edit file. (Requires an editor to be set in ~/.lynxrc) |
- c: to create a directory.
- f or d to create file or directory.
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| - Translate to Spanish. |
| - Add better examples. |
| - Check CGI Script options. |
| - Check mail options. |
| - Check NNTP options. |
| - Check additional cookies options. |
| - Check Downloader options. |
| - Check Editor options. |
| - Check keymap options. |
| - Test further on OpenBSD, it uses pledge and some functionality may be
removed. |
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| 2026-07-15 |
: removed openbsd note. |
|
split bookmarks and jumps into their own document. |
|
added index. |
| 2025-11-24 |
: tor compatibility and dump options. |
| 2025-11-21 |
: Created. |