GNU nano is a small and friendly command-line text editor.
Publisher’s description
What is GNU Nano?
GNU Nano by GNU Project is open-source Windows software in the terminals & cli tools category.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for Any CPU Windows. The main installer is 1.3 MB. It runs without installation (portable).
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
- Small download (1.3 MB)
Cons
- No update for more than a year
In short: GNU Nano is an open-source terminals & cli tool tool for Any CPU PCs. Updates have slowed down.
Is GNU Nano safe to download?
- The file is served by nano-editor.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
41A90ED2072CC0B1DEBFCEECD3AB4273E06C5FFA7E5E06BDBC54965EAA27FB89· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7.5Latest | September 29, 2022 | 1.3 MB | Any CPU Portable |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id GNU.Nano -eProgram files (.exe): nano.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- GNU Project
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- GPL-3.0 or Later
- Price
- Free
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- Any CPU
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 2.7.5
- Released
- September 29, 2022
- Added to the catalogue
- September 29, 2022
- Versions listed
- 1
- Website
- nano-editor.org
- winget ID
- GNU.Nano
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to GNU Nano
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PowerShell7.6.9.0PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation solution made up of a command-line shell, a scripting language, and a configuration management framework. PowerShell runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.Open source689.6K ↓ -
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nano for Windows7.2-22.1Nano is a small and simple text editor for use on the terminal. This is an up to date 64-bit/32-bit and Windows on ARM port of the legendary GNU nano text editor.Open source591.2K ↓ -
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Frequently asked questions
Is GNU Nano free?
Yes. GNU Nano is open-source software under the GPL-3.0 or Later licence.
Is GNU Nano safe to download?
The download comes from nano-editor.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install GNU Nano with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does GNU Nano run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
The installer is architecture-neutral.
Can I use GNU Nano without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to GNU Nano?
PowerShell, QPDF, Oh My Posh, nano for Windows and fzf. The alternatives page compares them.
