> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://authentic-developer.gitbook.io/version-control-git/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://authentic-developer.gitbook.io/version-control-git/getting-started/first-setup/your-editors.md).

# Your Editors

Now that your identity is set up, you can configure the default text editor that will be used when Git needs you to type in a message. If not configured, Git uses your system’s default editor.

If you want to use a different text editor, such as Emacs, you can do the following:

```git
$ git config --global core.editor emacs
```

On a Windows system, if you want to use a different text editor, you must specify the full path to its executable file. This can be different depending on how your editor is packaged.

In the case of Notepad++, a popular programming editor, you are likely to want to use the 32-bit version, since at the time of writing the 64-bit version doesn’t support all plug-ins. If you are on a 32-bit Windows system, or you have a 64-bit editor on a 64-bit system, you’ll type something like this:

```bash
$ git config --global core.editor "'C:/Program Files/Notepad++/notepad++.exe'
-multiInst -notabbar -nosession -noPlugin"
```

{% hint style="info" %}
Vim, Emacs and Notepad++ are popular text editors often used by developers on Unix-based systems like Linux and macOS or a Windows system. If you are using another editor, or a 32-bit version, please find specific instructions for how to set up your favorite editor with Git in [git config core.editor commands](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/ch00/ch_core_editor).
{% endhint %}

:warning: You may find, if you don’t setup your editor like this, you get into a really confusing state when Git attempts to launch it. An example on a Windows system may include a prematurely terminated Git operation during a Git initiated edit.