vim Getting started with vim Saving a read-only file edited in Vim
Example
Sometimes, we may open a file which we do not have permission to write in Vim without using sudo.
Use this command to save a read-only file edited in Vim.
:w !sudo tee > /dev/null %
Which you could map to :w!! in your .vimrc:
cmap w!! w !sudo tee > /dev/null %
You will be presented a prompt as shown in the image.
![Press ENTER or type command to continue. [O]K, (L)oad File:](http://i.stack.imgur.com/AUQss.png)
.
Press O and the file will be saved. It remains open in vi/vim for more editing or reading and you can exit normally by typing :q! since the file is still open as read-only.
Command Explanation
:w ............................ isn't modifying your file in this case,
............................ but sends the current buffer contents to
............................ a substituted shell command
!sudo ...................... call the shell 'sudo' command
tee .................. the output of the vi/vim write command is redirected
using the 'tee' command
> /dev/null ...... throws away the standard output, since we don't need
to pass it to other commands
% .... expands to the path of the current file
Sources:
