Remapping C-x C-b to Open List of Buffers in Same Window

Question

I use Emacs across different machines and operating systems. I noticed that when I press C-x C-b to get a list of all buffers, on some machines the list opens in the same window where the cursor is located and allows me to arrow through the list, using ENTER to select and open the buffer I desire.

Yet, on other machines this list opens in the other window (I usually have at least two open) and even after I switch to that window using C-x o, I am not able to arrow through the list, select and open.

How can I achieve the first type of behavior on the latter machines?

Answer 1

I highly recommend using ibuffer in place of the default list-buffers command. This will provide not only the behaviour you're after, but also a tremendous amount of additional functionality in terms of filtering, grouping, and acting upon the listed buffers, should you wish to take advantage of that¹.

(global-set-key (kbd "C-x C-b") 'ibuffer)

Or, if you want to change all global list-buffers bindings to use ibuffer:

(global-set-key [remap list-buffers] 'ibuffer)

---

¹ See C-hf ibuffer-mode, or else type C-hm after M-x ibuffer (or after using its new keybinding).