Sadly, Emacs (unlike Spacemacs, which has `spacemacs/find-dotfile') doesn't have a function to open its own init file, so thousands of users have to write their owns. I'm not different :) `iqa-find-user-init-file' is a shorthand to open user init file. By default `user-init-file' is used. If your configuration is generated from org-mode source you may want to point it to your org file. (setq iqa-user-init-file (concat user-emacs-directory "init.org")) File is opened by `find-file', but you can redefine it by e.g. (setq iqa-find-file-function #'find-file-other-window) `iqa-reload-user-init-file' reloads `user-init-file' (not `iqa-user-init-file') For a full restart take a look at `restart-emacs' package. `iqa-find-user-custom-file' opens custom-file `iqa-find-user-init-directory' opens init file directory `iqa-setup-default' defines keybindings: "C-x M-f" — `iqa-find-user-init-file' "C-x M-c" — `iqa-find-user-custom-file' "C-x M-r" — `iqa-reload-user-init-file' "C-x M-d" — `iqa-find-user-init-directory' Installation: (use-package iqa ;; use this if your config is generated from an org file ;; :custom ;; (iqa-user-init-file (concat user-emacs-directory "README.org") "Edit README.org by default.") :config (iqa-setup-default))