How can I reload .emacs after changing it?

Solution 1:

You can use the command load-file (M-x load-file, then press return twice to accept the default filename, which is the current file being edited).

You can also just move the point to the end of any sexp and press C-xC-e to execute just that sexp. Usually it's not necessary to reload the whole file if you're just changing a line or two.

Solution 2:

Very strange that the very convenient

M-x eval-buffer

is not mentioned here.

It immediately evaluates all code in the buffer, its the quickest method, if your .emacs is idempotent.

Solution 3:

You can usually just re-evaluate the changed region. Mark the region of ~/.emacs that you've changed, and then use M-x eval-region RET. This is often safer than re-evaluating the entire file since it's easy to write a .emacs file that doesn't work quite right after being loaded twice.

Solution 4:

If you've got your .emacs file open in the currently active buffer:

M-x eval-buffer

Solution 5:

M-x load-file
~/.emacs