Code & computing / QUICK REFERENCE

tmux

Sessions that survive disconnects, windows for each task, and panes that fit the way you work.

40 entries

Start, detach and reconnect

Start a named session
tmux new -s work

Creates work and attaches this terminal. [1]

List sessions
tmux ls

Shows the available sessions. [1]

Attach by name
tmux attach -t work

Reconnects to an existing session. [1]

Create or attach
tmux new -A -s work

Reuses work if it already exists. [1]

Start detached
tmux new -d -s batch

Creates a session without taking over your terminal. [1]

Detach this client
Ctrl+b, d

Leaves the programs running. [1]

Choose a session
Ctrl+b, s

Opens the interactive session chooser. [1]

Rename the session
Ctrl+b, $

Prompts for a new session name. [1]

Organize windows

New window
Ctrl+b, c

Starts another window in this session. [1]

Window chooser
Ctrl+b, w

Browses sessions and windows together. [1]

Next window
Ctrl+b, n

Moves forward through window indexes. [1]

Previous window
Ctrl+b, p

Moves backward through window indexes. [1]

Last window
Ctrl+b, l

Returns to the previously active window. [1]

Choose window zero
Ctrl+b, 0

Selects index 0, when present. [1]

Rename a window
Ctrl+b, ,

Changes the current window label. [1]

Find a window
Ctrl+b, f

Prompts for text to locate a window. [1]

Split and move between panes

Split left and right
Ctrl+b, %

Places panes side by side. [2]

Split top and bottom
Ctrl+b, "

Places one pane above the other. [2]

Move focus
Ctrl+b, Arrow key

Selects a pane in that direction. [2]

Next pane
Ctrl+b, o

Cycles through panes. [2]

Display pane numbers
Ctrl+b, q

Press a shown number to select it. [2]

Zoom the active pane
Ctrl+b, z

Toggles a pane-sized/full-window view. [2]

Cycle layouts
Ctrl+b, Space

Tries the predefined pane arrangements. [2]

Swap with previous pane
Ctrl+b, {

Exchanges pane positions. [2]

Swap with next pane
Ctrl+b, }

Exchanges pane positions. [2]

Break pane into window
Ctrl+b, !

Moves the pane to its own window. [2]

Scrollback and buffers

Enter copy mode
Ctrl+b, [

Starts scrollback navigation. [2]

Paste the latest buffer
Ctrl+b, ]

Sends the saved buffer to the active program. [2]

Choose a paste buffer
Ctrl+b, =

Opens the buffer chooser. [2]

List saved buffers
tmux list-buffers

Inspects tmux buffers from the shell. [2]

Show latest buffer
tmux show-buffer

Prints its contents; inspect for sensitive text. [2]

Copy-mode exit
q (Emacs mode) / Esc (vi mode)

Exit keys depend on mode-keys; check the installed bindings. [2]

Inspect and adjust

Show key help
Ctrl+b, ?

Lists the installed bindings. [2]

Command prompt
Ctrl+b, :

Accepts tmux commands without the tmux prefix. [2]

Show current prefix
tmux show-options -gv prefix

Reveals a customized prefix key. [2]

Show copy-mode key style
tmux show-options -gwv mode-keys

Reports emacs or vi navigation. [2]

Enable mouse interaction
tmux set -g mouse on

Applies to the running server; persistence needs configuration. [2]

Reload a configuration
tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf

Executes the trusted settings in that file. [2]

List panes
tmux list-panes -a

Inspects pane identifiers across sessions. [2]

Check installed version
tmux -V

Use the matching local man page for version-specific behavior. [2]

Reserved placement, separate from reference controls. No ad network is active.

Updated tmux 3.x · default key map

Sources

  1. tmux getting started ↗
  2. tmux manual ↗