Tmux Quick Reference

Tmux (Terminal Multiplexer) allows you to manage multiple terminal sessions from a single window. This cheatsheet covers the essential commands and key bindings.

Default Prefix Key

The default prefix is Ctrl+b (shown as C-b below). Press the prefix, release, then press the command key.

Session Management

# Start new session
tmux
tmux new
tmux new-session
tmux new -s myname              # Start session with name

# Attach to session
tmux a                           # Attach to last session
tmux at
tmux attach
tmux attach -t myname            # Attach to named session

# List sessions
tmux ls
tmux list-sessions

# Kill session
tmux kill-session -t myname
tmux kill-session -a             # Kill all sessions except current
tmux kill-session -a -t myname   # Kill all sessions except named

# Detach from session
C-b d                            # Detach current client

Windows (Tabs)

# Create windows
C-b c                            # Create new window
C-b ,                            # Rename current window
C-b w                            # List windows
C-b &                            # Kill current window

# Navigate windows
C-b n                            # Next window
C-b p                            # Previous window
C-b 0-9                          # Switch to window number
C-b f                            # Find window by name
C-b l                            # Toggle last active window

Panes (Split Windows)

# Create panes
C-b %                            # Split vertically (left/right)
C-b "                            # Split horizontally (top/bottom)
C-b !                            # Convert pane to window

# Navigate panes
C-b o                            # Next pane
C-b ;                            # Last active pane
C-b q                            # Show pane numbers (type number to jump)
C-b {                            # Move current pane left
C-b }                            # Move current pane right
C-b ↑/↓/←/→                      # Switch to pane in direction

# Resize panes
C-b C-↑/↓/←/→                    # Resize in direction (hold Ctrl)
C-b M-↑/↓/←/→                    # Resize in direction (Alt, larger steps)
C-b z                            # Toggle pane zoom (fullscreen)

# Close pane
C-b x                            # Kill current pane
exit                             # Exit shell (closes pane)

Copy Mode (Scrollback)

# Enter/exit copy mode
C-b [                            # Enter copy mode
q                                # Exit copy mode

# Navigate in copy mode (vi-style by default)
Space                            # Start selection
Enter                            # Copy selection
C-b ]                            # Paste buffer

# Search in copy mode
/                                # Search forward
?                                # Search backward
n                                # Next search result
N                                # Previous search result

Miscellaneous

# General
C-b ?                            # List all key bindings
C-b :                            # Enter command mode
C-b t                            # Show time
C-b r                            # Reload config (if configured)

# Synchronize panes (type in all panes at once)
C-b : setw synchronize-panes on
C-b : setw synchronize-panes off

Configuration

Tmux configuration file: ~/.tmux.conf

Useful Configuration Options

# Change prefix to Ctrl+a (more convenient)
unbind C-b
set-option -g prefix C-a
bind-key C-a send-prefix

# Enable mouse support
set -g mouse on

# Start window numbering at 1
set -g base-index 1
set -g pane-base-index 1

# Reload config with prefix+r
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Config reloaded!"

# Split panes using | and -
bind | split-window -h
bind - split-window -v
unbind '"'
unbind %

# Switch panes using Alt-arrow without prefix
bind -n M-Left select-pane -L
bind -n M-Right select-pane -R
bind -n M-Up select-pane -U
bind -n M-Down select-pane -D

# Enable vi mode
setw -g mode-keys vi

# Status bar customization
set -g status-position bottom
set -g status-bg colour234
set -g status-fg colour137

Common Workflows

Development Setup

# Create a dev session
tmux new -s dev

# Split into editor + terminal
C-b %                            # Vertical split
# Left: editor (vim/nvim), Right: terminal for commands

Server Monitoring

# Create monitoring session
tmux new -s monitor

# Create layout
C-b "                            # Horizontal split (logs)
C-b %                            # Vertical split (system stats)
# Watch logs, htop, etc. in different panes

Remote Development

# SSH into server
ssh user@server

# Start or attach to tmux
tmux a || tmux new

# Your work persists even if SSH disconnects
# Reconnect and: tmux a

Tips

Persistence: Tmux sessions survive SSH disconnections and terminal closures
Prefix delay: If you find the prefix slow, reduce escape-time in config: set -sg escape-time 0
Copy/paste: Use copy mode for scrollback and text selection
Layouts: C-b Space cycles through preset pane layouts
Swap panes: C-b C-o rotates panes in current window
Resize panes: Hold prefix and arrow keys for fine-grained resizing

Resources

Plugins

Consider using Tmux Plugin Manager (TPM) for extended functionality:

tmux-resurrect: Save/restore tmux sessions
tmux-continuum: Automatic session saving
tmux-yank: Better copy/paste integration
tmux-pain-control: Improved pane navigation