Tmux Command Cheatsheet

Q: What is the Tmux prefix key and how do I change it?

The default prefix key is `Ctrl+b`. To change it, add to `~/.tmux.conf`: `set -g prefix C-a` (change to Ctrl+a). Then run `tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf`. All shortcuts will use the new prefix. Some users remap their `Caps Lock` key to `Ctrl` for easier access.

Q: What's the difference between Tmux and GNU Screen?

Tmux is a modern alternative to screen. Key advantages: 1) Richer configuration (colors, status bar customization); 2) Better pane management (horizontal/vertical splits, flexible layouts); 3) Native 256-color and true color support; 4) Active community and regular updates; 5) Better scripting and API. Screen is lighter and pre-installed on most Unix systems, but Tmux has become the mainstream choice.

Q: How do I save and restore Tmux sessions?

Tmux doesn't have built-in session persistence, but plugins like tmux-resurrect and tmux-continuum solve this. tmux-resurrect saves pane layouts, working directories, and running programs — save with `prefix + Ctrl+s`, restore with `prefix + Ctrl+r`. tmux-continuum adds automatic periodic saving. You can also manually manage sessions with `tmux new -s name` and `tmux attach -t name`.

Q: How do I enable mouse support in Tmux?

Add `set -g mouse on` to `~/.tmux.conf`. Once enabled you can: click to switch windows/panes, drag pane borders to resize, click and drag to select text in scroll mode. To copy-paste while mouse is enabled, hold Shift while selecting (bypasses Tmux's selection mechanism) or use copy mode (`prefix + [`).

Q: What's the difference between Tmux windows and panes?

**Windows** are like browser tabs — each window is an independent terminal session for switching between tasks. **Panes** are splits within a window — dividing one window into multiple panels to view several outputs simultaneously. Relationship: one session has multiple windows, one window has multiple panes. Use `prefix + c` to create a window, `prefix + %` for vertical split, `prefix + "` for horizontal split.

Q: Can I customize the Tmux status bar?

Highly customizable via `~/.tmux.conf`. Examples: `set -g status-left "#[fg=green]Session: #S "` sets left content; `set -g status-right "#[fg=yellow]%Y-%m-%d %H:%M "` sets right time; `set -g status-bg colour235` changes background; `set -g status-interval 1` sets refresh interval. You can add battery, load, git branch info, or use frameworks like tmux-powerline.

Q: How do I copy and paste text in Tmux?

Enter copy mode: `prefix + [` — navigate with arrow or vi keys, press `Space` to start selection, `Enter` to copy to Tmux buffer. Paste: `prefix + ]`. To share with system clipboard, configure: `set -g set-clipboard on` and install `xclip` (Linux) or use `pbcopy` (macOS). Add `bind -T copy-mode-vi v send-keys -X begin-selection` and `bind -T copy-mode-vi y send-keys -X copy-selection-and-cancel` for vi-style operations.

Tmux is a powerful terminal multiplexer that lets you create, access, and control multiple terminal sessions from a single window. This cheatsheet covers the most commonly used Tmux operations — session management, window navigation, pane layouts, configuration, and clipboard integration. Start with the prefix key (default Ctrl+b) and basic session operations, then gradually explore pane management and custom configuration.

Updated: 2026-07-16·40 commands

Quick Reference

Task	Key / Command

New session	`tmux new -s name`
Detach session	`prefix + d`
Reattach session	`tmux attach -t name`
New window	`prefix + c`
Switch window	`prefix + number`
Vertical split	`prefix + %`
Horizontal split	`prefix + \"`
Switch pane	`prefix + arrow keys`
Browse history	`prefix + [`
List all keybindings	`prefix + ?`

Session Management

``bash # Create sessions tmux new -s mysession # Create a new session named mysession tmux new # Create an anonymous new session tmux new-session -s web # Create a session named web

# Detach (leave running in background) prefix + d # Detach current session (programs keep running)

# Reattach tmux attach -t mysession # Reattach to mysession tmux a -t mysession # Short form tmux attach # Attach to the only session

# List sessions tmux ls # List all running sessions prefix + s # Interactive session selector inside Tmux

# Kill sessions tmux kill-session -t mysession # Kill a specific session tmux kill-server # Kill Tmux server (all sessions) prefix + & # Kill current window (with confirmation) prefix + x # Kill current pane (with confirmation)

# Rename tmux rename-session -t old new # Rename session from outside prefix + $ # Rename current session inside Tmux

# Switch sessions prefix + ( # Switch to previous session prefix + ) # Switch to next session prefix + w # Menu-based session and window picker`

`Window Operations`

`bash # Create and close prefix + c # Create a new window prefix + & # Close current window (with confirmation) tmux new-window -n web # Create a named window from command line

# Switch windows prefix + 0-9 # Switch to window by number prefix + p # Previous window prefix + n # Next window prefix + w # List-based window selector prefix + f # Find window by name

# Window management prefix + , # Rename current window prefix + . # Move window (enter new index) prefix + l # Switch to last active window :swap-window -t -1 # Swap with previous window :swap-window -t +1 # Swap with next window tmux move-window -s 1 -t 3 # Move window 1 to position 3

# Window indexing tmux set -g base-index 1 # Start window index at 1 (default 0) :move-window -r # Renumber windows sequentially :display-message -p '#I' # Show current window index`

`Pane Operations`

`bash # Create panes prefix + % # Vertical split (left/right panes) prefix + " # Horizontal split (top/bottom panes) :split-window -h # Command-based vertical split :split-window -v # Command-based horizontal split

# Pane navigation prefix + ←↑→↓ # Navigate to adjacent pane prefix + o # Cycle to next pane prefix + ; # Go to last active pane prefix + q # Show pane numbers (press number to jump)

# Pane resizing prefix + Ctrl+arrow # Resize pane by 1 unit :resize-pane -D 10 # Resize down 10 lines :resize-pane -U 5 # Resize up 5 lines :resize-pane -L 20 # Resize left 20 columns :resize-pane -R 15 # Resize right 15 columns

# Pane control prefix + ! # Break pane into a standalone window prefix + x # Close current pane (with confirmation) prefix + z # Toggle pane zoom (fullscreen/restore) prefix + space # Cycle through pane layouts prefix + { # Move pane left/up prefix + } # Move pane right/down prefix + q + number # Jump directly to pane by number`

`Layout Management`

`bash # Built-in layouts prefix + space # Cycle through layouts prefix + M-1 # even-horizontal layout prefix + M-2 # even-vertical layout prefix + M-3 # main-horizontal layout prefix + M-4 # main-vertical layout prefix + M-5 # tiled layout

:select-layout even-horizontal # Command-based layout selection :select-layout tiled # Tiled layout :select-layout -E # Previous layout

# Custom layout :setw -g window-layout tiled # Set default layout for new windows :setw -g force-width 80 # Force pane width :setw -g force-height 40 # Force pane height :join-pane -s web:2.1 # Move pane from session web window 2 pane 1 :join-pane -t .1 # Join current window pane 1 to new position :display-panes # Show all pane numbers

# Synchronized input :setw synchronize-panes on # Type simultaneously in all panes :setw synchronize-panes off # Disable synchronized input prefix + :setw synchronize-panes # Toggle via shortcut

# Save/restore layout tmux list-windows -a # List all window layout info :show-window-options -g # View global window options :save-buffer ~/tmux-layout.txt # Save buffer to file`

`Configuration`

`bash # ~/.tmux.conf example # Change prefix key set -g prefix C-a # Change prefix to Ctrl+a unbind C-b # Unbind default prefix bind C-a send-prefix # Double-tap to send prefix

# Mouse support set -g mouse on # Enable mouse (click/drag/scroll)

# Appearance set -g default-terminal "screen-256color" # 256-color terminal support set -g status-bg colour235 # Status bar background set -g status-fg white # Status bar foreground set -g status-left-length 40 # Max left status length set -g status-right-length 80 # Max right status length set -g status-justify centre # Center-align status items set -g status-interval 5 # Status refresh interval (seconds)

# Status bar content set -g status-left "#[fg=green]Session: #S " set -g status-right "#[fg=yellow]%Y-%m-%d %H:%M " set -g window-status-current-format "#[fg=cyan,bold]#I:#W" set -g window-status-format "#[fg=white]#I:#W"

# Key binding optimizations bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display-message "Config reloaded" # Ctrl+b r reload bind | split-window -h # Use | for vertical split bind - split-window -v # Use - for horizontal split bind H resize-pane -L 5 # Quick resize left bind J resize-pane -D 5 # Quick resize down bind K resize-pane -U 5 # Quick resize up bind L resize-pane -R 5 # Quick resize right

# Display settings set -g display-time 3000 # Show messages for 3 seconds set -g message-style "bg=colour235,fg=white" set -g message-command-style "bg=colour235,fg=yellow"

# History buffer set -g history-limit 50000 # Max history lines per pane setw -g mode-keys vi # Use vi key bindings in copy mode`

`Clipboard & Copy Mode`

`bash # Enter copy mode prefix + [ # Enter copy mode (scroll through history) prefix + PageUp # Enter copy mode and scroll up :capture-pane -S - # Capture full pane content to buffer

# Copy mode operations (vi mode) # Requires: setw -g mode-keys vi h / j / k / l # Move left / down / up / right Ctrl+b / Ctrl+f # Page up / page down gg / G # Go to top / bottom 0 / $ # Line start / end /pattern # Search forward ?pattern # Search backward n / N # Next / previous match

# Select and copy Space # Start text selection Enter # Copy selection to Tmux buffer prefix + ] # Paste from Tmux buffer

# Vi-style copy mode bindings (recommended) # bind -T copy-mode-vi v send-keys -X begin-selection # bind -T copy-mode-vi y send-keys -X copy-selection-and-cancel # bind -T copy-mode-vi C-v send-keys -X rectangle-toggle

# System clipboard integration # Linux (requires xclip) set -g set-clipboard on bind -T copy-mode-vi y send-keys -X copy-pipe-and-cancel "xclip -selection clipboard" bind -T copy-mode-vi Enter send-keys -X copy-pipe-and-cancel "xclip -selection clipboard"

# macOS (uses pbcopy) # bind -T copy-mode-vi y send-keys -X copy-pipe-and-cancel "pbcopy" # bind -T copy-mode-vi Enter send-keys -X copy-pipe-and-cancel "pbcopy"

# Buffer management :show-buffer # Show current buffer content :list-buffers # List all buffers :choose-buffer # Interactive buffer selector :save-buffer ~/output.txt # Save buffer to file :delete-buffer # Delete current buffer :clear-history # Clear current pane history``

Session(7)

Command	Level	Example
`tmux new -s <name>` Create a new named Tmux session	Basic	`tmux new -s mysession`
`prefix + d` Detach current session (programs keep running)	Basic	`prefix + d`
`tmux attach -t <name>` Reattach to a named session	Basic	`tmux attach -t mysession`
`tmux ls` List all running Tmux sessions	Basic	`tmux ls`
`tmux kill-session -t <name>` Kill a specific Tmux session	Basic	`tmux kill-session -t mysession`
`tmux kill-server` Kill the Tmux server and all sessions	Intermediate	`tmux kill-server`
`prefix + $ / tmux rename-session` Rename the current session	Basic	`prefix + $`

Window(5)

Command	Level	Example
`prefix + c` Create a new window	Basic	`prefix + c`
`prefix + 0-9` Switch to window by index number	Basic	`prefix + 1`
`prefix + p / prefix + n` Switch to previous/next window	Basic	`prefix + p`
`prefix + w` Browse and select windows from a list	Intermediate	`prefix + w`
`prefix + , (comma)` Rename the current window	Basic	`prefix + ,`

Pane(6)

Command	Level	Example
`prefix + "%"` Split the current pane vertically (left/right)	Basic	`prefix + "%"`
`prefix + '"'` Split the current pane horizontally (top/bottom)	Basic	`prefix + '"'`
`prefix + arrow keys` Navigate to the adjacent pane by direction	Basic	`prefix + ←`
`prefix + o` Cycle to the next pane	Basic	`prefix + o`
`prefix + z` Toggle pane zoom (fullscreen/restore)	Basic	`prefix + z`
`prefix + Ctrl+arrow` Resize pane by 1 unit in the given direction	Intermediate	`prefix + Ctrl+↓`

Layout(3)

Command	Level	Example
`prefix + space` Cycle through all pane layouts	Basic	`prefix + space`
`prefix + M-1 / M-2 / M-3 / M-4 / M-5` Select predefined layout (even-horizontal/even-vertical/main-horizontal/main-vertical/tiled)	Intermediate	`prefix + M-5`
`:setw synchronize-panes on` Synchronize input across all panes	Expert	`:setw synchronize-panes on`

Config(9)

Command	Level	Example
`set -g prefix C-a` Change default prefix from Ctrl+b to Ctrl+a	Intermediate	`set -g prefix C-a`
`set -g mouse on` Enable mouse support (click/drag/scroll)	Basic	`set -g mouse on`
`set -g default-terminal "screen-256color"` Set terminal type for 256-color support	Intermediate	`set -g default-terminal "screen-256color"`
`set -g status-interval 5` Set status bar refresh interval in seconds	Intermediate	`set -g status-interval 5`
`set -g history-limit 50000` Set maximum scrollback history lines per pane	Intermediate	`set -g history-limit 50000`
`setw -g mode-keys vi` Use vi-style key bindings in copy mode	Intermediate	`setw -g mode-keys vi`
`bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf` Bind key to reload tmux configuration (prefix + r)	Intermediate	`bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf`
`set -g status-left "#[fg=green]Session: #S"` Customize status bar left content (session name, etc.)	Expert	`set -g status-left "#[fg=green]Session: #S "`
`set -g status-right "#[fg=yellow]%Y-%m-%d %H:%M"` Customize status bar right content (date, time, etc.)	Expert	`set -g status-right "#[fg=yellow]%Y-%m-%d %H:%M "`

Clipboard(10)

Command	Level	Example
`prefix + [` Enter copy mode to scroll through history	Intermediate	`prefix + [`
`prefix + ]` Paste content from Tmux buffer	Basic	`prefix + ]`
`Space / Enter` Start selection / copy selected text in copy mode	Intermediate	`Space`
`bind -T copy-mode-vi y send-keys -X copy-selection-and-cancel` Bind vi-style y key to copy selection and exit copy mode	Expert	`bind -T copy-mode-vi y send-keys -X copy-selection-and-cancel`
`bind -T copy-mode-vi v send-keys -X begin-selection` Bind vi-style v key to begin text selection	Expert	`bind -T copy-mode-vi v send-keys -X begin-selection`
`:capture-pane -S -` Capture the entire pane content to buffer	Intermediate	`:capture-pane -S -`
`:show-buffer` Display current buffer contents	Intermediate	`:show-buffer`
`:list-buffers` List all Tmux buffers	Intermediate	`:list-buffers`
`:save-buffer <file>` Save buffer contents to a file	Intermediate	`:save-buffer ~/output.txt`
`:clear-history` Clear the current pane scrollback history	Intermediate	`:clear-history`

FAQ

What is the Tmux prefix key and how do I change it?

What's the difference between Tmux and GNU Screen?

How do I save and restore Tmux sessions?

How do I enable mouse support in Tmux?

What's the difference between Tmux windows and panes?

Can I customize the Tmux status bar?

How do I copy and paste text in Tmux?

This cheatsheet is compiled from official tool documentation. Last updated: 2026-07-16.