tmux Cheat Sheet
Default prefix key: C-b (Ctrl+b). Shown below as PREFIX.
Authoritative references:
Sessions
| Command | Action | Docs |
|---|---|---|
tmux |
Start a new unnamed session | new-session |
tmux new -s <name> |
Start a new named session | new-session |
tmux ls |
List sessions | list-sessions |
tmux attach -t <name> |
Attach to an existing session | attach-session |
tmux kill-session -t <name> |
Kill a session | kill-session |
PREFIX d |
Detach from current session | detach-client |
PREFIX s |
Interactive session switcher | choose-tree |
PREFIX $ |
Rename current session | rename-session |
PREFIX ( / PREFIX ) |
Previous / next session | switch-client |
Windows
| Command | Action | Docs |
|---|---|---|
PREFIX c |
Create a new window | new-window |
PREFIX , |
Rename current window | rename-window |
PREFIX n / PREFIX p |
Next / previous window | next-window |
PREFIX <N> |
Select window by number | select-window |
PREFIX w |
Interactive window list | choose-tree |
PREFIX & |
Kill current window | kill-window |
PREFIX f |
Find window by name | find-window |
PREFIX . |
Move window (change index) | move-window |
Panes
| Command | Action | Docs |
|---|---|---|
PREFIX % |
Split pane vertically (left/right) | split-window |
PREFIX " |
Split pane horizontally (top/bottom) | split-window |
PREFIX <arrow> |
Move between panes | select-pane |
PREFIX o |
Cycle to next pane | select-pane |
PREFIX q |
Show pane numbers (press to select) | display-panes |
PREFIX x |
Kill current pane | kill-pane |
PREFIX z |
Zoom / unzoom current pane | resize-pane |
PREFIX { / PREFIX } |
Swap pane with previous / next | swap-pane |
PREFIX ! |
Break pane into its own window | break-pane |
PREFIX C-<arrow> |
Resize pane by 1 cell | resize-pane |
PREFIX M-<arrow> |
Resize pane by 5 cells | resize-pane |
PREFIX <space> |
Cycle through built-in layouts | next-layout |
Copy Mode & Scrollback
Copy mode is tmux’s scrollback viewer: enter it to scroll past the visible screen, search, and copy text to paste buffers.
| Command | Action | Docs |
|---|---|---|
PREFIX [ |
Enter copy mode (scroll back, search, select) | copy-mode |
PREFIX ] |
Paste the most recent buffer | paste-buffer |
PREFIX = |
Choose a buffer to paste | choose-buffer |
PREFIX # |
List all paste buffers | list-buffers |
Navigating inside copy mode
tmux defaults to emacs key bindings; set set -g mode-keys vi in ~/.tmux.conf to switch to vi.
| Action | emacs (default) | vi |
|---|---|---|
| Move cursor | Up / Down / Left / Right |
k / j / h / l |
| Scroll one line | C-Up / C-Down |
C-y / C-e |
| Half page up / down | M-Up / M-Down |
C-u / C-d |
| Page up / down | PageUp / PageDown |
C-b / C-f |
| Top / bottom of history | M-< / M-> |
g / G |
| Start / end of line | C-a / C-e |
0 / $ |
| Search forward / backward | C-s / C-r (incremental) |
/ / ? |
| Begin selection | C-Space |
Space |
| Copy selection and exit | M-w |
Enter |
| Exit copy mode | Escape |
q |
Bindings come from the copy-mode key table in tmux(1) — WINDOWS AND PANES.
See also: tmux wiki — Clipboard.
Command Mode & Config
| Command | Action | Docs |
|---|---|---|
PREFIX : |
Open the tmux command prompt | command-prompt |
:source-file ~/.tmux.conf |
Reload config without restarting | source-file |
:set -g <option> <value> |
Set a global option | set-option |
:bind <key> <command> |
Create a key binding | bind-key |
:show-options -g |
Show current global options | show-options |
PREFIX ? |
List all key bindings | list-keys |
Miscellaneous
| Command | Action | Docs |
|---|---|---|
PREFIX t |
Show a large clock | clock-mode |
PREFIX ~ |
Show recent tmux messages | show-messages |
tmux kill-server |
Kill the tmux server and all sessions | kill-server |
tmux source-file <path> |
Load a config file from the shell | source-file |