Trigger using
Ctrl + b (trigger) then : to enter command mode (cm) or another hotkey1. Sessions
# Start a new session
tmux
tmux new
tmux new-session
# Start a named session
tmux new -s mysession
# Attach to existing session, or create it if it doesn't exist
tmux new-session -A -s mysession
# List all sessions
tmux ls
tmux list-sessions
# Attach to last session
tmux a
tmux attach
# Attach to a named session
tmux a -t mysession
tmux attach-session -t mysession
# Kill a named session
tmux kill-session -t mysession
# Kill all sessions except the current one
tmux kill-session -a
# Kill all sessions except a named one
tmux kill-session -a -t mysession
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+b , $ | Rename current session |
Ctrl+b , d | Detach from session |
Ctrl+b , s | Show / switch all sessions |
Ctrl+b , ( | Move to previous session |
Ctrl+b , ) | Move to next session |
Ctrl+b , w | Session and window preview |
2. Windows (Tabs)
# Start a new session with a named window
tmux new -s mysession -n mywindow
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+b , c | Create a new window |
Ctrl+b , , | Rename current window |
Ctrl+b , & | Close current window |
Ctrl+b , w | List all windows |
Ctrl+b , p | Previous window |
Ctrl+b , n | Next window |
Ctrl+b , 0–9 | Switch to window by number |
Ctrl+b , l | Toggle last active window |
# Swap window positions (e.g. swap 2 and 1)
:swap-window -s 2 -t 1
# Move current window one position left
:swap-window -t -1
# Move window between sessions
:movew -s srcSession:0 -t targetSession:9
# Renumber windows to remove gaps
:move-window -r
3. Panes (Splits)
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+b , % | Split pane vertically (side by side) |
Ctrl+b , " | Split pane horizontally (top / bottom) |
Ctrl+b , Arrow | Switch to pane in that direction |
Ctrl+b , o | Switch to next pane |
Ctrl+b , ; | Toggle last active pane |
Ctrl+b , q | Show pane numbers |
Ctrl+b , q 0–9 | Switch to pane by number |
Ctrl+b , z | Toggle pane zoom (fullscreen) |
Ctrl+b , ! | Convert pane into its own window |
Ctrl+b , x | Close current pane |
Ctrl+b , { | Move current pane left |
Ctrl+b , } | Move current pane right |
Ctrl+b , Spacebar | Toggle between pane layouts |
Ctrl+b , Ctrl+↑/↓ | Resize pane height |
Ctrl+b , Ctrl+←/→ | Resize pane width |
# Merge window 2 into window 1 as a pane
:join-pane -s 2 -t 1
# Move a specific pane between windows
:join-pane -s 2.1 -t 1.0
# Send same command to ALL panes (pair programming / multi-server)
:setw synchronize-panes
4. Copy Mode (Scrollback & Search)
# Use vi-style keys in copy mode (recommended)
:setw -g mode-keys vi
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+b , [ | Enter copy mode |
Ctrl+b , PgUp | Enter copy mode and scroll up one page |
q | Quit copy mode |
g / G | Go to top / bottom |
↑ / ↓ | Scroll up / down |
h j k l | Move cursor (vi-style) |
w / b | Move forward / backward one word |
/ | Search forward |
? | Search backward |
n / N | Next / previous search match |
Spacebar | Start selection |
Enter | Copy selection |
Esc | Clear selection |
Ctrl+b , ] | Paste buffer |
# Show buffer contents
:show-buffer
# Copy entire visible pane to buffer
:capture-pane
# List all buffers
:list-buffers
# Choose buffer to paste from
:choose-buffer
# Save buffer to a file
:save-buffer buf.txt
# Delete a buffer
:delete-buffer -b 1
5. Config & Mouse
# Enter tmux command mode (from inside tmux)
# Ctrl+b :
# Enable mouse support (click to select panes/windows, scroll)
:set mouse on
# Set an option for all sessions
:set -g OPTION
# Set an option for all windows
:setw -g OPTION
6. Help & Info
# List all key bindings
tmux list-keys
# Show all sessions, windows, panes info
tmux info
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+b , ? | List all key bindings (inside tmux) |
Quick Reference Summary
| Task | Command / Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New named session | tmux new -s <name> |
| Attach to session | tmux a -t <name> |
| Detach from session | Ctrl+b , d |
| List sessions | tmux ls |
| Kill session | tmux kill-session -t <name> |
| New window | Ctrl+b , c |
| Switch window | Ctrl+b , 0–9 |
| Split vertical | Ctrl+b , % |
| Split horizontal | Ctrl+b , " |
| Switch pane | Ctrl+b , Arrow |
| Zoom pane | Ctrl+b , z |
| Close pane | Ctrl+b , x |
| Enter copy mode | Ctrl+b , [ |
| Paste buffer | Ctrl+b , ] |
| Enable mouse | :set mouse on |
| Key binding list | Ctrl+b , ? |