tmux Cheat Sheet

Sessions #

Command / key	Action
	Start a new session
	New session called "work"
	List sessions
/	Attach to the last / a named session
	Kill a session
	Kill everything
`prefix d`	Detach (the session keeps running)
`prefix s`	Pick a session from a list
`prefix $`	Rename the session
`prefix (` / `prefix )`	Previous / next session

Windows (tabs) #

Key	Action
`prefix c`	New window
`prefix ,`	Rename window
`prefix n` / `prefix p`	Next / previous window
`prefix 0…9`	Go to window number
`prefix w`	Pick from a list of all windows
`prefix &`	Kill window

Panes (splits) #

Key	Action
`prefix %`	Split left / right
`prefix "`	Split top / bottom
`prefix ←/→/↑/↓`	Move to a pane
`prefix o`	Next pane
`prefix z`	Zoom the pane to full size (again to restore)
`prefix x`	Kill the pane
`prefix q`	Show pane numbers (press a number to jump)
`prefix {` / `prefix }`	Swap pane left / right
`prefix Space`	Cycle layouts
`prefix !`	Turn the pane into its own window
`prefix Ctrl + ←/→/↑/↓`	Resize the pane

Copy Mode (scroll & copy) #

Key	Action
`prefix [`	Enter copy mode (scroll with arrows / PgUp)
`q`	Exit copy mode
`Ctrl + Space` then move, `Alt + w`	Select and copy (default emacs keys)
`Space` then move, `Enter`	Select and copy (with `mode-keys vi`)
`/` or `?`	Search (vi keys)
`prefix ]`	Paste

Misc #

Key	Action
`prefix ?`	List all keybindings
`prefix :`	Command prompt (for example `:kill-pane`)
`prefix t`	Big clock
`prefix r`	Reload the config (if you bound it, see below)

Starter ~/.tmux.conf #

set -g mouse on                 # click panes, drag to resize, scroll
set -g base-index 1             # windows start at 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1
setw -g mode-keys vi            # vi keys in copy mode
set -g history-limit 50000

# easier splits that open in the current folder
bind | split-window -h -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind - split-window -v -c "#{pane_current_path}"

# reload config
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Reloaded"

# optional: use Ctrl+a as the prefix
# unbind C-b
# set -g prefix C-a
# bind C-a send-prefix

Apply with tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf.

Tips #

Typical SSH workflow: ssh server → tmux a || tmux new → work → prefix d → log out. Your programs keep running.
With mouse on, hold Shift while selecting to use your terminal's normal copy.

Command / option	What it does
`tmux`	New session
`new -s work`	New named session (`-d` = start detached, `-n` = window name)
`ls`	List sessions
`a` / `attach -t work`	Attach to the last / a named session (`-d` detaches others)
`kill-session -t work`	Kill a session (`-a` = all except the current one)
`kill-server`	Kill everything
`rename-session -t old new`	Rename a session
`new-window -n logs`	New window
`split-window -h` / `-v`	Split side by side / stacked
`send-keys -t work "npm run dev" Enter`	Type into a session (scripts)
`source-file ~/.tmux.conf`	Reload the config
`list-keys`	All key bindings
`-f file`	Use another config file
`-L name`	Separate tmux server (socket name)
`-u`	Force UTF-8