Tmux command cheat sheet

tmux Sessions

• Start a new session: tmux or tmux new or tmux new-session
• Start a new session with a specific name: tmux new -s [session_name]
• Attach to the last active session: tmux attach or tmux a
• Attach to a session with a specific name: tmux attach -t [session_name] or tmux at [session_name]
• Disconnect from a session, but keep it running: tmux detach or CTRL+b then d
• List all active sessions: tmux list-sessions or tmux ls or CTRL+b then s
• Switch to a different session: tmux switch -t [session_name]
• Move to the previous session: CTRL+b then (
• Move to the next session: CTRL+b then )
• Rename an existing session: tmux rename-session -t [old_name] [new_name] or CTRL+b then $
• Terminate all sessions but the current one: tmux kill-session -a
• Terminate a specific session: tmux kill-session -t [session_name]

tmux Windows

• Create a new window: tmux new-window or CTRL+b then c
• Create a new window with a specific name: tmux new-window -n [window_name]
• Switch to the previous window: tmux previous-window or CTRL+b then p
• Switch to the next window: tmux next-window or CTRL+b then n
• Go to a specific window number: CTRL+b then [number]
• Rename the current window: tmux rename-window [new_name] or CTRL+b then ,
• Kill the current window: tmux kill-window or CTRL+b then &
• List all windows: tmux list-windows or CTRL+b then w
• Link a window to another session: tmux link-window -s [source_session]:[source_window] -t [target_session]
• Unlink a window: tmux unlink-window -t [session]:[window]

tmux Panes

• Split the pane horizontally: tmux split-window -h or CTRL+b then "
• Split the pane vertically: tmux split-window -v or CTRL+b then %
• Navigate between panes: tmux select-pane -t [pane_number] or CTRL+b then [arrow key]
• Navigate to the next pane: CTRL+b then o
• Kill the current pane: tmux kill-pane or CTRL+b then x
• Swap current pane with the previous one: CTRL+b then {
• Swap current pane with the next one: CTRL+b then }
• Zoom in on the current pane: tmux resize-pane -Z or CTRL+b then z
• Show pane numbers: CTRL+b then q

Pane Resizing

• Resize pane left (1 cell): CTRL+b then CTRL+Left
• Resize pane right (1 cell): CTRL+b then CTRL+Right
• Resize pane up (1 cell): CTRL+b then CTRL+Up
• Resize pane down (1 cell): CTRL+b then CTRL+Down
• Resize pane left (5 cells): CTRL+b then ALT+Left
• Resize pane right (5 cells): CTRL+b then ALT+Right
• Resize pane up (5 cells): CTRL+b then ALT+Up
• Resize pane down (5 cells): CTRL+b then ALT+Down

tmux Copy Mode

• Enter copy mode: tmux copy-mode or CTRL+b then [
• Quit copy mode: q
• Start selection: Spacebar
• Clear selection: Esc
• Copy selection: Enter
• Paste contents of buffer_0: CTRL+b then ]
• Move the cursor left: h
• Move the cursor down: j
• Move the cursor up: k
• Move the cursor right: l
• Move the cursor forward one word at a time: W
• Move the cursor backward one word at a time: b
• Go to top line: g
• Go to bottom line: G
• Search forward: /
• Search backward: ?
• Previous keyword occurrence: N
• Next keyword occurrence: n
• Use vi keys in buffer: setw -g mode-keys vi
• Show all buffers: list-buffers
• Copy entire visible contents of pane to a buffer: capture-pane
• Show all buffers and paste selected: choose-buffer

tmux Miscellaneous

• Detach and keep the session running: tmux detach or CTRL+b then d
• Show a list of all key bindings: CTRL+b then ?
• Command mode: CTRL+b then :
• Reload configuration file: tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf or CTRL+b then r
• Disconnect all other clients: tmux detach-client -a
• Force tmux to assume 256 colors: tmux -2
• Send the prefix key to the current pane: CTRL+b then b
• List all commands: list-commands

Step-by-Step Examples

Example 1: Basic Multi-Pane Development Setup

1. Start new session: tmux new -s dev
2. Split horizontally for code editor: CTRL+b then "
3. Move to bottom pane: CTRL+b then Down Arrow
4. Split vertically for terminal and logs: CTRL+b then %
5. Navigate between panes: CTRL+b then arrow keys
6. Zoom into editor pane: CTRL+b then Up Arrow → CTRL+b then z

Example 2: Resizing Panes for Better Layout

1. Create horizontal split: CTRL+b then "
2. Top pane too small? Make it bigger: CTRL+b then CTRL+Down (repeat as needed)
3. Bottom pane now too big? Make it smaller: CTRL+b then CTRL+Up
4. For faster resizing: CTRL+b then ALT+Down (resizes by 5 cells)

Example 3: Managing Multiple Projects

1. Create first project session: tmux new -s project1
2. Work on project1, then detach: CTRL+b then d
3. Create second project session: tmux new -s project2
4. Switch between projects: tmux attach -t project1 or CTRL+b then s
5. List all sessions: tmux ls

Example 4: Copy Mode Workflow

1. Enter copy mode: CTRL+b then [
2. Navigate to text you want: arrow keys or h/j/k/l
3. Start selection: Spacebar
4. Extend selection: arrow keys
5. Copy selection: Enter
6. Move to different pane: CTRL+b then arrow key
7. Paste: CTRL+b then ]

Example 5: Window and Pane Navigation

1. Create new window: CTRL+b then c
2. Split into panes: CTRL+b then " → CTRL+b then %
3. Show pane numbers: CTRL+b then q → press 2 to jump to pane 2
4. Switch windows: CTRL+b then 1 (for window 1)
5. Go back to previous window: CTRL+b then p

Example 6: Advanced Pane Management

1. Create 4-pane layout:
   • Start: CTRL+b then "
   • Top pane: CTRL+b then %
   • Bottom pane: CTRL+b then Down Arrow → CTRL+b then %
2. Resize panes for code/terminal/logs/monitoring:
   • Make code pane (top-left) larger: CTRL+b then CTRL+Right (repeat)
   • Make logs pane (bottom-right) taller: CTRL+b then CTRL+Up
3. Swap panes if needed: CTRL+b then { or }# Tmux Command Cheat Sheet

tmux Sessions

• Start a new session: tmux or tmux new or tmux new-session
• Start a new session with a specific name: tmux new -s [session_name]
• Attach to the last active session: tmux attach or tmux a
• Attach to a session with a specific name: tmux attach -t [session_name] or tmux at [session_name]
• Disconnect from a session, but keep it running: tmux detach or CTRL+b then d
• List all active sessions: tmux list-sessions or tmux ls or CTRL+b then s
• Switch to a different session: tmux switch -t [session_name]
• Move to the previous session: CTRL+b then (
• Move to the next session: CTRL+b then )
• Rename an existing session: tmux rename-session -t [old_name] [new_name] or CTRL+b then $
• Terminate all sessions but the current one: tmux kill-session -a
• Terminate a specific session: tmux kill-session -t [session_name]

tmux Windows

• Create a new window: tmux new-window or CTRL+b then c
• Create a new window with a specific name: tmux new-window -n [window_name]
• Switch to the previous window: tmux previous-window or CTRL+b then p
• Switch to the next window: tmux next-window or CTRL+b then n
• Go to a specific window number: CTRL+b then [number]
• Rename the current window: tmux rename-window [new_name] or CTRL+b then ,
• Kill the current window: tmux kill-window or CTRL+b then &
• List all windows: tmux list-windows or CTRL+b then w
• Link a window to another session: tmux link-window -s [source_session]:[source_window] -t [target_session]
• Unlink a window: tmux unlink-window -t [session]:[window]

tmux Panes

• Split the pane horizontally: tmux split-window -h or CTRL+b then "
• Split the pane vertically: tmux split-window -v or CTRL+b then %
• Navigate between panes: tmux select-pane -t [pane_number] or CTRL+b then [arrow key]
• Navigate to the next pane: CTRL+b then o
• Kill the current pane: tmux kill-pane or CTRL+b then x
• Swap current pane with the previous one: CTRL+b then {
• Swap current pane with the next one: CTRL+b then }
• Zoom in on the current pane: tmux resize-pane -Z or CTRL+b then z
• Show pane numbers: CTRL+b then q

Pane Resizing

• Resize pane left (1 cell): CTRL+b then CTRL+Left
• Resize pane right (1 cell): CTRL+b then CTRL+Right
• Resize pane up (1 cell): CTRL+b then CTRL+Up
• Resize pane down (1 cell): CTRL+b then CTRL+Down
• Resize pane left (5 cells): CTRL+b then ALT+Left
• Resize pane right (5 cells): CTRL+b then ALT+Right
• Resize pane up (5 cells): CTRL+b then ALT+Up
• Resize pane down (5 cells): CTRL+b then ALT+Down

tmux Copy Mode

• Enter copy mode: tmux copy-mode or CTRL+b then [
• Quit copy mode: q
• Start selection: Spacebar
• Clear selection: Esc
• Copy selection: Enter
• Paste contents of buffer_0: CTRL+b then ]
• Move the cursor left: h
• Move the cursor down: j
• Move the cursor up: k
• Move the cursor right: l
• Move the cursor forward one word at a time: W
• Move the cursor backward one word at a time: b
• Go to top line: g
• Go to bottom line: G
• Search forward: /
• Search backward: ?
• Previous keyword occurrence: N
• Next keyword occurrence: n
• Use vi keys in buffer: setw -g mode-keys vi
• Show all buffers: list-buffers
• Copy entire visible contents of pane to a buffer: capture-pane
• Show all buffers and paste selected: choose-buffer

tmux Miscellaneous

• Detach and keep the session running: tmux detach or CTRL+b then d
• Show a list of all key bindings: CTRL+b then ?
• Command mode: CTRL+b then :
• Reload configuration file: tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf or CTRL+b then r
• Disconnect all other clients: tmux detach-client -a
• Force tmux to assume 256 colors: tmux -2
• Send the prefix key to the current pane: CTRL+b then b
• List all commands: list-commands

Step-by-Step Examples

Example 1: Basic Multi-Pane Development Setup

1. Start new session: tmux new -s dev
2. Split horizontally for code editor: CTRL+b then "
3. Move to bottom pane: CTRL+b then Down Arrow
4. Split vertically for terminal and logs: CTRL+b then %
5. Navigate between panes: CTRL+b then arrow keys
6. Zoom into editor pane: CTRL+b then Up Arrow → CTRL+b then z

Example 2: Resizing Panes for Better Layout

1. Create horizontal split: CTRL+b then "
2. Top pane too small? Make it bigger: CTRL+b then CTRL+Down (repeat as needed)
3. Bottom pane now too big? Make it smaller: CTRL+b then CTRL+Up
4. For faster resizing: CTRL+b then ALT+Down (resizes by 5 cells)

Example 3: Managing Multiple Projects

1. Create first project session: tmux new -s project1
2. Work on project1, then detach: CTRL+b then d
3. Create second project session: tmux new -s project2
4. Switch between projects: tmux attach -t project1 or CTRL+b then s
5. List all sessions: tmux ls

Example 4: Copy Mode Workflow

1. Enter copy mode: CTRL+b then [
2. Navigate to text you want: arrow keys or h/j/k/l
3. Start selection: Spacebar
4. Extend selection: arrow keys
5. Copy selection: Enter
6. Move to different pane: CTRL+b then arrow key
7. Paste: CTRL+b then ]

Example 5: Window and Pane Navigation

1. Create new window: CTRL+b then c
2. Split into panes: CTRL+b then " → CTRL+b then %
3. Show pane numbers: CTRL+b then q → press 2 to jump to pane 2
4. Switch windows: CTRL+b then 1 (for window 1)
5. Go back to previous window: CTRL+b then p

Example 6: Advanced Pane Management

1. Create 4-pane layout:
   • Start: CTRL+b then "
   • Top pane: CTRL+b then %
   • Bottom pane: CTRL+b then Down Arrow → CTRL+b then %
2. Resize panes for code/terminal/logs/monitoring:
   • Make code pane (top-left) larger: CTRL+b then CTRL+Right (repeat)
   • Make logs pane (bottom-right) taller: CTRL+b then CTRL+Up
3. Swap panes if needed: CTRL+b then { or }