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tmux Cheat Sheet
Quick reference for all essential tmux commands. Default prefix is Ctrl+b
Verified Sep 2026 for tmux 3.7c
3 min read
beginner
How to read this sheet
Every shortcut that starts with Ctrl+b uses the prefix key. Press Ctrl and b together, let go, then press the next key. So Ctrl+b c means "press Ctrl+b, release, then press c". If you have changed your prefix (many people use Ctrl+a), use yours instead.
Lines that start with tmux run in your normal shell. You can also type them at tmux's own command prompt, opened with Ctrl+b :, without the word tmux. Copy mode keys work after you enter copy mode, with no prefix. All keys below are tmux defaults, checked against tmux 3.7.
Session Management
| tmux | Start new session |
| tmux new -s name | Start named session |
| tmux ls | List sessions |
| tmux attach -t name | Attach to session |
| Ctrl+b d | Detach from session |
| Ctrl+b s | List sessions (interactive) |
Add this to your bash | |
| Ctrl+b $ | Rename session |
Window Management
| Ctrl+b c | Create window |
| Ctrl+b w | List windows |
| Ctrl+b n | Next window |
| Ctrl+b p | Previous window |
| Ctrl+b 0-9 | Switch to window # |
| Ctrl+b , | Rename window |
| Ctrl+b & | Kill window |
Pane Management
| Ctrl+b % | Split into left and right |
| Ctrl+b " | Split into top and bottom |
| Ctrl+b ←↑→↓ | Navigate panes |
| Ctrl+b o | Cycle panes |
| Ctrl+b z | Zoom pane |
| Ctrl+b Space | Cycle layouts |
| Ctrl+b x | Kill pane |
Copy Mode (Vi)
| Ctrl+b [ | Enter copy mode |
| Space | Start selection |
| Enter | Copy selection |
| Ctrl+b ] | Paste buffer |
| q | Exit copy mode |
Misc Commands
| Ctrl+b ? | List keybindings |
| Ctrl+b : | Command prompt |
| Ctrl+b t | Show clock |
| Ctrl+b q | Show pane numbers |
Resizing Panes
| Ctrl+b Ctrl+← | Resize left |
| Ctrl+b Ctrl+→ | Resize right |
| Ctrl+b Ctrl+↑ | Resize up |
| Ctrl+b Ctrl+↓ | Resize down |
More Session Keys
| Ctrl+b ( / ) | Previous / next session |
| Ctrl+b L | Last session you used |
| Ctrl+b D | Choose a client to detach |
| tmux new -A -s name | Attach to name, or create it |
| tmux kill-session -t name | End a session for good |
More Window Keys
| Ctrl+b l | Last window you used |
| Ctrl+b ' | Go to a window by index (prompt) |
| Ctrl+b . | Move window to a new index |
| Ctrl+b f | Find a window by its text |
| Ctrl+b < | Window menu (swap, kill, rename) |
More Pane Keys
| Ctrl+b ; | Last pane you used |
| Ctrl+b { / } | Swap with previous / next pane |
| Ctrl+b ! | Move pane into its own window |
| Ctrl+b m / M | Mark / unmark a pane |
| Ctrl+b Alt+←↑→↓ | Resize by 5 cells |
| Ctrl+b * | Floating pane (tmux 3.7+) |
| Ctrl+b > | Pane menu (split, swap, zoom) |
Layouts
| Ctrl+b Space | Next preset layout |
| Ctrl+b Alt+1 / Alt+2 | Even side by side / even stacked |
| Ctrl+b Alt+3 / Alt+4 | Main pane on top / on the left |
| Ctrl+b Alt+5 | Tiled grid |
| Ctrl+b E | Spread panes out evenly |
| Ctrl+b Ctrl+o | Rotate panes |
Copy Mode (Emacs keys, the default)
| Ctrl+Space | Start selection |
| Alt+w | Copy selection |
| Ctrl+s / Ctrl+r | Search down / up |
| q or Escape | Exit copy mode |
Copy Mode (More Vi keys)
| / and ? | Search down / up |
| n / N | Next / previous match |
| g / G | Top / bottom of history |
| Ctrl+u / Ctrl+d | Half page up / down |
| v | Toggle rectangle selection |
Handy Prompt Commands (Ctrl+b :)
| source-file ~/.tmux.conf | Reload your config |
| setw synchronize-panes | Type into all panes (toggle) |
| set -g mouse on | Turn on mouse support |
| select-layout tiled | Arrange panes in a grid |
| kill-server | Stop tmux and every session |
More Useful Keys
| Ctrl+b / | Describe what a key does |
| Ctrl+b i | Show info about this pane |
| Ctrl+b = | Choose a paste buffer |
| Ctrl+b r | Redraw the screen |
| Ctrl+b C | Browse and change options |
💡 Pro Tip
Press Ctrl+b then ? to see all keybindings in tmux itself!