Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about tmux. Search or browse by category.

Getting Started

Essential questions for beginners learning tmux

Installation

How to install tmux on various platforms

Commands & Key Bindings

Understanding tmux keyboard shortcuts and commands

Configuration

Customizing your tmux environment

Troubleshooting

Solutions to common problems and errors

Advanced Usage

Power user features and techniques

Integration

Using tmux with other tools and editors

Performance

Optimizing tmux for speed and efficiency

Still Have Questions?

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Documentation

Comprehensive guides

Cheat Sheet

Quick command reference

Troubleshooting

Common fixes & solutions

Community

GitHub Discussions

This FAQ covers common questions about tmux installation, configuration, commands, troubleshooting, and advanced usage. Last updated: December 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What is tmux and why should I use it?

What's the difference between tmux and screen?

What's the difference between sessions, windows, and panes?

How do I detach and reattach to a tmux session?

Installation

How do I install tmux on macOS?

How do I install tmux on Ubuntu/Debian?

Can I use tmux on Windows?

How do I update tmux to the latest version?

Commands & Key Bindings

What is the tmux prefix key and how do I use it?

How do I split panes in tmux?

How do I create and manage windows in tmux?

How do I copy and paste text in tmux?

How do I scroll through terminal history in tmux?

Configuration

Where should I put my tmux configuration file?

How do I reload my tmux configuration?

How do I enable mouse support in tmux?

How do I install tmux plugins?

Troubleshooting

My colors look wrong in tmux, how do I fix them?

Why is there a delay when I press Escape in tmux?

Why did my tmux session disappear?

Why are my tmux key bindings not working?

Why does tmux say 'sessions should be nested with care'?

Advanced Usage

How do I script tmux for automated workflows?

Can multiple users share a tmux session?

How do I persist tmux sessions across system reboots?

What are tmux hooks and how do I use them?

Integration

How do I integrate tmux with Vim/Neovim?

What's the best way to use tmux over SSH?

Can I use tmux with VS Code?

Should I use tmux inside Docker containers?

Performance

Does tmux slow down my terminal or system?

How can I make tmux faster?

How many sessions/windows/panes can tmux handle?

Still Have Questions?

Documentation

Cheat Sheet

Troubleshooting

Community