Prefix default: Ctrl + b (can be changed via set-option -g prefix C-a). All commands assume prefix is Ctrl + b. Replace as needed if you remap.

Getting Started & Sessions

tmux Start new session
tmux new -s name New session with name
tmux ls List all sessions
tmux attach -t name Attach to named session
tmux detach Detach (from inside tmux)
tmux kill-session -t name Kill session by name
tmux kill-server Kill all sessions (server)
tmux rename-session -t old new Rename session
tmux switch -t name Switch to session
prefix d Detach from session
prefix s Session chooser
prefix \$ Rename current session
prefix : Open command prompt
prefix ? List key bindings
prefix , Rename current window
prefix w Window chooser

Windows & Tabs

prefix c Create new window
prefix p Previous window
prefix n Next window
prefix \<0-9> Select window by number
prefix & Kill current window
prefix . Move window
prefix f Find window by name
prefix l Last window
rename-window newname
swap-window -t 2 Swap with window 2
move-window -t 3 Move to window 3
link-window -s src -t dst
unlink-window
kill-window
display-message '#W' Show window name

Panes

prefix % Split vertically
prefix " Split horizontally
prefix o Go to next pane
prefix q Show pane numbers
prefix ; Toggle between last two panes
prefix x Kill current pane
prefix { } Swap pane left/right
prefix z Toggle zoom pane
prefix \<arrow> Move pane focus
prefix Alt + \<arrow> Resize pane
join-pane -s 2.1 -t 1.0 Join window 2.1 to 1.0
break-pane Convert pane to window
swap-pane -[UDLR] Swap pane direction
select-pane -t :.+ Select next
set-window-option synchronize-panes on Sync panes
display-message '#P' Show pane index

Copy & Scroll Mode

prefix [ Enter copy mode
q Quit copy mode
Space Start selection
Enter Copy selection
PgUp/PgDn Scroll up/down
/ Search forward
? Search backward
n/N Next/Prev search result
:show-buffer Show top buffer
:list-buffers List all buffers
:save-buffer filename Save buffer to file
:delete-buffer -b N Delete buffer N
set -g mode-keys vi Use Vim keys in copy mode

Resizing & Layout

prefix Alt + ↑/↓/←/→ Resize pane
prefix Space Change pane layout
prefix q Show pane numbers
prefix { } Swap panes left/right
prefix z Zoom/unzoom pane
select-layout even-horizontal
select-layout even-vertical
select-layout main-horizontal
select-layout main-vertical
select-layout tiled

Mouse Support

set -g mouse on Enable mouse for resizing, selecting, etc
set -g mouse off Disable mouse support
setw -g mode-mouse on Enable mouse in copy mode (tmux \<2.1)
Drag border to resize pane
Click pane/window to focus
Scroll mouse wheel to scroll history

Scripting & Automation

tmux new-session -d -s mysession Detached session
tmux send-keys -t mysession 'top' Enter Send command to pane
tmux new-window -t mysession:1 -n 'htop'
tmux split-window -h -t mysession:1
tmux select-pane -t mysession:1.0

# Script Example
tmux new-session -d -s dev
tmux new-window -t dev:1 -n code
tmux send-keys -t dev:1 'vim .' C-m
tmux split-window -h -t dev:1
tmux send-keys -t dev:1.1 'npm start' C-m
tmux attach -t dev

Config File (~/.tmux.conf)

# Prefix remap
set-option -g prefix C-a
unbind C-b
bind C-a send-prefix

Mouse support

set -g mouse on

Vim keys in copy mode

setw -g mode-keys vi

Enable 256 color support

set -g default-terminal "screen-256color"

Useful titles

set -g set-titles on

set -g set-titles-string "#S:#I.#P #W"

Split pane shortcuts

bind | split-window -h

bind - split-window -v

Reload config

bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf ; display-message "Config reloaded!"

Troubleshooting & Tips

tmux not responding to keys? Are you in a nested tmux session? Default prefix is Ctrl+b. Try Ctrl+b twice.
Copy/paste not working? Use set -g mouse on and try Shift+Mouse or enable system clipboard with tmux-yank plugin.
Terminal colors off? Check set -g default-terminal "screen-256color" in both ~/.tmux.conf and your terminal emulator.
Sharing tmux? Run tmux attach -t session from multiple terminals (same user).

Plugins & Extensions

TPM (Tmux Plugin Manager) Easy plugin management
tmux-sensible Best default settings
tmux-resurrect Restore tmux sessions
tmux-continuum Continuous saving
tmux-yank Clipboard integration

Install TPM: git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm Then add plugins in ~/.tmux.conf and use prefix + I to install.