tmux quick reference

Default prefix is Ctrl+b. Replace it below with your configured prefix if different.

sessions

Action	Keys / Command
Start new session	`tmux new -s name`
List sessions	`tmux ls`
Attach	`tmux attach -t name`
Detach	`Ctrl+b d`
Kill session	`tmux kill-session -t name`

windows

Action	Keys
New window	`Ctrl+b c`
List windows	`Ctrl+b w`
Next / previous	`Ctrl+b n` · `Ctrl+b p`
Rename	`Ctrl+b ,`
Close window	`exit` or `Ctrl+b &`

panes

Action	Keys
Split vertical / horizontal	`Ctrl+b %` · `Ctrl+b \"`
Move between panes	`Ctrl+b` + arrow keys
Resize	`Ctrl+b` then `Alt` + arrows
Rotate panes	`Ctrl+b {` · `Ctrl+b }`
Close pane	`exit` or `Ctrl+b x`
Sync panes (toggle)	`Ctrl+b :setw synchronize-panes`

copy & paste

Action	Keys
Enter copy mode	`Ctrl+b [`
Search	`/` inside copy mode
Start selection	`Space`
Copy selection	`Enter`
Paste	`Ctrl+b ]`

quality-of-life config

# ~/.tmux.conf
set -g mouse on                    # scroll and select with mouse
set -g prefix C-a                  # change prefix to Ctrl+a (optional)
unbind C-b
bind C-a send-prefix
set -g history-limit 20000
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display \"config reloaded\"
setw -g mode-keys vi               # vi keys in copy mode
set -g status-interval 30          # status refresh

navigation boosters

Action	Keys
Pane numbers overlay	`Ctrl+b q`
Tree view of sessions/windows	`Ctrl+b s`
Choose window	`Ctrl+b w`
Swap panes	`Ctrl+b {` · `Ctrl+b }`
Zoom pane	`Ctrl+b z`

save / restore snippets

# Save 200 lines of scrollback from current pane
tmux capture-pane -S -200 -p > scrollback.txt

# Start a named session if missing, else attach
tmux new -A -s main

auto-attach tmux on ssh

Add to your remote ~/.bashrc (or ~/.bash_profile):

if [ -n \"$SSH_CONNECTION\" ] && [ -z \"$TMUX\" ]; then
  tmux new -A -s ssh
  exit
fi

Logs you into session ssh automatically when connecting via SSH; skips if already inside tmux.

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