2 minute read

Context

tmux is one of those tools that quietly becomes indispensable.

If you:

  • work over SSH
  • manage multiple shells
  • run long-lived processes
  • juggle several environments at once

then tmux is less a convenience and more a survival tool.

This cheatsheet focuses on high-signal commands you’ll use repeatedly, not exhaustive coverage.

Basic Concepts (Quick Refresher)

  • Session: a collection of windows
  • Window: similar to a terminal tab
  • Pane: a split within a window
  • Prefix key: default is Ctrl-b

Almost all commands start with the prefix.

Sessions

Create a new session:

tmux new -s mysession

List sessions:

tmux ls

Attach to a session:

tmux attach -t mysession

Detach from session:

Ctrl-b d

Rename the current session:

Ctrl-b $

Sessions are what make tmux powerful over unreliable connections.

Windows

Create a new window:

Ctrl-b c

List windows:

Ctrl-b w

Rename current window:

Ctrl-b ,

Switch to window by number:

Ctrl-b 0
Ctrl-b 1

Windows are best used to separate tasks, not layouts.

Panes

Split horizontally:

Ctrl-b "

Split vertically:

Ctrl-b %

Move between panes:

Ctrl-b ← ↑ → ↓

Resize panes:

Ctrl-b Ctrl-←
Ctrl-b Ctrl-→
Ctrl-b Ctrl-↑
Ctrl-b Ctrl-↓

Close the current pane:

Ctrl-b x

Panes are ideal for contextual work, not permanent separation.

Copy Mode (Scrolling and Selection)

Enter copy mode:

Ctrl-b [

Navigate using:

  • arrow keys
  • Page Up / Page Down
  • Vim-style keys (if configured)

Start selection:

Space

Copy selection:

Enter

Paste buffer:

Ctrl-b ]

Copy mode is essential when reviewing logs or command output.

Search in Output

Inside copy mode:

/

Then type your search string and press Enter.

Repeat search:

n

Searching output beats rerunning commands—especially in production.

Pane and Window Management

Swap panes:

Ctrl-b {
Ctrl-b }

Break pane into a new window:

Ctrl-b !

Kill the current window:

Ctrl-b &

Reorganizing layouts quickly is one of tmux’s biggest strengths.

Status and Information

Show time:

Ctrl-b t

Display pane numbers:

Ctrl-b q

Reload tmux config:

Ctrl-b :source-file ~/.tmux.conf

Useful when iterating on configuration.

Working Over SSH

A common pattern:

  • start tmux on the remote host
  • attach once
  • leave it running indefinitely

If your connection drops:

  • reconnect
  • reattach
  • everything is still there

This alone justifies tmux for many engineers.

Practical Tips

  • Keep sessions named by purpose, not host
  • Don’t overload a single window with too many panes
  • Use tmux to preserve context, not just shells
  • Learn a few commands deeply rather than many shallowly

Muscle memory matters more than completeness.

Takeaways

  • tmux is a session manager, not just a splitter
  • Sessions protect work across disconnections
  • Windows organize tasks; panes provide context
  • Copy mode is essential for real-world use
  • A small command set goes a long way

Once tmux becomes part of your workflow, working without it feels unnecessarily fragile.

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