tmux shortcuts and commands
tmux keeps terminal sessions running after you disconnect and splits one window into many panes. Press Ctrl+B first, then the key. The keys here manage sessions and windows, split and resize panes, open copy mode, and paste copied text.
macOS, Linux · 59 shortcutsSessions and windows
Create, rename, select, detach, and inspect tmux sessions and windows with the default prefix commands.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Send the prefix key through to the application | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Ctrl + B |
| Rename the current session | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then $ |
| Switch to the previous session | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then ( |
| Switch to the next session | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then ) |
| Switch the client back to the last session | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then L |
| Select a window by indexUse the corresponding number from 0 through 9. | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then 0 |
| Prompt for a window index to select | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then ' |
| Create a new window | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then c |
| Kill the current window | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then & |
| Move to the previously selected window | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then l |
| Change to the next window | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then n |
| Move to the previous window with a bell or activity marker | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Alt + P |
| Move to the next window with a bell or activity marker | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Alt + N |
| Choose the current window interactively | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then w |
| Choose a window and session by fuzzy matching | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Tab |
| Rename the current window | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then , |
| Prompt for an index to move the current window | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then . |
| Display information about the current window | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then i |
| Detach the current client | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then d |
| Choose a client to detach | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then D |
| Select a new session interactively | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then s |
Panes and layout
Split, select, move, resize, mark, zoom, and rearrange panes in the current tmux window.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Split the current pane into top and bottom panes | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then " |
| Split the current pane into left and right panes | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then % |
| Break the current pane out of the window | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then ! |
| Create a new floating pane | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then * |
| Select the next pane | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then o |
| Select the pane above | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Up Arrow |
| Select the pane below | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Down Arrow |
| Select the pane to the left | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Left Arrow |
| Select the pane to the right | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Right Arrow |
| Move to the previously active pane | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then ; |
| Mark the current pane | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then m |
| Clear the marked pane | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then M |
| Kill the current pane | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then x |
| Toggle the zoom state of the current pane | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then z |
| Swap the current pane with the previous pane | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then { |
| Swap the current pane with the next pane | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then } |
| Rotate panes forwards | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Ctrl + O |
| Rotate panes backwards | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Alt + O |
| Arrange the window in the next preset layout | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Space |
| Arrange panes using a preset layoutUse Alt+1 through Alt+7 for the seven preset layouts. | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Alt + 1 |
| Move a floating pane to a corner or edgeUse g with 1 through 4 or an arrow key for the other positions. Meta also resizes the pane. | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then g then 1 |
| Resize the current pane by one cellUse the corresponding arrow direction. | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Ctrl + Up Arrow |
| Resize the current pane by five cellsUse the corresponding arrow direction. | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Alt + Up Arrow |
Copy mode and commands
Enter copy mode, manage paste buffers, search terminal history, open the command prompt, and inspect the active tmux client.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Enter copy mode | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then [ |
| Paste the most recently copied buffer | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then ] |
| Choose a paste buffer interactively | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then = |
| List all paste buffers | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then # |
| Delete the most recently copied buffer | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then - |
| Search for text in open windows | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then f |
| Open the tmux command prompt | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then : |
| List all key bindings | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then ? |
| Show the time | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then t |
| Show previous tmux messages | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then ~ |
| Briefly display pane indexes | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then q |
| Force a redraw of the attached client | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then r |
| Change the current pane title | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then T |
| Suspend the tmux client | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Ctrl + Z |
| Enter copy mode and scroll one page up | macOS / LinuxCtrl + B then Page Up |
Source
official tmux default key bindings · Checked
Default key bindings from the current tmux master manual and Getting Started guide checked September 1, 2026. A user's tmux.conf can replace or remove any binding, and copy-mode or status-line bindings can change when vi mode is enabled.