Using tmux

Introduction to tmux

tmux is a powerful command-line tool that allows users to manage multiple terminal sessions within a single window.

With tmux, you can:

• Split your terminal into multiple panes

• Run multiple shell sessions simultaneously

• Detach from a session and return later — ideal for long-running tasks

• Keep your work alive on remote systems, even after disconnecting

Basic Usage of tmux

Below are the essential commands to help you begin using tmux.

Starting a New tmux Session

tmux

This opens a new session. You can run commands here just like a regular terminal.

Or, to name your session:

tmux new -s mysession

Detaching and Reattaching

• Detach (leave the session running in the background):

  Ctrl + b, then press d
  

• Reattach to an existing session:

  tmux attach-session -t mysession
  

• List all sessions:

  tmux ls
  

Splitting the Screen

Split your terminal into multiple panes to multitask efficiently:

• Horizontal split:

  Ctrl + b, then press "
  

• Vertical split:

  Ctrl + b, then press %
  

• Switch between panes:

  Ctrl + b, then use arrow keys
  

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Creating and Managing Windows

Each window is like a new tab inside your tmux session:

• New window:

  Ctrl + b, then press c
  

• Switch windows:

  Ctrl + b, then press n (next) or p (previous)
  

• List windows:

  Ctrl + b, then press w
  

Ending a Session

To end your session, simply type exit in each pane or window. When all windows are closed, the session ends.

Or, kill it directly:

tmux kill-session -t mysession

tmux Basic Essentials Cheatsheet 📄

Action	Command
Start a new session	tmux
Reattach to last session	tmux attach or tmux a
Detach from session	Ctrl+b, then d
Create new window	Ctrl+b, then c
Switch window (next/prev)	Ctrl+b, then n / p
Close pane/window	exit or Ctrl+d

For handling more than one tmux sessions:

Action	Command
List sessions	tmux ls
Start a named session	tmux new -s mysession
Attach to a named session	tmux attach -t mysession