Tmux Cheatsheet

# Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt install tmux
 
# macOS (Homebrew)
brew install tmux
 
# RHEL / CentOS / Fedora
sudo dnf install tmux
 
# Check version
tmux -V

tmux                          # Start a new unnamed session
tmux new-session              # Same as above
tmux new -s mysession         # Start a named session
tmux new -s mysession -d      # Start a session in the background (detached)
tmux kill-session -t mysession # Kill a named session
tmux kill-server              # Kill all sessions and the tmux server

tmux attach                   # Attach to the most recent session
tmux attach -t mysession      # Attach to a named session
tmux a -t mysession           # Short form

tmux ls                       # List all sessions
tmux list-sessions            # Long form

tmux new-window -n mywindow   # Create a named window from command line

tmux split-window -h          # Split pane left/right
tmux split-window -v          # Split pane top/bottom

tmux resize-pane -D 5         # Resize down by 5
tmux resize-pane -U 5         # Resize up by 5
tmux resize-pane -L 5         # Resize left by 5
tmux resize-pane -R 5         # Resize right by 5
tmux resize-pane -t 1 -x 80   # Set pane 1 to 80 columns wide

set-window-option -g mode-keys vi
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi v send-keys -X begin-selection
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi y send-keys -X copy-selection-and-cancel

tmux select-layout tiled      # Apply tiled layout from command line
tmux select-layout main-vertical

# Reload config
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Config reloaded!"
 
# Easier splits
bind | split-window -h
bind - split-window -v
 
# Vim-style pane navigation
bind h select-pane -L
bind j select-pane -D
bind k select-pane -U
bind l select-pane -R

# Use Ctrl+a as prefix (like GNU Screen)
unbind C-b
set -g prefix C-a
bind C-a send-prefix
 
# Enable 256 colors
set -g default-terminal "screen-256color"
 
# Enable mouse support
set -g mouse on
 
# Increase history limit
set -g history-limit 50000
 
# Start window and pane index at 1
set -g base-index 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1
 
# Renumber windows automatically
set -g renumber-windows on
 
# Status bar
set -g status-bg colour235
set -g status-fg colour136
set -g status-interval 5
set -g status-right "#H | %Y-%m-%d %H:%M"
 
# Highlight active window
setw -g window-status-current-style fg=colour166,bold
 
# Vi mode for copy
setw -g mode-keys vi
 
# Reload config binding
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Config reloaded!"
 
# Easier splits
bind | split-window -h -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind - split-window -v -c "#{pane_current_path}"
unbind '"'
unbind %

git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm

# List plugins
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm'
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible'
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-resurrect'   # Save/restore sessions
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-continuum'   # Automatic saving
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-yank'        # Copy to system clipboard
 
# Initialize TPM (keep this at the bottom)
run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm'

tmux new-session -d -s work -x 220 -y 50
tmux send-keys -t work 'vim .' Enter
tmux attach -t work

#!/usr/bin/env bash
SESSION="dev"
 
tmux new-session -d -s $SESSION
 
# Window 1: editor
tmux rename-window -t $SESSION:1 'editor'
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:1 'vim .' Enter
 
# Window 2: split — server + logs
tmux new-window -t $SESSION -n 'server'
tmux split-window -h -t $SESSION:server
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:server.left 'npm run dev' Enter
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:server.right 'tail -f server.log' Enter
 
# Window 3: shell
tmux new-window -t $SESSION -n 'shell'
 
tmux select-window -t $SESSION:editor
tmux attach -t $SESSION

tmux list-keys                       # List all key bindings
tmux list-commands                   # List all tmux commands
tmux show-options -g                 # Show all global options
tmux show-window-options -g          # Show all global window options
tmux display-message "hello tmux"    # Display a message in status bar
tmux pipe-pane -o 'cat >> ~/pane.log' # Log pane output to file
tmux set -g mouse on                 # Enable mouse at runtime

# Start a named session and run the job inside it
tmux new -s etl
python run_pipeline.py
 
# Detach and disconnect safely
Ctrl+b d
 
# Reconnect later
tmux attach -t etl

# Host: start a session
tmux new -s shared
 
# Guest: attach to the same session (read-write)
tmux attach -t shared
 
# Guest: attach in read-only mode
tmux attach -t shared -r

#!/usr/bin/env bash
SERVERS=(web1 web2 db1)
SESSION="monitor"
 
tmux new-session -d -s $SESSION
 
for i in "${!SERVERS[@]}"; do
  if [ $i -eq 0 ]; then
    tmux send-keys -t $SESSION "ssh ${SERVERS[$i]}" Enter
  else
    tmux split-window -t $SESSION -v
    tmux send-keys -t $SESSION "ssh ${SERVERS[$i]}" Enter
  fi
done
 
tmux select-layout -t $SESSION tiled
tmux attach -t $SESSION

# Install tmux-resurrect via TPM
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-resurrect'
 
# Save session manually
Ctrl+b Ctrl+s
 
# Restore session after reboot
Ctrl+b Ctrl+r