tmux Cheatsheet

Configuration and Bindings

Use this tmux reference while you build software engineering projects, review code, or refresh the syntax you reach for most.

Where Config Lives

Path	Scope
`~/.tmux.conf`	Your user config (traditional location)
`~/.config/tmux/tmux.conf`	XDG location, tmux 3.1+
`/etc/tmux.conf`	System wide

tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf     # reload after editing
tmux kill-server                  # nuclear reload

bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "config reloaded"

That reload binding is the first line worth adding, because you will edit the config a lot while getting it right.

set, setw, and Scope

Command	Sets
`set -g option value`	A global session option
`set option value`	A session option for this session only
`setw -g option value`	A global window option
`setw option value`	A window option for this window
`set -p option value`	A pane option (tmux 3.0+)
`set -a option value`	Append to a string option
`set -u option`	Unset, back to the default
`set -s option value`	A server option

tmux show-options -g            # every global session option
tmux show-options -gw           # every global window option
tmux show-options -s            # server options
tmux show-options -g status-style
tmux list-keys                  # every binding
tmux list-keys -T copy-mode-vi  # bindings in one key table
tmux lsk | grep resize

tmux show-options -g is how you find the real name of an option when a config snippet from the internet does not work on your version.

A Sensible tmux.conf

# Prefix
unbind C-b
set -g prefix C-a
bind C-a send-prefix

# Reload
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "config reloaded"

# Terminal
set -g default-terminal "tmux-256color"
set -ga terminal-overrides ",*256col*:Tc"   # true color
set -sg escape-time 10                       # do not swallow Esc in Vim
set -g focus-events on
set -g history-limit 50000

# Indexing
set -g base-index 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1
set -g renumber-windows on

# Mouse and keys
set -g mouse on
setw -g mode-keys vi
set -g status-keys vi

# Splits that inherit the current directory
bind '"' split-window -v -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind % split-window -h -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind c new-window -c "#{pane_current_path}"

# Vim-style pane movement
bind h select-pane -L
bind j select-pane -D
bind k select-pane -U
bind l select-pane -R

# Repeatable resizing
bind -r H resize-pane -L 5
bind -r J resize-pane -D 5
bind -r K resize-pane -U 5
bind -r L resize-pane -R 5

# Window movement
bind -r C-h previous-window
bind -r C-l next-window
bind Tab last-window

# Quality of life
set -g display-time 2000
set -g display-panes-time 2000
setw -g monitor-activity on
set -g visual-activity off
set -g set-clipboard on

Options Worth Knowing

Option	Does
`prefix`	The prefix key
`default-terminal`	`$TERM` inside tmux
`terminal-overrides`	Per-terminal capability fixes (true color)
`escape-time`	Delay after `Esc` before it is treated as a key
`history-limit`	Scrollback lines per pane
`base-index`, `pane-base-index`	Where numbering starts
`renumber-windows`	Close gaps when a window is killed
`mouse`	Mouse support
`mode-keys`, `status-keys`	`vi` or `emacs`
`default-shell`, `default-command`	Which shell panes start
`focus-events`	Forward focus events to apps (Vim autoread)
`set-clipboard`	Use OSC 52 for the system clipboard
`aggressive-resize`	Resize to the smallest attached client per window
`monitor-activity`, `visual-activity`	Activity flags and bells
`destroy-unattached`	Kill sessions when the last client leaves
`detach-on-destroy`	What happens when the current session dies
`allow-rename`, `automatic-rename`	Whether programs may set window titles
`status`, `status-position`, `status-interval`	Status bar on/off, top/bottom, refresh
`repeat-time`	How long a `-r` binding stays repeatable

escape-time 10 matters more than it looks: the default 500ms makes Vim feel broken inside tmux, because leaving Insert mode appears to hang.

Bindings

bind key command                # bind in the prefix table
bind -n key command             # bind WITHOUT the prefix
bind -r key command             # repeatable
bind -T copy-mode-vi key command   # bind in a specific key table
unbind key
bind -N "description" k command    # documented binding (tmux 3.1+)

# No-prefix bindings using Alt
bind -n M-Left  select-pane -L
bind -n M-Right select-pane -R
bind -n M-1 select-window -t 1

# Chain commands with \;
bind X kill-pane \; display "pane killed"

# Conditional: only send prefix through to Vim
bind -n C-h if -F "#{@pane_is_vim}" 'send C-h' 'select-pane -L'