tmux Cheat Sheet

The prefix is Ctrl+b by default. Press the prefix, release it, then press the next key.

tmux Sessions

Command Action
tmux Start a new session.
tmux new -s [session_name] Create a new session with a specific name.
tmux attach Re-attach to the latest active session.
tmux detach Disconnect from a session, but keep it running.
tmux attach -t [session_name] / tmux a -t [session_name] Attach to a session with a specific name.
tmux switch -t [session_name] Switch to a different session.
tmux rename-session -t [old_name] [new_name] Rename an existing session.
tmux list-sessions / tmux ls List all active tmux sessions.
tmux kill-session -t [session_name] Terminate a specific session.
tmux kill-session -a Kill all sessions but the current one.
tmux kill-session -a -t [session_name] Terminate all sessions except the specified one.
tmux kill-server Terminate the tmux server, ending all sessions, windows, and panes.

tmux Windows

Shortcut Action
Ctrl+b then c Create a new window.
Ctrl+b then , Rename the current window.
Ctrl+b then w List all windows.
Ctrl+b then & Kill the current window.
Ctrl+b then n Switch to the next window.
Ctrl+b then p Switch to the previous window.
Ctrl+b then l Open the last window.
Ctrl+b then 0....9 Switch to a specific numbered window.
Ctrl+b then d Detach from the current session.

tmux Panes

Shortcut Action
Ctrl+b then % Split the current pane vertically.
Ctrl+b then " Split the current pane horizontally.
Ctrl+b then x Close the current pane.
Ctrl+b then o Switch between panes.
Ctrl+b then z Toggle pane zoom (make pane full screen).
Ctrl+b then ; Toggle between the last two active panes.
Ctrl+b then { Move the current pane left.
Ctrl+b then } Move the current pane right.
Ctrl+b then Space Toggle through different pane layouts.
Ctrl+b then ! Convert the current pane into a window.
Ctrl+b then q Display pane number.
Ctrl+b then Increase pane height.
Ctrl+b then Decrease pane height.
Ctrl+b then Increase pane width.
Ctrl+b then Decrease pane width.

tmux Copy Mode

Shortcut Action
Ctrl+b then [ Enter copy mode.
q Exit copy mode.
Space Start text selection in copy mode.
Enter Copy the selected text.
Esc Clear the selected text and exit copy mode.
Ctrl+b then ] Paste the copied text.
h Move the cursor left.
j Move the cursor down.
k Move the cursor up.
l Move the cursor right.
w Move the cursor one word forward.
b Move the cursor one word backward.
Ctrl+u Scroll up half a page.
Ctrl+d Scroll down half a page.
PgUp Scroll up full page.
PgDn Scroll down full page.

Pro tip: remap the prefix

Ctrl+b is an awkward stretch. Most people remap to Ctrl+a (screen muscle memory) or Ctrl+Space. In ~/.tmux.conf:

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

Source: phoenixNAP — tmux Cheat Sheet