Commands Reference

Fresh

Complete tmux command reference for CLI and scripting.

Session Commands

Command	Description
tmux	Start new session
tmux new	Start new session
tmux new -s name	Start named session
tmux new -s name -n window	Start with named window
tmux new-session -A -s name	Attach or create
tmux ls	List sessions
tmux list-sessions	List sessions (full)
tmux attach	Attach to last session
tmux a	Attach (short)
tmux attach -t name	Attach to named session
tmux attach -dt name	Attach, detach others
tmux kill-session -t name	Kill session
tmux kill-session -a	Kill all but current
tmux kill-session -a -t name	Kill all but named
tmux rename-session -t old new	Rename session

Window Commands

Command	Description
tmux new-window	Create window
tmux new-window -n name	Create named window
tmux list-windows	List windows
tmux select-window -t :0	Select window 0
tmux rename-window name	Rename current window
tmux kill-window	Kill current window
tmux kill-window -t :2	Kill window 2
tmux swap-window -s 2 -t 1	Swap windows 2 and 1
tmux swap-window -t -1	Move window left
tmux move-window -r	Renumber windows
tmux move-window -s 0:1 -t 1:	Move window between sessions

Pane Commands

Command	Description
tmux split-window -h	Split horizontal (left/right)
tmux split-window -v	Split vertical (top/bottom)
tmux split-window -h -c path	Split, start in path
tmux select-pane -L/R/U/D	Select pane by direction
tmux select-pane -t :.+	Select next pane
tmux resize-pane -L/R/U/D 5	Resize by 5 cells
tmux swap-pane -U	Swap with previous
tmux swap-pane -D	Swap with next
tmux kill-pane	Kill current pane
tmux kill-pane -t 2	Kill pane 2
tmux join-pane -s 2 -t 1	Join window 2 to 1
tmux break-pane	Convert pane to window

Copy Mode Commands

Command	Description
tmux copy-mode	Enter copy mode
tmux show-buffer	Show buffer contents
tmux list-buffers	List all buffers
tmux choose-buffer	Interactive buffer select
tmux paste-buffer	Paste buffer
tmux save-buffer file.txt	Save buffer to file
tmux load-buffer file.txt	Load file to buffer
tmux delete-buffer	Delete most recent buffer
tmux delete-buffer -b 2	Delete buffer 2
tmux capture-pane	Capture pane content
tmux capture-pane -p > out.txt	Capture to file

Configuration Commands

Command	Description
tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf	Reload config
tmux show-options -g	Show global options
tmux show-options -w	Show window options
tmux set-option option value	Set option
tmux setw option value	Set window option
tmux list-keys	List key bindings
tmux list-commands	List all commands

New Command Flags (tmux 3.6)

Command	Flag	Effect
command-prompt	-l	Disable splitting input into multiple prompts
display-popup	-k	Any key dismisses the popup once the command exits
run-shell	-E	Forward stderr as well as stdout
capture-pane	-M	Capture from the copy mode screen
display-message	-C	Update the pane while the message is displayed

# Dismiss a popup with any key after the command finishes
tmux display-popup -k -E "htop"

# Run a script and surface its stderr too
tmux run-shell -E "./deploy.sh"

# Single-line command prompt (no splitting)
tmux command-prompt -l -p "search:" "copy-mode -e; send -X search-forward '%%'"

Scripting Examples

Create Development Environment

#!/bin/bash
SESSION="dev"
PROJECT_PATH="$HOME/project"

# Create session (detached)
tmux new-session -d -s $SESSION -c $PROJECT_PATH

# Create windows
tmux rename-window -t $SESSION:0 'editor'
tmux new-window -t $SESSION -n 'server'
tmux new-window -t $SESSION -n 'tests'

# Send commands
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:editor 'vim .' C-m
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:server 'npm run dev' C-m
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:tests 'npm test -- --watch' C-m

# Select first window and attach
tmux select-window -t $SESSION:editor
tmux attach -t $SESSION

Create Pane Layout

#!/bin/bash
# Create IDE-like layout

tmux new-session -d -s ide

# Main editor pane (already exists)
# Split right for terminal
tmux split-window -h -p 30

# Split bottom-right for output
tmux split-window -v -p 50

# Select editor pane
tmux select-pane -t 0

tmux attach -t ide

Send Commands to Running Session

# Send command to specific window
tmux send-keys -t mysession:server 'npm restart' C-m

# Send command to specific pane
tmux send-keys -t mysession:0.1 'tail -f logs' C-m

# C-m is Enter key

Target Syntax

tmux uses a target syntax for specifying sessions, windows, and panes:

session:window.pane

Target	Meaning
mysession	Session named "mysession"
mysession:2	Window 2 in mysession
mysession:editor	Window named "editor"
mysession:2.1	Pane 1 in window 2
:2	Window 2 in current session
:.1	Pane 1 in current window

Environment Variables

Variable	Description
TMUX	Set when inside tmux
TMUX_PANE	Current pane ID

# Check if in tmux
if [ -n "$TMUX" ]; then
    echo "Inside tmux"
fi

See Also

• Keyboard Shortcuts
• Troubleshooting
• SOP: Configuration