tmux shortcuts & cheatsheet by Mohamed A. Hassan
FreeQuick reference for tmux commands and keybindings
FreeFree tier
About tmux shortcuts & cheatsheet by Mohamed A. Hassan
A comprehensive community-driven cheatsheet for tmux shortcuts and commands, authored by Mohamed A. Hassan. This single-page reference covers essential tmux operations including session management (start new, attach, list, kill), window/tab navigation (create, switch, rename, kill windows), pane splitting (vertical and horizontal), resizing, synchronizing panes, and copy mode. The cheatsheet is hosted on GitHub Gist and has been starred over 5,000 times, serving as a go-to quick reference for terminal multiplexer users seeking to enhance productivity in command-line environments.
Key Features
Session management commands (new, attach, list, kill)
Window/tab creation, listing, navigation, and renaming
Pane splitting (vertical/horizontal), swapping, and toggling layouts
Pane resizing with precise cell increments
Synchronize panes input across all panes in a window
Copy mode for text selection and navigation
Clear grouping of shortcuts under Sessions, Windows, and Panes sections
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free and open source (hosted as a GitHub Gist)
- Well-organized into sessions, windows, panes, and copy mode
- Includes both basic and advanced commands (e.g., resize-pane, synchronize-panes)
- Community-vetted with over 5,000 stars and many forks
- Simple text format, easy to print or embed
Cons
- Static text reference – no interactive practice or visualization
- May not include the very latest tmux features or changes
- Requires basic familiarity with terminal and tmux concepts
- No search or filtering built into the page itself
Best For
Quick lookup of tmux shortcuts for terminal usersLearning tmux basics and advanced operationsBoosting productivity in command-line workflowsReference for managing multiple terminal sessions and splits
FAQ
What is the default prefix key in tmux?
The default prefix is Ctrl+b. Some users remap it to Ctrl+a; the cheatsheet notes that the author uses Ctrl+a as modified prefix.
How do I create a new tmux session?
Start a new session with 'tmux' or a named session with 'tmux new -s myname'.
How can I split panes horizontally or vertically?
After pressing the prefix (default Ctrl+b), press % for vertical split and " for horizontal split.
How do I synchronize panes so that typing applies to all?
Use the tmux command ':setw synchronize-panes' to toggle input synchronization across all panes in the current window.
Can I resize panes?
Yes. Use the command prefix followed by ':resize-pane -D/-U/-L/-R' with optional cell count (e.g., prefix : resize-pane -D 20).
How do I enter copy mode?
Press prefix [ to enter copy mode, then use movement keys to navigate and select text.