tmux Keyboard Shortcuts
tmux keyboard shortcut reference covering 25 bindings for Windows, Mac & Linux. Commonly searched bindings include New Window, Detach, and Split Horizontal. 25 of 25 shortcuts are verified against official tmux documentation, each with a linked source when available. Search by action name, filter by category, look up what a key combination does, print a cheat sheet, or practice with flashcards.
Official tmux documentation
Editing
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|
| Copy Mode |
Enter copy/scroll mode |
Ctrl+B+[ |
Ctrl+B+[ |
Yes |
Source |
| Paste Buffer |
Paste most recent copy buffer |
Ctrl+B+] |
Ctrl+B+] |
Yes |
Source |
General
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|
| Command Prompt |
Open tmux command prompt |
Ctrl+B+: |
Ctrl+B+: |
Yes |
Source |
| List Bindings |
Show all key bindings |
Ctrl+B+? |
Ctrl+B+? |
Yes |
Source |
| Reload Config |
Reload tmux configuration |
Ctrl+B+R |
Ctrl+B+R |
Yes |
Source |
Pane
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|
| Split Horizontal |
Split pane top/bottom |
Ctrl+B+" |
Ctrl+B+" |
Yes |
Source |
| Split Vertical |
Split pane left/right |
Ctrl+B+% |
Ctrl+B+% |
Yes |
Source |
| Next Pane |
Move to next pane |
Ctrl+B+O |
Ctrl+B+O |
Yes |
Source |
| Kill Pane |
Close current pane |
Ctrl+B+X |
Ctrl+B+X |
Yes |
Source |
| Last Pane |
Switch to previously active pane |
Ctrl+B+; |
Ctrl+B+; |
Yes |
Source |
| Zoom Pane |
Toggle pane zoom (maximize) |
Ctrl+B+Z |
Ctrl+B+Z |
Yes |
Source |
| Swap Pane |
Swap pane with next |
Ctrl+B+{ |
Ctrl+B+{ |
Yes |
Source |
| Rotate Panes |
Rotate panes in window |
Ctrl+B+Ctrl+O |
Ctrl+B+Ctrl+O |
Yes |
Source |
| Cycle Layout |
Cycle through pane layouts |
Ctrl+B+Space |
Ctrl+B+Space |
Yes |
Source |
Session
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|
| Detach |
Detach from session |
Ctrl+B+D |
Ctrl+B+D |
Yes |
Source |
| Select Session |
Choose session interactively |
Ctrl+B+S |
Ctrl+B+S |
Yes |
Source |
| Previous Session |
Switch to previous session |
Ctrl+B+( |
Ctrl+B+( |
Yes |
Source |
| Next Session |
Switch to next session |
Ctrl+B+) |
Ctrl+B+) |
Yes |
Source |
Window
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|
| New Window |
Create new window |
Ctrl+B+C |
Ctrl+B+C |
Yes |
Source |
| Next Window |
Switch to next window |
Ctrl+B+N |
Ctrl+B+N |
Yes |
Source |
| Previous Window |
Switch to previous window |
Ctrl+B+P |
Ctrl+B+P |
Yes |
Source |
| Last Window |
Switch to last active window |
Ctrl+B+L |
Ctrl+B+L |
Yes |
Source |
| Select Window |
Interactive window list |
Ctrl+B+W |
Ctrl+B+W |
Yes |
Source |
| Rename Window |
Rename current window |
Ctrl+B+, |
Ctrl+B+, |
Yes |
Source |
| Kill Window |
Close current window |
Ctrl+B+& |
Ctrl+B+& |
Yes |
Source |
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