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Key bindings in tmux allow you to execute commands with keyboard shortcuts. Bindings can be customized to fit your workflow and are organized into key tables.

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Key Binding Commands

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bind-key

Create or modify key bindings: 
bind [-nr] [-T key-table] [-N note] key command [arguments]
Flags:
  • -n: Bind without requiring the prefix key (root table)
  • -r: Allow key to repeat without pressing prefix again
  • -T: Specify the key table (default: prefix)
  • -N: Add a descriptive note for the binding
Examples: 
# Bind prefix + r to reload config
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Config reloaded"

# Bind without prefix
bind -n C-Left previous-window

# Repeatable binding
bind -r C-Up resize-pane -U

# With descriptive note
bind -N "Reload configuration" r source-file ~/.tmux.conf
The bind-key command is implemented in cmd-bind-key.c:54-107 and uses the key_bindings_add() function to register bindings.

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unbind-key

Remove key bindings: 
unbind [-n] [-T key-table] key
Example: 
# Remove default C-b binding
unbind C-b

# Remove from root table
unbind -n MouseDrag1Pane

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list-keys

List all key bindings: 
list-keys [-1] [-N] [-T key-table] [key]
Flags:
  • -1: Show only one binding
  • -N: Show notes/descriptions
  • -T: Filter by key table

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Key Tables

Key bindings are organized into tables. From key-bindings.c:104-123, tmux uses a red-black tree structure to manage key tables efficiently.

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Built-in Key Tables

TablePurpose
prefixDefault key table, accessed after prefix key
rootKeys that work without prefix (with -n flag)
copy-modeKeys active in copy mode (emacs style)
copy-mode-viKeys active in copy mode (vi style)

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Using Key Tables

# Bind in prefix table (default)
bind x kill-pane

# Bind in root table
bind -n C-Left select-pane -L

# Bind in copy mode table
bind -Tcopy-mode C-c send -X cancel

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Default Key Bindings

tmux initializes default bindings in key_bindings_init() (key-bindings.c:347-669). Here are the most important defaults:

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Session Management

# Key bindings from key-bindings.c:352-409
bind C-z { suspend-client }            # Suspend client
bind d { detach-client }                # Detach client  
bind L { switch-client -l }             # Last client
bind s { choose-tree -Zs }             # Choose session
bind $ { command-prompt -I'#S' { rename-session -- '%%' } }

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Window Management

# Key bindings from key-bindings.c:369-403
bind c { new-window }                   # Create window
bind n { next-window }                  # Next window
bind p { previous-window }              # Previous window
bind l { last-window }                  # Last window
bind w { choose-tree -Zw }             # Choose window
bind & { confirm-before -p"kill-window #W? (y/n)" kill-window }
bind , { command-prompt -I'#W' { rename-window -- '%%' } }
bind . { command-prompt -T target { move-window -t '%%' } }

# Select windows by number
bind 0 { select-window -t:=0 }
bind 1 { select-window -t:=1 }
# ... bindings for 2-9

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Pane Management

# Key bindings from key-bindings.c:356-413
bind '"' { split-window }               # Split vertically
bind % { split-window -h }              # Split horizontally
bind o { select-pane -t:.+ }           # Next pane
bind x { confirm-before -p"kill-pane #P? (y/n)" kill-pane }
bind z { resize-pane -Z }              # Zoom pane
bind ! { break-pane }                  # Break to new window

# Pane navigation
bind -r Up { select-pane -U }
bind -r Down { select-pane -D }
bind -r Left { select-pane -L }
bind -r Right { select-pane -R }

# Pane resizing (repeatable)
bind -r C-Up { resize-pane -U }
bind -r C-Down { resize-pane -D }
bind -r C-Left { resize-pane -L }
bind -r C-Right { resize-pane -R }

# By 5 cells
bind -r M-Up { resize-pane -U 5 }
bind -r M-Down { resize-pane -D 5 }
bind -r M-Left { resize-pane -L 5 }
bind -r M-Right { resize-pane -R 5 }

# Swap panes
bind '{' { swap-pane -U }
bind '}' { swap-pane -D }

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Layout Management

# Key bindings from key-bindings.c:414-420
bind Space { next-layout }              # Cycle layouts
bind M-1 { select-layout even-horizontal }
bind M-2 { select-layout even-vertical }
bind M-3 { select-layout main-horizontal }
bind M-4 { select-layout main-vertical }
bind M-5 { select-layout tiled }

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Copy Mode

# Key bindings from key-bindings.c:387-409
bind [ { copy-mode }                    # Enter copy mode
bind PPage { copy-mode -u }            # Enter and scroll up
bind ] { paste-buffer -p }             # Paste buffer
bind = { choose-buffer -Z }            # Choose buffer
bind '#' { list-buffers }              # List buffers
bind - { delete-buffer }               # Delete most recent buffer

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Copy Mode Keys (Emacs)

# Key bindings from key-bindings.c:491-565
bind -Tcopy-mode C-Space { send -X begin-selection }
bind -Tcopy-mode C-w { send -X copy-pipe-and-cancel }
bind -Tcopy-mode M-w { send -X copy-pipe-and-cancel }
bind -Tcopy-mode C-n { send -X cursor-down }
bind -Tcopy-mode C-p { send -X cursor-up }
bind -Tcopy-mode C-v { send -X page-down }
bind -Tcopy-mode M-v { send -X page-up }

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Copy Mode Keys (Vi)

# Key bindings from key-bindings.c:567-654
bind -Tcopy-mode-vi v { send -X rectangle-toggle }
bind -Tcopy-mode-vi Space { send -X begin-selection }
bind -Tcopy-mode-vi Enter { send -X copy-pipe-and-cancel }
bind -Tcopy-mode-vi h { send -X cursor-left }
bind -Tcopy-mode-vi j { send -X cursor-down }
bind -Tcopy-mode-vi k { send -X cursor-up }
bind -Tcopy-mode-vi l { send -X cursor-right }

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Mouse Bindings

tmux includes comprehensive mouse support (key-bindings.c:442-489): 
# Mouse button 1 on pane
bind -n MouseDown1Pane { select-pane -t=; send -M }

# Mouse drag in pane
bind -n MouseDrag1Pane { 
  if -F '#{||:#{pane_in_mode},#{mouse_any_flag}}' 
    { send -M } 
    { copy-mode -M } 
}

# Mouse wheel
bind -n WheelUpPane { 
  if -F '#{||:#{alternate_on},#{pane_in_mode},#{mouse_any_flag}}' 
    { send -M } 
    { copy-mode -e } 
}

# Mouse button 2 (middle click) - paste
bind -n MouseDown2Pane { 
  select-pane -t=; 
  if -F '#{||:#{pane_in_mode},#{mouse_any_flag}}' 
    { send -M } 
    { paste -p } 
}

# Double click - select word
bind -n DoubleClick1Pane {
  select-pane -t=;
  if -F '#{||:#{pane_in_mode},#{mouse_any_flag}}'
    { send -M }
    { copy-mode -H; send -X select-word; run -d0.3; send -X copy-pipe-and-cancel }
}

# Triple click - select line
bind -n TripleClick1Pane {
  select-pane -t=;
  if -F '#{||:#{pane_in_mode},#{mouse_any_flag}}'
    { send -M }
    { copy-mode -H; send -X select-line; run -d0.3; send -X copy-pipe-and-cancel }
}

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Custom Binding Examples

Here are practical custom bindings from example_tmux.conf:

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Function Key Bindings

# Select higher numbered windows with function keys
bind F1 selectw -t:10
bind F2 selectw -t:11
bind F3 selectw -t:12
# ... F4 through F12 for windows 13-21

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Toggle Bindings

# Toggle window size between smallest and largest
bind F set -w window-size

# Toggle monitoring activity
bind m set monitor-activity

# Toggle synchronize-panes with status message
bind y set synchronize-panes\; display 'synchronize-panes #{?synchronize-panes,on,off}'

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Prefix Key Customization

# Change prefix from C-b to C-a
set -g prefix C-a
unbind C-b
bind C-a send-prefix

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Key Codes

Keys can be specified in several formats:
FormatExampleDescription
CharacterxSingle character
ControlC-xControl + character
Meta/AltM-xMeta/Alt + character
ShiftS-UpShift + key
FunctionF1-F12Function keys
SpecialSpace, Enter, EscapeSpecial keys
MouseMouseDown1PaneMouse events

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Repeatable Bindings

The -r flag creates repeatable bindings. After pressing the binding once, you can press just the key (without prefix) within the repeat-time window: 
# Set repeat time to 1 second
set -g repeat-time 1000

# Repeatable pane resizing
bind -r Up resize-pane -U
bind -r Down resize-pane -D

# Now: prefix + Up, Up, Up (without prefix)
From key-bindings.c:222-223, repeatable bindings are marked with the KEY_BINDING_REPEAT flag.

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Listing and Describing Keys

# List all bindings
tmux list-keys

# List bindings with descriptions
tmux list-keys -N

# List bindings in specific table
tmux list-keys -T copy-mode-vi

# Describe a specific key
tmux list-keys -1N C-b

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Binding Best Practices

Don’t bind keys that conflict with your shell or text editor. For example, C-s is used by shell flow control.
Choose key bindings that are easy to remember. For example, r for reload, | for vertical split.
Use the -N flag to add notes to your custom bindings:
bind -N "Split pane vertically" | split-window -h
Changing key bindings doesn’t affect existing sessions until you reload the configuration or restart tmux.