Key Bindings Reference

Complete reference for all default tmux key bindings and shortcuts

This page provides a comprehensive reference for all default tmux key bindings. By default, tmux uses C-b (Control-b) as the prefix key.

Prefix Key Bindings

These keys must be preceded by the prefix key (default: C-b).

Session Management

Key	Description	Command
$	Rename current session	command-prompt -I'#S' { rename-session -- '%%' }
(	Switch to previous client	switch-client -p
)	Switch to next client	switch-client -n
L	Switch to the last client	switch-client -l
s	Choose a session from a list	choose-tree -Zs
d	Detach the current client	detach-client
D	Choose and detach a client from a list	choose-client -Z

Window Management

Key	Description	Command
c	Create a new window	new-window
,	Rename current window	command-prompt -I'#W' { rename-window -- '%%' }
.	Move the current window	command-prompt -T target { move-window -t '%%' }
&	Kill current window	confirm-before -p"kill-window #W? (y/n)" kill-window
'	Prompt for window index to select	command-prompt -T window-target -pindex { select-window -t ':%%' }
0-9	Select window 0 to 9	select-window -t:=N
n	Select the next window	next-window
p	Select the previous window	previous-window
l	Select the previously current window	last-window
w	Choose a window from a list	choose-tree -Zw
f	Search for a pane	command-prompt { find-window -Z -- '%%' }
i	Display window information	display-message

Pane Management

Key	Description	Command
"	Split window vertically	split-window
%	Split window horizontally	split-window -h
!	Break pane to a new window	break-pane
x	Kill the active pane	confirm-before -p"kill-pane #P? (y/n)" kill-pane
z	Zoom the active pane	resize-pane -Z
o	Select the next pane	select-pane -t:.+
;	Move to the previously active pane	last-pane
q	Display pane numbers	display-panes
m	Toggle the marked pane	select-pane -m
M	Clear the marked pane	select-pane -M
{	Swap the active pane with the pane above	swap-pane -U
}	Swap the active pane with the pane below	swap-pane -D

Pane Navigation

Key	Description	Command
Up	Select the pane above the active pane	select-pane -U
Down	Select the pane below the active pane	select-pane -D
Left	Select the pane to the left of the active pane	select-pane -L
Right	Select the pane to the right of the active pane	select-pane -R

Note: Arrow key bindings are repeatable (bound with -r flag).

Pane Resizing

Key	Description	Command
C-Up	Resize the pane up	resize-pane -U
C-Down	Resize the pane down	resize-pane -D
C-Left	Resize the pane left	resize-pane -L
C-Right	Resize the pane right	resize-pane -R
M-Up	Resize the pane up by 5	resize-pane -U 5
M-Down	Resize the pane down by 5	resize-pane -D 5
M-Left	Resize the pane left by 5	resize-pane -L 5
M-Right	Resize the pane right by 5	resize-pane -R 5

Note: All resize bindings are repeatable.

Layouts

Key	Description	Command
Space	Select next layout	next-layout
E	Spread panes out evenly	select-layout -E
M-1	Set the even-horizontal layout	select-layout even-horizontal
M-2	Set the even-vertical layout	select-layout even-vertical
M-3	Set the main-horizontal layout	select-layout main-horizontal
M-4	Set the main-vertical layout	select-layout main-vertical
M-5	Select the tiled layout	select-layout tiled
M-6	Set the main-horizontal-mirrored layout	select-layout main-horizontal-mirrored
M-7	Set the main-vertical-mirrored layout	select-layout main-vertical-mirrored

Copy Mode

Key	Description	Command
[	Enter copy mode	copy-mode
]	Paste the most recent paste buffer	paste-buffer -p
PPage	Enter copy mode and scroll up	copy-mode -u
#	List all paste buffers	list-buffers
=	Choose a paste buffer from a list	choose-buffer -Z
-	Delete the most recent paste buffer	delete-buffer

Other Commands

Key	Description	Command
C-b	Send the prefix key	send-prefix
C-o	Rotate through the panes	rotate-window
M-o	Rotate through the panes in reverse	rotate-window -D
C-z	Suspend the current client	suspend-client
:	Prompt for a command	command-prompt
?	List key bindings	list-keys -N
/	Describe key binding	command-prompt -kpkey { list-keys -1N '%%' }
r	Redraw the current client	refresh-client
t	Show a clock	clock-mode
~	Show messages	show-messages
C	Customize options	customize-mode -Z
M-n	Select the next window with an alert	next-window -a
M-p	Select the previous window with an alert	previous-window -a

Window Scrolling

Key	Description	Command
S-Up	Move the visible part of the window up	refresh-client -U 10
S-Down	Move the visible part of the window down	refresh-client -D 10
S-Left	Move the visible part of the window left	refresh-client -L 10
S-Right	Move the visible part of the window right	refresh-client -R 10
DC	Reset so the visible part of the window follows the cursor	refresh-client -c

Note: All scrolling bindings are repeatable.

Menus

Key	Description	Command
<	Display window menu	display-menu -xW -yW ...
>	Display pane menu	display-menu -xP -yP ...

Mouse Bindings

These bindings work when the mouse option is enabled.

Pane Actions

Action	Description	Command
MouseDown1Pane	Select pane and send mouse event	select-pane -t=; send -M
C-MouseDown1Pane	Swap pane with target	swap-pane -s@
MouseDrag1Pane	Enter copy mode if not in mode	if ... { send -M } { copy-mode -M }
MouseDrag1Border	Resize pane	resize-pane -M
WheelUpPane	Copy mode or send mouse	if ... { send -M } { copy-mode -e }
MouseDown2Pane	Paste if not in mode	select-pane -t=; if ... { send -M } { paste -p }
DoubleClick1Pane	Select word	select-pane -t=; if ... { send -M } { copy-mode -H; send -X select-word; ... }
TripleClick1Pane	Select line	select-pane -t=; if ... { send -M } { copy-mode -H; send -X select-line; ... }
MouseDown3Pane	Display pane menu	display-menu -t= -xM -yM ...

Status Line Actions

Action	Description	Command
MouseDown1Status	Switch to window	switch-client -t=
C-MouseDown1Status	Swap window	swap-window -t@
WheelDownStatus	Next window	next-window
WheelUpStatus	Previous window	previous-window
MouseDown3Status	Display window menu	display-menu -t= -xW -yW ...
MouseDown3StatusLeft	Display session menu	display-menu -t= -xM -yW ...

Scrollbar Actions

Action	Description	Command
MouseDown1ScrollbarUp	Page up or enter copy mode	if ... { send -X page-up } { copy-mode -u }
MouseDown1ScrollbarDown	Page down or enter copy mode	if ... { send -X page-down } { copy-mode -d }
MouseDrag1ScrollbarSlider	Scroll to mouse position	if ... { send -X scroll-to-mouse } { copy-mode -S }

Copy Mode Bindings (Emacs)

In copy mode with emacs key bindings:

Key	Description	Command
C-Space	Begin selection	send -X begin-selection
C-a	Start of line	send -X start-of-line
C-e	End of line	send -X end-of-line
C-f	Cursor right	send -X cursor-right
C-b	Cursor left	send -X cursor-left
C-n	Cursor down	send -X cursor-down
C-p	Cursor up	send -X cursor-up
C-v	Page down	send -X page-down
M-v	Page up	send -X page-up
C-w	Copy selection and cancel	send -X copy-pipe-and-cancel
M-w	Copy selection and cancel	send -X copy-pipe-and-cancel
C-c	Cancel	send -X cancel
Escape	Cancel	send -X cancel
C-g	Clear selection	send -X clear-selection
C-r	Incremental search backward	command-prompt -T search ...
C-s	Incremental search forward	command-prompt -T search ...
M-<	History top	send -X history-top
M->	History bottom	send -X history-bottom
M-b	Previous word	send -X previous-word
M-f	Next word end	send -X next-word-end
M-m	Back to indentation	send -X back-to-indentation
M-r	Middle line	send -X middle-line
M-R	Top line	send -X top-line
Arrow Keys	Navigate	send -X cursor-up/down/left/right

Copy Mode Bindings (Vi)

In copy mode with vi key bindings:

Key	Description	Command
Space	Begin selection	send -X begin-selection
Enter	Copy selection and cancel	send -X copy-pipe-and-cancel
Escape	Clear selection	send -X clear-selection
0	Start of line	send -X start-of-line
$	End of line	send -X end-of-line
:	Go to line	command-prompt -p'(goto line)' ...
/	Search forward	command-prompt -T search -p'(search down)' ...
?	Search backward	command-prompt -T search -p'(search up)' ...
n	Search again	send -X search-again
N	Search reverse	send -X search-reverse
h	Cursor left	send -X cursor-left
j	Cursor down	send -X cursor-down
k	Cursor up	send -X cursor-up
l	Cursor right	send -X cursor-right
w	Next word	send -X next-word
b	Previous word	send -X previous-word
e	Next word end	send -X next-word-end
B	Previous space	send -X previous-space
W	Next space	send -X next-space
E	Next space end	send -X next-space-end
f	Jump forward	command-prompt -1p'(jump forward)' ...
F	Jump backward	command-prompt -1p'(jump backward)' ...
t	Jump to forward	command-prompt -1p'(jump to forward)' ...
T	Jump to backward	command-prompt -1p'(jump to backward)' ...
;	Jump again	send -X jump-again
,	Jump reverse	send -X jump-reverse
g	History top	send -X history-top
G	History bottom	send -X history-bottom
H	Top line	send -X top-line
M	Middle line	send -X middle-line
L	Bottom line	send -X bottom-line
C-b	Page up	send -X page-up
C-f	Page down	send -X page-down
C-d	Half page down	send -X halfpage-down
C-u	Half page up	send -X halfpage-up
C-v	Rectangle toggle	send -X rectangle-toggle
v	Rectangle toggle	send -X rectangle-toggle
V	Select line	send -X select-line
A	Append selection and cancel	send -X append-selection-and-cancel
D	Copy end of line and cancel	send -X copy-pipe-end-of-line-and-cancel
q	Cancel	send -X cancel
%	Next matching bracket	send -X next-matching-bracket
{	Previous paragraph	send -X previous-paragraph
}	Next paragraph	send -X next-paragraph
#	Search backward for cursor word	send -FX search-backward -- '#{copy_cursor_word}'
*	Search forward for cursor word	send -FX search-forward -- '#{copy_cursor_word}'

Customizing Key Bindings

You can customize key bindings using the bind-key command:

# Bind a key in the prefix table
tmux bind-key C-a send-prefix

# Bind a key without prefix
tmux bind-key -n C-Left select-pane -L

# Bind with a note (shown in list-keys -N)
tmux bind-key -N 'My custom binding' C-x command-prompt

# Make a binding repeatable
tmux bind-key -r C-Up resize-pane -U

To view all current key bindings:

tmux list-keys

To view bindings with their descriptions:

tmux list-keys -N