> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/tmux/tmux/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # 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: ```bash theme={null} # 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: ```bash theme={null} tmux list-keys ``` To view bindings with their descriptions: ```bash theme={null} tmux list-keys -N ```