tmux

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Timeline

Timeline

2025-10-20

init

This article introduces the installation and configuration methods of the terminal multiplexer tmux, including how to set up tmux to start automatically when opened under WSL, and the steps to manage plugins through tpm and load configuration files. The article summarizes in detail the common shortcut keys of tmux, covering core operations such as session management (create, detach, list, reattach, rename, switch), window management (new, close, switch, rename), and pane management (vertical/horizontal split, move focus, close, maximize, switch layout). In addition, it also explains how to use history mode (copy mode) in tmux, such as scrolling through history with arrow keys or mouse wheel.

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tmux installation

sudo pacman -Sy tmux

# Enable
tmux 

If under WSL, you can configure tmux to start on open; find the ArchLinux command line option in settings and append-- tmux

tmux configuration

Install tpm

git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm

Configuration file ~/.tmux.conf

# Set prefix key to Ctrl+q
unbind C-b
set -g prefix C-q
bind C-q send-prefix

# Mouse support (can click to switch panes/windows)
set -g mouse on
# Make tmux correctly forward extended keys to Emacs.
set -g xterm-keys on
set -g default-terminal "tmux-256color"
set -g renumber-windows on
set -g base-index 1 # Set the starting index of windows to 1
set -g pane-base-index 1 # Set the starting index of panes to 1

# List of plugins
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm'
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible'


set -g @plugin 'catppuccin/tmux#v2.1.3'
set -g @catppuccin_flavor 'mocha'
# set -g @catppuccin_window_status_style "rounded"
set -g @catppuccin_window_default_text "#W"
set -g @catppuccin_window_text "#W"
set -g @catppuccin_window_current_text "#W"

# Make the status line pretty and add some modules
set -g status-right-length 100
set -g status-left-length 100
set -g status-left ""

# set -g status-right "#{E:@catppuccin_status_session}"
set -g status-right "#{E:@catppuccin_status_uptime}"

# Initialize TMUX plugin manager (keep this line at the very bottom of tmux.conf)
run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm'

Then press C-q I to download the packages

Common shortcut keys

Session management

Command/Shortcut key	Description
tmux new -s <name>	Create a new session named name
Ctrl+q d	Detach the current session (the session continues running in the background)
tmux ls	List all sessions
tmux attach -t <name>	Reattach to the specified session
Ctrl+q $	Rename the current session
Ctrl+q s	Switch session

Window management

Command/Shortcut key	Description
Ctrl+q c	Create a new window
Ctrl+q &	Close the current window
Ctrl+q n	Switch to the next window
Ctrl+q p	Switch to previous window
Ctrl+q <number>	Switch to the window with the specified number
Ctrl+q ,	Rename the current window

Pane management

Command/Shortcut key	Description
Ctrl+q %	Split the current pane vertically
Ctrl+q "	Split the current pane horizontally
Ctrl+q <arrow>	Move focus between panes
Ctrl+q x	Close the current pane
Ctrl+q z	Maximize/restore the current pane
Ctrl+q Space	Switch pane layout

history

In tmux, ‘history mode’ is copy-mode. Once you enter it, you can:

• Scroll through history with arrow keys (or C-p C-n)
• Scroll with the mouse wheel

Press:
Ctrl+q [