Master tmux: Essential Commands and Keyboard Shortcuts for Linux

tmux (terminal multiplexer) is a powerful tool on Linux that lets you manage multiple terminal sessions within a single screen. It supports creating, detaching, attaching, renaming, and killing sessions, as well as managing windows and panes.

Session Commands

tmux new -s <session_name>

– create a new session. tmux detach -s <session_name> – detach a session (or press Ctrl+d inside the session). tmux ls or tmux list-sessions – list existing sessions. tmux attach -t <session_name> – re‑attach to a session. tmux kill-session -t <session_name> – terminate a session. tmux switch -t <session_name> or tmux switch -t <session_id> – switch between sessions. tmux rename-session -t <old_id> <new_name> – rename a session.

Window Operations

tmux new-window

– create a new window in the current session. tmux new-window -n <window_name> – create and name a new window. tmux select-window -t <N> – switch to window number N. tmux select-window -t <window_name> – switch to a named window. tmux rename-window <new_name> – rename the current window. tmux kill-window -t <target> – close a window (by number or name).

Window Keyboard Shortcuts (prefix Ctrl+b )

Ctrl+b c

– create a new window. Ctrl+b & – close the current window. Ctrl+b p – go to the previous window. Ctrl+b n – go to the next window. Ctrl+b l – toggle between the last two windows. Ctrl+b w – list windows for selection. Ctrl+b , – rename the current window. Ctrl+b q – show window numbers.

Pane (Panel) Operations

tmux split-window

– split the current pane horizontally (top/bottom). tmux split-window -h – split the current pane vertically (left/right). tmux kill-pane – close the current pane. tmux select-pane -U – move focus up. tmux select-pane -D – move focus down. tmux select-pane -L – move focus left. tmux select-pane -R – move focus right. tmux swap-pane -U – move the current pane up. tmux swap-pane -D – move the current pane down.

Pane Keyboard Shortcuts (prefix Ctrl+b )

Ctrl+b %

– split vertically. Ctrl+b " – split horizontally. Ctrl+b x – close the current pane. Ctrl+b ; – switch to the previous pane. Ctrl+b o – switch to the next pane. Ctrl+b { – move pane left. Ctrl+b } – move pane right. Ctrl+b z – toggle pane fullscreen. Ctrl+b q – display pane numbers.

Linux Network Interface Identification

If you have multiple NICs and need to know which physical port corresponds to eth0, eth1, etc., use: ethtool -p eth0 The command makes the physical port’s LED flash, allowing you to match the interface name to the hardware. Install ethtool via your package manager if it is missing.