v3.6a — Available Now

The Terminal Multiplexer That
Powers Every Developer's Workflow.

Q: How do I install tmux on macOS?

To install tmux on macOS, the easiest method is using Homebrew. Run: brew install tmux. If you don't have Homebrew, install it first with: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)". Verify the installation with tmux -V.

Q: What is the difference between tmux and GNU Screen?

Unlike GNU Screen, tmux offers a modern client-server architecture that allows multiple clients to connect to the same session simultaneously. tmux has more active development, better Unicode support, a richer plugin ecosystem via TPM, and a more powerful scripting interface than GNU Screen. For most users, tmux is the recommended choice over GNU Screen.

tmux is a free and open-source terminal multiplexer for Unix-like operating systems that allows users to create, access, and control multiple terminal sessions from a single screen. It enables persistent sessions that continue running after disconnection, making it indispensable for remote server work, development workflows, and system administration. tmux is released under the ISC license and is available on Linux, macOS, and Windows via WSL.

Get Started View on GitHub

install_tmux.sh

What is tmux?

tmux (terminal multiplexer) is a command-line tool that lets you switch between several programs in one terminal, detach them (they keep running in the background), and reattach them to a different terminal. Unlike a standard terminal session, tmux sessions persist even when the SSH connection drops, making it the standard tool for long-running processes on remote servers. tmux organizes work into sessions, windows, and panes — a three-level hierarchy that gives users complete control over their terminal workspace.

Session Persistence

Detach from a session and reattach later from any machine. Your programs keep running in the background, making tmux perfect for remote server work and long compilations that must survive connection drops.

Split Panes

Divide your terminal window into multiple panes horizontally or vertically. Monitor logs, edit code, and run tests all in one high-visibility dashboard without switching windows.

Scriptable Automation

Automate your entire environment. Use shell scripts to spawn complex multi-window layouts instantly upon login or project startup — tmux is fully scriptable through its command interface.

A Complete Terminal Workspace Engine.

tmux gives you a professional set of tools to manage terminal sessions, windows, and panes with full, high-fidelity control over your workflow.

Core Architecture

Client-Server Model

tmux uses a robust client-server architecture. Multiple clients can attach to the same session simultaneously, enabling real-time pair programming and shared monitoring of production servers without latency.

Window Management

Create multiple windows per tmux session, just like browser tabs. Navigate between windows instantly, rename them for context, and organize complex projects by keeping each component in its own dedicated window. This level of organization is the hallmark of a professional terminal workflow.

Command Mode

Enter command mode with Ctrl+b : to execute powerful internal tmux commands. Manage windows, panes, and buffers with a few keystrokes without ever leaving your shell.

Plugin Ecosystem

Extend tmux with the Tmux Plugin Manager (TPM). Add session saving, clipboard integration, and theme management through a large community library of plugins.

Highly Configurable — `~/.tmux.conf`

Customize every key binding, the status bar, colors, pane borders, and behavior via a simple plain-text configuration file at ~/.tmux.conf. Don't like Ctrl+b? Rebind the prefix. Every single key in tmux is rebindable to match your muscle memory and enhance your speed.

📥 Install tmux

tmux is available on all major platforms via package managers or from source. Choose your OS to get started.

macOS

Linux

Windows (WSL)

Method	Command	Notes
Homebrew Recommended	`brew install tmux`	Latest stable release. Install Homebrew first if needed.
MacPorts	`sudo port install tmux`	Alternative to Homebrew.
Build from Source	`git clone https://github.com/tmux/tmux.git`	Full source guide →
Verify	`tmux -V`	Should print `tmux 3.6a`

Need detailed steps with iTerm2 tips and clipboard config? Full macOS Install Guide →

Distro / Method	Command
Ubuntu / Debian	`sudo apt update && sudo apt install tmux`
Fedora / RHEL / CentOS	`sudo dnf install tmux`
Arch Linux	`sudo pacman -S tmux`
Alpine Linux	`apk add tmux`
Snap (any distro)	`sudo snap install tmux --classic`
Build from Source	`git clone https://github.com/tmux/tmux.git`

Need version compatibility tables and troubleshooting? Full Linux Install Guide →

Method 1 — Recommended

WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

The best tmux experience on Windows. Enable WSL2 in PowerShell, install Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store, then run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install tmux

Method 2

MSYS2

Install MSYS2 from msys2.org, then install tmux via:

pacman -S tmux

Method 3

Cygwin

Install Cygwin and select the tmux package during setup. Note: WSL2 provides a more complete Unix experience.

Full WSL2 setup with Windows Terminal integration: Full Windows Install Guide →

tmux vs Screen vs Zellij vs Byobu

Unlike GNU Screen, tmux offers a modern, actively maintained codebase with a rich plugin ecosystem and superior pane management. Compared to Zellij, tmux has a larger community, more mature plugin support, and decades of battle-tested reliability on production servers. Unlike Byobu (which is a configuration wrapper that runs on top of tmux or Screen), tmux provides direct, low-level control over every aspect of terminal multiplexing.

Feature	tmux	GNU Screen	Zellij	Byobu
Active Development	✅ Yes	⚠️ Minimal	✅ Yes	⚠️ Depends on tmux
Plugin Ecosystem	✅ TPM (Extensive)	❌ None	⚠️ WebAssembly plugins	⚠️ Limited
Multi-Pane Splits	✅ Native & Advanced	⚠️ Limited	✅ Native	✅ Via tmux
Session Persistence	✅ High Reliability	✅ Native	✅ Yes	✅ Via tmux
Scripting / Automation	✅ Fully Scriptable	⚠️ Basic	⚠️ Limited	⚠️ Basic
Mouse Support	✅ Full	⚠️ Partial	✅ Full	✅ Full
Unicode / 256-color Support	✅ Modern Full	⚠️ Partial	✅ Modern Full	✅ Via tmux
Learning Curve	⚠️ Moderate	⚠️ Moderate	✅ Low (UI-first)	✅ Low
Windows Native Support	⚠️ Via WSL2	⚠️ Via Cygwin	✅ Native binary	⚠️ Via WSL2
Configuration Complexity	⚠️ Manual .tmux.conf	⚠️ Manual .screenrc	✅ GUI + YAML	✅ Low (pre-configured)

Full Comparison Guide →

Essential tmux Commands

The most-searched tmux commands and key bindings, ready to copy. All commands use the default Ctrl+b prefix.

tmux new-session -s mysession

Create a named new session

tmux ls

List all active sessions

tmux attach -t mysession

Attach to a named session

Ctrl+b d

Detach from current session

Ctrl+b %

Split window horizontally

Ctrl+b "

Split window vertically

tmux kill-session -t mysession

Kill a named session

Ctrl+b c

Create a new window

Full Commands Guide → View Full Cheat Sheet →

The tmux Plugin Ecosystem

The Tmux Plugin Manager (TPM) is the standard way to extend tmux. Install TPM once, then manage any community plugin with a single line in your ~/.tmux.conf.

Install TPM

# 1. Clone TPM into tmux plugins directory

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

# 2. Add to ~/.tmux.conf

$ echo "set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm'" >> ~/.tmux.conf

$ echo "run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm'" >> ~/.tmux.conf

# 3. Reload config, then press Ctrl+b I to install

$ tmux source ~/.tmux.conf

Plugin	Description	Install Snippet
tmux-resurrect	Save and restore tmux sessions across system restarts. `Ctrl+b Ctrl+s` to save, `Ctrl+b Ctrl+r` to restore.	`set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-resurrect'`
tmux-continuum	Automatic saving of tmux sessions every 15 minutes. Pairs with tmux-resurrect for seamless persistence.	`set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-continuum'`
tmux-sensible	A set of sensible tmux default settings that everyone can agree on. Start here if you're new to configuring tmux.	`set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible'`
tmux-yank	Copy to the system clipboard in tmux copy mode. Essential for macOS and Linux clipboard integration.	`set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-yank'`
tmux-fingers	Smart text picking — highlight URLs, IP addresses, file paths and open or copy them instantly.	`set -g @plugin 'Morantron/tmux-fingers'`
tmux-open	Open highlighted text or file paths in the default application — URLs open in browser, files in editor.	`set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-open'`
Oh My Tmux	A self-contained, opinionated tmux configuration framework with a beautiful status bar and sensible defaults.	`git clone https://github.com/gpakosz/.tmux.git`

Full Plugins Guide + TPM Reference →

Interactive .tmux.conf Generator

Configure your settings below and get a ready-to-use ~/.tmux.conf file instantly. No manual editing required.

Settings

Prefix Key

Mouse Mode

Enable mouse support

Vi Copy Mode

Use vi-style keys in copy mode

Status Bar Position

Status Refresh Interval: 5s

History Limit: 10000 lines

Base Index

Pane Border Style

Color Theme

~/.tmux.conf

Full Config Reference + All Options →

Explore All tmux Resources

📁

Sessions

Complete lifecycle guide

⌨️

Commands

Complete Reference Guide

📋

Cheat Sheet

Quick key bindings

⚙️

Config

~/.tmux.conf guide

🔌

Plugins

TPM & productivity

📖

Docs

Full technical portal

⚖️

Compare

Zellij, Screen, Byobu

🔧

Fix Bugs

Common troubleshooting

📥

Install Guides

🍎 🪟 🐧

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about tmux — answered definitively.

What is tmux and what is it used for?

tmux is a free and open-source terminal multiplexer for Unix-like systems that lets you run multiple terminal sessions inside a single window. tmux is used by developers, sysadmins, and DevOps engineers to keep processes running on remote servers even after disconnecting, to split their terminal into multiple panes for multitasking, and to build automated, scriptable development environments that launch instantly.

How do I install tmux on macOS?

To install tmux on macOS, use Homebrew: run brew install tmux in your terminal. If Homebrew is not installed, first run /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)". You can also install tmux via MacPorts with sudo port install tmux. Verify the installation by running tmux -V. See the full macOS tmux install guide for iTerm2 tips and clipboard integration.

How do I install tmux on Windows?

tmux runs natively on Unix-like systems, so on Windows the recommended approach is WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Enable WSL2 in PowerShell with wsl --install, install Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store, then run sudo apt update && sudo apt install tmux inside WSL2. Alternatively, use MSYS2 and run pacman -S tmux. See the full Windows tmux install guide for Windows Terminal integration tips.

What is the difference between tmux and GNU Screen?

Unlike GNU Screen, tmux uses a client-server architecture that allows multiple clients to connect to the same session simultaneously, enabling real-time pair programming. tmux has a more active development community, better Unicode and 256-color support, native pane splitting (Screen's pane support is limited), and a large plugin ecosystem via TPM. GNU Screen is older and still works, but for most users starting today, tmux is the recommended choice over GNU Screen.

How do I detach from a tmux session without killing it?

To detach from a tmux session without killing it, press Ctrl+b then d. This sends the detach command to tmux and returns you to your normal shell prompt. The tmux session and all programs running inside it continue running in the background. You can reattach later with tmux attach or tmux attach -t session-name.

How do I reattach to a tmux session?

To reattach to a tmux session, run tmux attach (reattaches to the most recent session) or tmux attach -t mysession to reattach to a named session. First list all available sessions with tmux ls. You can reattach from any terminal — even over SSH from a different machine — as long as the tmux server is still running on the host.

How do I change the tmux prefix key from Ctrl+b to Ctrl+a?

To change the tmux prefix key from Ctrl+b to Ctrl+a, add the following to your ~/.tmux.conf file:

unbind C-b
set -g prefix C-a
bind C-a send-prefix

Then reload the configuration with tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf or Ctrl+b : followed by source-file ~/.tmux.conf. Ctrl+a is the traditional GNU Screen prefix and is popular among Screen users.

tmux not working — common fixes

Common tmux issues and fixes:

tmux: command not found — tmux is not installed. Install it with your package manager (e.g., brew install tmux on macOS).

no server running on /tmp/tmux-XXXX/default — No tmux server is running. Start a new session with tmux new.

Colors not displaying correctly — Add set -g default-terminal "screen-256color" or "tmux-256color" to your ~/.tmux.conf.

Clipboard not working on macOS — Install the tmux-yank plugin or add set -g mouse on to enable terminal-native selection.

What is TPM (Tmux Plugin Manager) and how do I install it?

TPM (Tmux Plugin Manager) is the standard plugin manager for tmux, similar to Vim-Plug for Neovim. To install TPM, run: git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm. Then add set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm' and run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm' to the bottom of your ~/.tmux.conf. Reload the config and press Ctrl+b I inside tmux to install plugins. Use Ctrl+b U to update and Ctrl+b alt+u to remove unused plugins.

How do I make tmux sessions survive a reboot?

By default, tmux sessions do not survive a system reboot because the tmux server process is killed. To persist sessions across reboots, use the tmux-resurrect plugin (set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-resurrect') to manually save sessions with Ctrl+b Ctrl+s and restore with Ctrl+b Ctrl+r. Pair it with tmux-continuum (set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-continuum' with set -g @continuum-restore 'on') for fully automatic session saving and restoration every 15 minutes.