tmux Cheatsheet (WSL)

Custom Prefix: Ctrl + Space
Config file: ~/.config/tmux/tmux.conf

Quick Start

tmux                  # Start new session
tmux new -s name      # Named session
tmux attach -t name   # Attach
tmux ls               # List sessions
tmux kill-session -t name

Core Shortcuts

Action	Shortcut	Notes
New window (tab)	Prefix + c
Next window	Prefix + n
Previous window	Prefix + p
Switch window	Prefix + 0-9
Rename window	Prefix + ,
Kill window	Prefix + &	Confirm y
Split vertical	Prefix + %
Split horizontal	Prefix + “
Switch panes	Prefix + Arrow
Zoom pane	Prefix + z	Toggle
Kill pane	Prefix + x	Confirm y
Detach session	Prefix + d
Reload config	Prefix + r

Working Directory & Duplication

Action	Command / Shortcut
New window in current folder	Prefix + c (with config)
Duplicate current tab (same folder)	Prefix + C (recommended binding)
One-time duplicate	Prefix + : → new-window -c ”#{pane_current_path}“
New session in specific folder	tmux new -s name -c /path/to/folder
Split keeping current folder	Prefix + | or Prefix + - (with config)

Recommended tmux.conf (add to ~/.config/tmux/tmux.conf)

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

set -g mouse on
set -g base-index 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1
set -g renumber-windows on
set -s escape-time 0
set -g history-limit 50000

# Smart directory behavior
bind c new-window -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind C new-window -c "#{pane_current_path}"   # Duplicate current window
bind | split-window -h -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind - split-window -v -c "#{pane_current_path}"

# Reload config
bind r source-file ~/.config/tmux/tmux.conf \; display "Config reloaded!"

Aliases (add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc)

Bash

alias tmux="tmux -f ~/.config/tmux/tmux.conf"

Tip: After editing config, reload with Prefix + r or restart tmux.