Configuration happens in ~/.tmux.conf. Tmux reads this file on startup. Reload it anytime without restarting tmux by running tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf or pressing Ctrl+B :source-file ~/.tmux.conf in command mode.
Change the prefix key from Ctrl+B to Ctrl+A:
set-option -g prefix C-a unbind-key C-b bind-key C-a send-prefix
Enable 256 color terminal:
set-option -g default-terminal "screen-256color"
Enable mouse support:
set-option -g mouse on
Customize status bar colors:
set-option -g status-bg black set-option -g status-fg white set-option -g status-left " #S " set-option -g status-right "%H:%M %d-%b-%y "
Use vi keys in copy mode:
set-window-option -g mode-keys vi
Start window and pane numbering at 1 instead of 0:
set-option -g base-index 1 set-window-option -g pane-base-index 1
Automatic window renaming:
set-window-option -g automatic-rename on
Bind Ctrl+L to clear the screen without needing the prefix:
bind-key -n C-l send-keys -R 'clear' Enter
Bind prefix v to split horizontally (intuitive for vim users):
bind-key v split-window -h
Bind prefix s to split vertically:
bind-key s split-window -v
Use the -n flag for bindings that don't require the prefix. Use -r to make a binding repeatable (hold down the prefix key and keep pressing).
After editing ~/.tmux.conf, reload it:
$ tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf
Or from within a session:
Ctrl+B :source-file ~/.tmux.conf Enter
Option names can be abbreviated: set-option → set, set-window-option → setw, bind-key → bind.