Tmux Session Management: Create, List, Attach, Detach, End & Quit
TL;DR — Start a session with tmux new -s mysession, detach with Ctrl+b then d, list with tmux ls, return with tmux attach -t mysession, and end it with tmux kill-session -t mysession.
What a tmux session actually is
A tmux session is a workspace owned by a background tmux server. Every window and pane lives inside a session, and the session keeps running after you close the terminal or drop an SSH connection. This is why tmux is the standard tool for long-running work on remote machines.
Session commands at a glance
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Create a session | |
| Create a named session | |
| Create detached (no terminal attached) | |
| List sessions | |
| Attach to an unattached session | |
| Attach to a named session | |
| Detach from inside tmux | Ctrl+b then d |
| Kill one session | |
| Kill every session (and the server) | |
See session management in action
The recording starts at a shell prompt in an empty ~/example directory: it creates a named session, detaches with Ctrl+b d, lists the session from the shell, reattaches, then ends one session with kill-session and everything with kill-server.
Frequently asked questions
How do I list tmux sessions?
Run tmux ls, the shortcut for tmux list-sessions. It prints one line per session with the window count and whether a client is attached. Use tmux ls -F with format strings such as #{session_name} when you only need specific fields.
How do I create a named tmux session?
Run tmux new -s mysession (long form: tmux new-session -s mysession). It creates the session and attaches your terminal to it. Add -d to create it detached, for example tmux new -d -s logs when a background job should keep running.
What is the difference between detaching and killing a session?
Detaching (Ctrl+b then d, or tmux detach-client) disconnects your terminal while the session and every program inside it keep running. Killing (tmux kill-session -t mysession) destroys the session and its unshared windows, with no confirmation and no way to undo it.
Why did my tmux session disappear?
A session ends when its last pane closes (typing exit or pressing Ctrl+d in the final shell), when it is killed with kill-session, or when the server stops, for example tmux kill-server or a reboot. Detaching or losing SSH normally leaves the session running.
How do I rename a tmux session?
From inside it, press Ctrl+b then $ and type the new name, or run tmux rename-session newname. From a shell, name the target explicitly: tmux rename-session -t mysession newname.
Can two clients attach to the same session?
Yes. tmux attach -t mysession from a second terminal adds another client to the same session, and both terminals see the same windows. Use tmux attach -d -t mysession to take the session over and detach other clients.
Keep going with the full list in tmux commands and build a starting config with the tmux config generator.