How to Scroll Terminal Output in tmux

tmux is a versatile terminal multiplexer that allows you to manage multiple terminal sessions seamlessly. One valuable feature of tmux is its ability to scroll through terminal output, which is crucial for reviewing lengthy logs or outputs. This guide will walk you through the steps on how to scroll terminal output in tmux, ensuring you can efficiently navigate through your terminal output.

If you’re working with extensive terminal output, tmux provides a convenient way to scroll through text. Knowing how to scroll terminal output in tmux can make it easier to review and analyze information. In this guide, we will cover how to use tmux‘s scroll mode effectively.

Enter Scroll Mode:

• Press Ctrl + b to initiate the tmux command prompt.
• Immediately press the [ key. This activates scroll mode, allowing you to navigate through the terminal output.

Navigate Through the Output:

• Use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to scroll through the output line by line.
• Utilize the Page Up and Page Down keys to scroll by entire pages of text. This method is especially useful for large outputs.

Exit Scroll Mode:

• Once you have finished reviewing, press q to exit scroll mode and return to the regular terminal view.

Customize Scrollback Buffer: To handle more output, you can increase the scrollback buffer size in tmux. Edit your ~/.tmux.conf file and add set -g history-limit 10000 (or another desired number). This adjustment helps in managing more extensive terminal output effectively.

Use Multiple Panes: Consider using tmux‘s split panes feature to monitor multiple outputs simultaneously. This can enhance your workflow by allowing you to view and interact with various outputs at once.

For more advanced tmux usage and customization, check out these resources:

• tmux GitHub Repository
• tmux Manual Page