How to install tmux on Debian 12?

To get tmux up and running on Debian 12, you can follow a few simple terminal commands. This guide is for users who prefer minimal fluff and want to dive straight into installation and usage.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing anything, it’s a good idea to update your package list and existing packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This ensures your system has the latest security patches and package versions.

Step 2: Install tmux via APT

Debian 12 includes tmux in its official repositories, so you can install it directly using:

sudo apt install tmux -y

To verify the installation:

tmux -V

You should see something like:

tmux 3.4

(Version may vary depending on Debian’s repository at the time.)

Step 3: Start Using tmux

To launch a new tmux session, just type:

tmux

Now you’re inside a tmux session. From here, you can start managing multiple terminal windows in one interface.

Step 4: Basic tmux Shortcuts

Here are a few quick commands to help you navigate:

• Ctrl + b, then c: Create a new window

• Ctrl + b, then n: Next window

• Ctrl + b, then d: Detach session

• tmux attach: Reattach to a session

You can list active sessions with:

tmux ls

Step 5: Optional – Configure tmux with .tmux.conf

If you’re planning to use tmux daily, customizing it improves your experience. Create or edit the config file:

nano ~/.tmux.conf

Here’s a basic sample:

set -g mouse on
setw -g mode-keys vi
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Config reloaded!"

Then reload the config without restarting tmux:

tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf

Step 6: Installing the Latest Version (Optional)

If you want the latest tmux release (not the one in Debian’s stable repo), you can compile it manually:

Install dependencies first:

sudo apt install -y git automake build-essential pkg-config libevent-dev libncurses-dev

Clone the tmux repo:

git clone https://github.com/tmux/tmux.git
cd tmux

Build and install:

sh autogen.sh
./configure && make
sudo make install

Once done, verify with:

tmux -V

This should now reflect the latest version.