How to install tmux on Windows Server 2025

What you will read?

1 Method 1: Using WSL (Recommended)
2 Method 2: Using Cygwin (Alternative)
3 Optional: Make Tmux Available Globally (WSL Only)

Tmux doesn’t natively support Windows, and that’s still true in Windows Server 2025. However, there are a couple of reliable workarounds that let you run Tmux smoothly using WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) or via Cygwin/

Method 1: Using WSL (Recommended)

The easiest and cleanest way to get Tmux running is through WSL. Here’s how to do it:

1. Enable WSL on Windows Server 2025

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

wsl --install

This installs the default Ubuntu distribution. If you already have WSL but not Ubuntu:

wsl --install -d Ubuntu

You might need a reboot after installation.

2. Launch Ubuntu and Update Packages

Open the Ubuntu terminal and update everything:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

3. Install Tmux

Now simply run:

sudo apt install tmux -y

Verify the installation:

tmux -V

You should see something like:

tmux 3.4

4. Start Using Tmux

Just type tmux in the Ubuntu terminal. You’re now inside a tmux session. You can:

Create a new window: Ctrl+b then c
Switch windows: Ctrl+b then number key
Detach from session: Ctrl+b then d

To reattach:

tmux attach

Method 2: Using Cygwin (Alternative)

If you don’t want WSL for some reason, you can use Cygwin, though it’s slightly more complicated and less integrated.

1. Download and Install Cygwin

Go to the official site: https://www.cygwin.com
Download setup-x86_64.exe and run it.

During the package selection, make sure to include:

gcc-core
make
ncurses
git
tmux

You can search each of these and check the box under “Bin”.

2. Finish Installation and Launch Cygwin Terminal

After Cygwin is done installing, open its terminal and verify Tmux:

tmux -V

To start:

tmux

Note: Performance and keybindings might feel different under Cygwin compared to a native Linux environment.

Optional: Make Tmux Available Globally (WSL Only)

If you want to launch WSL and tmux directly from a Windows command prompt or shortcut:

wsl tmux

You can even create a .bat file on your desktop:

@echo off
wsl tmux

Save it as start_tmux.bat and double-click to launch tmux in WSL instantly.