Where Is the tmux Config File?
tmux config file and plugin manager folders on Linux and macOS, with the reload shortcut.
Last updated
tmux reads one config file from home on server start. Plugins managed by TPM live in a .tmux folder next to it.
Config applies per server, not per window. Source the file or restart the server; new windows alone are not enough for some options.
Where tmux stores this, by platform
~/.tmux.conf
Main config file. TPM plugins live in ~/.tmux/plugins when installed. Prefix defaults to Ctrl-b unless remapped here.
~/.tmux.conf
Identical layout to Linux. Homebrew-installed tmux reads the same path.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reload tmux config without restarting?
Press prefix + R if bound, else run tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf. New panes and windows pick up changes; existing panes keep old environment variables regardless.
Where does TPM keep plugins?
TPM clones plugins into ~/.tmux/plugins and sources them from .tmux.conf. Delete a plugin folder and its config line to fully remove one.
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