Zellij Cheatsheet

Complete Zellij command reference. Searchable, fast, always free

Keybindings shown are Zellij defaults and may differ based on your config. Click to customize any binding

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⌨️ Key labels:
NRM Normal PNE Pane TAB Tab SCR Scroll
Modes & Mode Entry
Ctrl+pEnter Pane mode
Ctrl+tEnter Tab mode
Ctrl+nEnter Resize mode
Ctrl+hEnter Move mode
Ctrl+sEnter Scroll mode
Ctrl+oEnter Session mode
Ctrl+gToggle Locked mode
Esc / EnterReturn to Normal (most modes)
Ctrl+qQuit Zellij
Normal Mode: Alt+ Quick Keys
Alt+h / Alt+←Focus pane left (or prev tab)
Alt+j / Alt+↓Focus pane down
Alt+k / Alt+↑Focus pane up
Alt+l / Alt+→Focus pane right (or next tab)
Alt+nNew pane (quick)
Alt+fToggle floating panes
Alt+iMove tab left
Alt+oMove tab right
Alt+[Previous swap layout
Alt+]Next swap layout
Alt+= / Alt++Resize pane (increase)
Alt+-Resize pane (decrease)
Alt+pToggle pane in group
Pane Management (Ctrl+p → key)
h / ←Focus pane left
j / ↓Focus pane down
k / ↑Focus pane up
l / →Focus pane right
pCycle pane focus
nNew pane
dNew pane (split down)
rNew pane (split right)
sNew pane (stacked)
xClose pane
fToggle fullscreen
zToggle pane frames
wToggle floating panes
eEmbed / un-embed pane
cRename pane
iToggle pin pane
Tab Management (Ctrl+t → key)
h / ←Previous tab
l / →Next tab
nNew tab
xClose tab
rRename tab
sToggle sync tabs
bBreak pane to new tab
[Break pane to left tab
]Break pane to right tab
TabToggle last tab
1-9Go to tab N
Resize Panes (Ctrl+n → key)
h / ←Grow pane left
j / ↓Grow pane down
k / ↑Grow pane up
l / →Grow pane right
HShrink pane left
JShrink pane down
KShrink pane up
LShrink pane right
+Increase size
-Decrease size
Move Panes (Ctrl+h → key)
h / ←Move pane left
j / ↓Move pane down
k / ↑Move pane up
l / →Move pane right
nMove pane to next position
pMove pane to prev position
Scroll & Search (Ctrl+s → key)
j / ↓Scroll down
k / ↑Scroll up
Ctrl+f / PageDownPage down
Ctrl+b / PageUpPage up
dHalf page down
uHalf page up
(no default key)Go to top of scrollback
Ctrl+cGo to bottom (and exit)
sSearch scrollback
nNext search match (Search mode)
pPrev search match (Search mode)
cToggle case sensitivity (Search mode)
wToggle search wrap (Search mode)
oToggle whole-word match (Search mode)
eEdit scrollback in $EDITOR
Session Management (Ctrl+o → key)
dDetach from session
wOpen session manager
cOpen configuration UI
pOpen plugin manager
lOpen layout manager
sOpen share UI
aAbout Zellij
CLI Commands
zellijStart Zellij
zellij -l <layout>Start with a layout
zellij -s <name>Start new named session
zellij attach <name>Attach to session
zellij attach -c <name>Attach or create session
zellij list-sessionsList sessions
zellij lsList sessions (short)
zellij kill-session <name>Kill a session
zellij kill-all-sessionsKill all sessions
zellij delete-session <name>Delete session
zellij delete-all-sessionsDelete all sessions
zellij setup --dump-configPrint default config
zellij setup --dump-layout <name>Print built-in layout
Layouts & Configuration
default, compact, strider, classic, disable-status-barBuilt-in layouts
~/.config/zellij/layouts/Custom layout directory
~/.config/zellij/config.kdlConfig file location
$ZELLIJ_CONFIG_DIROverride config directory
$ZELLIJ_CONFIG_FILEOverride config file
zellij setup --generate-auto-start <shell>Auto-start shell integration
zellij -l compactCompact one-line bar
command "<program>"Run a program in a pane
zellij --versionShow version
Plugins & Tips
$ZELLIJDetect if inside Zellij
$ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAMECurrent session name
zellij action <action>Send action from CLI
zellij action new-tab --name <name>New tab (via action)
zellij action close-paneClose pane (via action)
~/.cache/zellij/Cache directory (Linux)
~/.local/share/zellij/plugins/Default plugin location (data dir)
zellij -l striderBuilt-in file explorer (Strider)
tmux → Zellij Translation
prefix + " → Ctrl+p, dSplit pane (top/bottom)
prefix + % → Ctrl+p, rSplit pane (left/right)
prefix + c → Ctrl+t, nNew window / tab
prefix + n/p → Ctrl+t, l/hNext / prev window
prefix + d → Ctrl+o, dDetach from session
prefix + [ → Ctrl+sEnter scroll / copy mode
prefix + z → Ctrl+p, fZoom / fullscreen pane
prefix + x → Ctrl+p, xKill pane
prefix + ←↓↑→ → Alt+h/j/k/lNavigate panes (no prefix needed)
prefix + $ → Ctrl+o, w, Ctrl+rRename session
new-session -s → zellij -sCreate named session
attach-session → zellij attachAttach to session
kill-session → zellij kill-sessionKill session
list-sessions → zellij lsList sessions
✎ Custom bindings: