How to create a window in tmux

Creating a new tmux window adds another full-screen workspace inside an existing tmux session. It is the clearest way to separate shells, editors, logs, or one-off commands without changing the pane layout in the window you are already using.

The new-window command creates the window at the next unused index unless you target a specific slot, and -n gives it a predictable label instead of leaving the name to the default shell or running command. When you are already attached to the session, the default shortcut Ctrl+b then c runs the same action in the current session.

Printing the result with -P confirms which session and window index tmux created, and list-windows shows whether the new window became current. The target session must already exist, and if your configuration changes base-index from the default 0, the same workflow still works but the first window number starts at your configured base instead.

1. Create the new window in the target session and print the created session and window identifier.

   $ tmux new-window -t work: -n logs -P -F '#{session_name}:#{window_index}:#{window_name}'
   work:1:logs

   The -t work: target tells tmux which session receives the new window, and omitting a window number lets tmux use the next unused index.

   If tmux returns can't find session: work, create or attach the session first so there is a real session to receive the new window.

2. List the windows in that session to confirm the new window exists and that tmux switched to it.

   $ tmux list-windows -t work
   0: shell- (1 panes) [80x24] [layout b25d,80x24,0,0,0] @0
   1: logs* (1 panes) [80x24] [layout b25e,80x24,0,0,1] @1 (active)

   The asterisk marks the current window, and sessions that keep the default base-index start numbering at 0.

3. Add -d when the new window should open in the background and leave the current window selected.

   $ tmux new-window -d -t work: -n app -P -F '#{window_index}:#{window_name}'
   2:app

   Add -c /path/to/project when the new window should start in a specific working directory instead of inheriting the current one.

4. List the windows again to confirm that the detached window exists without becoming current.

   $ tmux list-windows -t work
   0: shell- (1 panes) [80x24] [layout b25d,80x24,0,0,0] @0
   1: logs* (1 panes) [80x24] [layout b25e,80x24,0,0,1] @1 (active)
   2: app (1 panes) [80x24] [layout b25f,80x24,0,0,2] @2

   The asterisk stays on logs after -d creates app, which confirms that tmux added the window without switching to it.

   Related: How to move a window in tmux
   Related: How to attach to a tmux session