Zellij Cheatsheet

Complete Zellij command reference — searchable, fast, always free

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Click or hover any command for a description & example

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 mode
Ctrl+qQuit Zellij
Normal Mode — Alt+ Quick Keys
Alt+h / Alt+←Focus pane left
Alt+j / Alt+↓Focus pane down
Alt+k / Alt+↑Focus pane up
Alt+l / Alt+→Focus pane right
Alt+[Previous tab
Alt+]Next tab
Alt+1–9Go to tab N
Alt+nNew pane (quick)
Alt+fToggle floating panes
Alt+HResize pane left
Alt+JResize pane down
Alt+KResize pane up
Alt+LResize pane right
Pane Management (Ctrl+p → key)
h / ←Focus pane left
j / ↓Focus pane down
k / ↑Focus pane up
l / →Focus pane right
nNew pane
dNew pane (split down)
rNew pane (split right)
xClose pane
fToggle fullscreen
zToggle floating pane
eEmbed / un-embed pane
cRename pane
wToggle pane frames
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
jMove pane to prev tab
kMove pane to next 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
g / HomeGo to top
G / EndGo to bottom
/Search scrollback
nNext search match
pPrevious search match
eEdit scrollback in $EDITOR
Session Management (Ctrl+o → key)
dDetach from session
wOpen session manager
cCreate new session
sSwitch session
xKill session
rRename session
CLI Commands
zellijStart Zellij
zellij -l <layout>Start with a layout
zellij -s <name>Start / attach named session
zellij attach <name>Attach to 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 / compactBuilt-in layouts
~/.config/zellij/layouts/Custom layout directory
~/.config/zellij/config.kdlConfig file location
$ZELLIJ_CONFIG_DIROverride config directory
zellij setup --generate-auto-startAuto-start shell integration
zellij -l compactCompact (no status bar)
command "<shell>"Set pane shell in layout
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/Session cache directory
~/.config/zellij/plugins/Plugin directory
zellij -l striderBuilt-in file explorer (Strider)