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Byobu Commands
Byobu Commands
==============
byobu Screen manager
Level 0 Commands (Quick Start)
------------------------------
<F2> Create a new window
<F3> Go to the previous window
<F4> Go to the next window
exit Close the current window
Level 1 Commands
----------------
<ctrl> a S (capital S, please!) Split the current region
horizontally into two new
ones
<ctrl> a | Split the current region
vertically into two new ones
<ctrl> a <tab> Go to the next region
<ctrl> a X (capital X, please!) Close the current region
<ctrl> a Resize the current region using the
options given below:
:resize +N Increase the height of the current
region by N
:resize -N Decrease the height of the current
region by N
:resize N Set the height of the current region
to N
:resize = Make all regions equally high
:resize max Maximize the height of the current
region
:resize min Minimize the height of the current
region
<ctrl> a x Lock the terminal
<F8> Rename the current window
Level 2 Commands (Faster Alternatives)
--------------------------------------
<ctrl> a \ Kill all the windows and terminate
the session
This is an alternative to typing
"exit" in each window
<ctrl> a <N> Go to window number N
This is an alternative to the <F3>
and <F4> commands
<ctrl> a " Present a list of all windows for
selection
This is an alternative to the <F3>
and <F4> commands
<ctrl> a <ctrl> a Toggle to the previously displayed
window
This is an alternative to the <F3>
and <F4> commands
Help
----
1) man screen
2) <ctrl> a ?
3) Press <F9>, then choose the "Help" option
F Key Commands
----
F2: Create a new window
F3: Move to the previous window
F4: Move to the next window
F5: Refresh all status notifications
F6: Detach from the session and logout
Shift-F6: Detach from the session, but do not logout
F7: Enter scrollback/search mode
F8: Rename the current window
F9: Launch the Byobu Configuration Menu
F12: GNU Screen's Escape Key
Alt-Pageup: Scroll back through this window's history
Alt-Pagedown: Scroll forward through this window's history
Shift-F2: Split the screen horizontally
Ctrl-F2: Split the screen vertically
Shift-F3: Move focus to the next split
Shift-F4: Move focus to the previous split
Shift-F5: Collapse all splits
Ctrl-F5: Reconnect any SSH/GPG sockets or agents
Shift-F12: Toggle all of Byobu's keybindings on or off
@goeland86
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How to leave the scrollback mode? There is no explicit command for that.

q or Ctrl-C will do the trick.

@g1ll
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g1ll commented Aug 14, 2020

Great summary! Thanks!
I'd just add an easier way to resize current region manually with arrows keys: <ctrl> a + <ctrl> + arrows keys (←↑↓→)
; )

@joselluis7
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What a great summary

@bifrostcli
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Thanks for this.

@KillyMXI
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KillyMXI commented Jan 1, 2022

Shift+F8 is the combination I keep forgetting and searching for again and again.
It's toggle between split arrangements.

@moly7x
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moly7x commented Jun 18, 2022

To select your default Byobu backend window manager
byobu-select-backend [screen|tmux]

Byobu with tmux back end

To start a new Byobu session with a specified name:
byobu new -s <session-name>

To change the name of a pre-existing session:
byobu rename -t <session-name> <new-session-name>

Byobu with screen back end

To start a new Byobu session with a specified name:
byobu -S <session-name>

To change the name of a pre-existing session:
byobu -X <session-name> <new-session-name>

From
Name a Byobu session?
Byobu - what do the numbers mean?

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