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Asked: 2024-09-25T03:54:49+05:30 In:

I’m encountering an issue with tmux on Ubuntu 16.04 where the copy mode functionality isn’t working as expected. Can anyone provide guidance on troubleshooting this problem or share potential solutions?

I’m having a frustrating time with tmux on my Ubuntu 16.04 system. I’ve been trying to use the copy mode, but it’s just not functioning the way I expect it to. I’ve hit a wall, and I could really use some help on this.

So, here’s the situation: I usually use tmux to manage multiple terminal sessions, which is super handy. However, when I press the default key combination (Ctrl-b followed by [), I expect to be able to scroll back and copy text, but it doesn’t seem to trigger the copy mode at all. It just doesn’t respond, and this is making it tough to copy commands or parts of my terminal output.

I read some forums and tried a couple of things. For starters, I double-checked my tmux configuration file (i.e., .tmux.conf) to see if there were any custom bindings that might be interfering. I commented out a couple of lines I thought could be the problem, but still no luck. Also, I rebooted my session just to be sure it wasn’t a temporary glitch. I even tried it in a fresh sudo tmux session, but nothing changed.

I also checked if my terminal emulator was causing any issues. I switched from gnome-terminal to xterm, and surprisingly, I still faced the same problem with the copy mode. This has led me to question whether I accidentally created a conflict with another setting or maybe it’s a compatibility issue since I’m running a slightly older version of Ubuntu.

Has anyone else run into this before? I’d really appreciate any tips or troubleshooting steps. Maybe there’s a specific configuration or command that I’m overlooking? Any advice on potential solutions would be amazing. I just want to get this thing working again without having to rearrange my entire setup or do a fresh install of Ubuntu. Thanks!

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    2 Answers


    1. The issue you are encountering with tmux not entering copy mode might stem from a few possible sources. First, ensure that your terminal emulator is set up to support tmux key bindings. Some terminal emulators may not correctly send the necessary key sequences when you use tmux. You might want to test different options in your terminal settings or try resetting to the default settings. Additionally, confirm that there are no conflicting keyboard shortcuts defined in your system or the terminal itself that might override the tmux bindings. It can also be helpful to explicitly specify your key bindings in your ~/.tmux.conf file by adding lines such as `bind -T copy-mode-vi v begin-selection` and `bind -T copy-mode-vi y copy-selection`. Ensure you reload your tmux configuration with `tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf`.

      Another common reason for this issue may be related to the terminal multiplexer’s mode configuration. Check whether you have set `set-option -g default-terminal “screen-256color”` in your .tmux.conf file, which can help with terminal compatibility. Moreover, you should test if using another method to enter copy mode, such as binding a different key combination (e.g., `bind c copy-mode`), resolves the issue effectively. If you continue to experience problems, running `tmux -vv` can provide verbose logging information to help debug the issue further. By examining the logs, you can identify any errors or misconfigurations that might be occurring during the startup of your tmux session. If none of these suggestions resolve your issue, consider upgrading tmux, as newer versions may include bug fixes that address compatibility issues with your environment.





    2. Troubleshooting tmux Copy Mode on Ubuntu


      Troubleshooting tmux Copy Mode on Ubuntu

      It sounds like you’re really stuck with the tmux copy mode issue! That can be so annoying, especially if you’re used to the convenience of tmux for managing your terminal sessions.

      Here are a couple of things you can try to fix the copy mode not working. First, let’s make sure your .tmux.conf has the right settings. You can add these lines to your configuration file if they are missing:

      set -g mouse on
bind -Tcopy-mode-vi v begin-selection
bind -Tcopy-mode-vi y copy-selection

      After editing your config file, don’t forget to reload it! You can do that with the following command inside your tmux session:

      tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf

      If that still doesn’t work, it could help to check your terminal settings. Some terminal emulators have their own key bindings that might interfere. Try using another terminal, or checking the preferences to see if there’s anything set for Ctrl-b.

      Sometimes, tmux sessions might not respond the way we expect due to other keyboard shortcuts being in play, so also check if you have any desktop environment shortcuts that might be conflicting!

      Just in case you’re missing the copy paste method, once you’re in copy mode, use the arrow keys or hjkl keys if you are familiar with vim-style navigation, to go to the text you want to copy. Then press Space to start selecting text, navigate to the end of the text, and hit Enter to copy it.

      If none of this helps, a last resort could be to completely uninstall and reinstall tmux just to reset everything. You can do that with these commands:

      sudo apt remove tmux
sudo apt install tmux

      Hope this helps you get back to copying text in tmux without any hitches! Good luck!


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