wtmux

Paid Windows

What wtmux is

wtmux is a free, open-source terminal multiplexer for Windows. It places multiple terminal sessions in one window, with named windows, detachable sessions, horizontal and vertical pane splits, navigation, resizing, and zoom. Sessions can continue in the background and be detached or reattached, although live processes end after a Windows restart or server shutdown. The terminal handles VT and ANSI sequences, Unicode, mouse input, application terminal modes, hyperlinks, and clipboard integration. Clipboard writes are policy-controlled: external clipboard integration is allowed by default, while pane-originated OSC 52 requests are rejected. Configuration comes from ~/.wtmux.conf or, as a fallback, ~/.tmux.conf, using a subset of tmux syntax; unsupported options may be silently ignored. Plugins use COM interfaces and MSIX AppExtensions and can be written in C#, C++, or Rust. wtmux targets Windows 10 version 2004 or later, uses ConPTY, and is distributed through the Microsoft Store as an MSIX package. A DSC v3 resource can manage global options declaratively.

Who it suits

wtmux suits Windows users who want native terminal multiplexing without WSL, including people needing detachable sessions and pane management. It also fits users interested in COM-based plugin extensibility.

What it does well

Free and open source under the MIT license
Detachable sessions, named windows, and pane controls
Supports Unicode, mouse input, hyperlinks, and clipboard
COM and MSIX AppExtensions support plugins
Works with Windows 10 version 2004 or later

What to know first

Processes do not survive restart or shutdown
Copy mode and pane layouts are unsupported in comparison
Many tmux options may be silently ignored
Automatic AppExtension discovery is not enabled

Verdict

wtmux offers native Windows session and pane management with a broad terminal feature set. Its persistence boundary and partial tmux compatibility should be considered before moving existing configurations.

Facts from wtmux's own pages

Clipboard controls: Clipboard writes from pane applications are policy-controlled; the default allows external clipboard integration while rejecting pane-originated OSC 52 requests. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Compatibility: The comparison page lists Windows 10 version 2004 or later as the minimum supported Windows version. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Configuration: wtmux reads ~/.wtmux.conf or, as a fallback, ~/.tmux.conf, with support for a subset of tmux configuration syntax. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Distribution: The comparison page says wtmux is distributed through the Microsoft Store using MSIX packaging with a Windows execution alias. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Integrations: The maker documents a DSC v3 resource for declaratively managing global wtmux options through WinGet Configuration or DSC v3. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Intended users: The maker recommends wtmux for people who want a native Windows terminal multiplexer without WSL, Native AOT performance, or COM-based plugin extensibility. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
License: The comparison page lists wtmux's license as MIT. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Notable limits: The comparison page says hooks, control mode, session groups, and some advanced key-binding features are not implemented. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Pane and session features: It supports session and window management, horizontal and vertical pane splits, pane navigation, resizing, and zoom. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Persistence limit: Live processes do not survive a Windows restart or server shutdown. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Plugin discovery limit: Automatic discovery of installed AppExtensions is not yet enabled, according to the release notes. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Plugins: wtmux has a COM-based plugin system and built-in plugins; automatic discovery of installed AppExtensions is not yet enabled. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: wtmux runs multiple terminal sessions in one window, with panes, named windows, and detachable sessions. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Security: The control named pipe is scoped to the current user's SID, access is restricted to that user and SYSTEM, and the client checks the pipe endpoint's owner. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Session lifetime: Sessions run in the background and can be detached and reattached, but live processes do not survive a Windows restart or server shutdown. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Terminal features: It supports VT and ANSI sequences, Unicode, mouse input, application terminal modes, hyperlinks, and clipboard integration. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Terminal safety: The site describes policy-controlled OSC 8 hyperlinks and OSC 52 clipboard writes, with terminal-frame sanitization and validation of hyperlinks before they reach the host terminal. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
tmux compatibility limits: The maker warns that many unsupported tmux options are silently ignored and complex tmux configurations may need adaptation. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Windows support: wtmux targets Windows 10 version 2004 or later and uses the Windows ConPTY runtime. · shmuelie.github.io, 11 Oct 2026

Where wtmux stands on Freedom251

Terminal Multiplexers#29 of 29