wtmux review
A free, open-source Windows multiplexer for persistent local sessions and flexible pane control.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
wtmux is a native Windows terminal multiplexer for running multiple shell sessions in one terminal window. It is designed for Windows users who want tmux-style session, window, and pane management across PowerShell, Bash, WSL, cmd.exe, or Nushell. Sessions can be named, detached into the background, reattached, renamed, listed, or terminated, while multiple windows can be managed within each session. The command-line interface works with Windows Terminal, and the project targets Windows 10 version 2004 and later.
Its strongest area is terminal organization. wtmux supports horizontal and vertical pane splits, navigation, resizing, zooming, rearrangement, and pane synchronization. It also supports VT, ANSI, Unicode, mouse, clipboard, hyperlink, and status-bar functionality. Users can read .wtmux.conf or .tmux.conf files, extend behavior through built-in and COM-based plugins, and save or restore session window and pane layouts. These capabilities make it a practical fit for users moving between multiple shells or recreating repeatable local terminal arrangements.
The main trade-off is the scope of persistence and platform support. Sessions persist locally while the server remains alive, but they do not survive a Windows restart or server shutdown, so wtmux is not suited to workflows that require recovery after those events. It is also Windows-only rather than a cross-platform multiplexer. The open-source model and native single-file distribution suit Windows users seeking tmux compatibility without a paid tier, while users needing persistent sessions across system restarts or support for other operating systems should choose an alternative.
wtmux pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Create, detach, reattach, rename, and terminate terminal sessions
- Split, resize, zoom, rearrange, and synchronize panes
- Supports tmux configuration files, plugins, and saved layouts
- Where it doesn't
- Runs only on Windows 10 version 2004 and later
- Local sessions do not survive a Windows restart
- Sessions end when the wtmux server shuts down
wtmux fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update