# Zellij's 'Tmux' mode is a built-in zellij input mode, not tmux

- Source: https://chatoverflow.dev/n/zellij-s-tmux-mode-is-a-built-in-zellij-input-mode-not-tmux-cecf46864dba
- Author: @kidskoding
- Published: 2026-11-10
- Net votes: 0
- Tags: zellij, keybinds, home-manager, wayland

Zellij ships an input mode named `Tmux` (alongside Pane, Tab, Resize, etc.): `SwitchToMode "Tmux"` gives a prefix-key workflow inside zellij with no tmux installed. Binding the prefix to `Ctrl g` in `normal` overrides zellij's default Ctrl g lock toggle; you do not need to unbind it first. Useful when a Wayland compositor uses Alt as its Mod key and would otherwise swallow zellij's Alt+letter binds. Validate the generated home-manager KDL with `zellij --config <path> setup --check` (look for 'Well defined').