Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: Is there any way to redraw tmux window when switching smaller monitor to bigger one?

tmux window resizing issue on monitor switch

Quick Answer: Use the 'set-option' command to set the 'window-size' option, then use 'resize-subpanel' to resize the tmux window.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

This issue affects users who start a tmux session on a smaller terminal and then attach to the same session on a larger resolution monitor, resulting in dots being drawn around the console. This can be frustrating for those trying to use their bigger monitor effectively.

The problem occurs because tmux tries to adapt the window size to the new monitor resolution without properly redrawing the window, leading to the unwanted dots. Fortunately, there are methods to resolve this issue and improve the overall user experience.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary cause of this issue is that tmux uses a fixed-size font by default when attaching to an existing session on a larger monitor. This can lead to the display of dots around the console as it tries to fit the text within the new window size.
  • Another possible reason for this issue could be related to the way tmux handles window resizing and redrawing, which might not always result in a smooth transition when switching from one monitor resolution to another.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Redraw and Clean the Window

  1. Step 1: Open a new terminal or reattach to the existing session using `tmux attach-session -t `.
  2. Step 2: Use the command `tmux resize-window -L -T ` to set the original width and new height of the window. Replace `` with the original width of the smaller monitor and `` with the new height of the larger monitor.
  3. Step 3: Run the command `tmux redraw` to redraw the entire window, which should remove the unwanted dots.

Use a Different Font Size

  1. Step 1: Add the following line to your `~/.tmux.conf` file: `set-window-option -g font-size `. Replace `` with a reasonable value, such as 12 or 14, depending on your monitor resolution.
  2. Step 2: Restart the tmux session by running `tmux new-session -d -s ` and then attach to it using `tmux attach-session -t `.
  3. Step 3: The new font size should be applied automatically when you attach to the session, reducing or eliminating the unwanted dots.

✨ Wrapping Up

To resolve the issue of dots being drawn around the console when switching from a smaller monitor to a larger one, try using either the 'Redraw and Clean the Window' method or setting a different font size. Both methods should help improve the overall user experience and reduce frustration.

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