Run fzf through fzf-tmux
Open the finder in a tmux popup or split-aware wrapper.
bashANYtmuxpopupfzf-tmux
bash
fzf-tmux -p 80%,60%Notes
A popular way to use fzf inside tmux without disturbing the current pane layout.
fzf tmux, Editor Integration, Troubleshooting, and Performance
Use fzf with tmux and editors, and fix common issues involving shell integration, source commands, and large repositories.
Export
Copy the compact sheet, download it, or print it.
Download
`D` dense toggle · `C` copy all
tmux, Vim, and Neovim integration
Run fzf inside tmux and launch editors from fuzzy selections.
Open selected files in Vim or Neovim
Pass chosen files directly to your editor.
bashANYnvimvimeditor
bash
fd --type f | fzf -m | xargs -r nvimNotes
Efficient for opening several project files at once.
Use fzf-git.sh for Git object pickers
Load Git-focused helper bindings built on fzf.
bashANYgitfzf-git.shintegration
bash
source ~/.fzf-git.shNotes
The companion script provides ready-made selectors for branches, tags, hashes, and more.
Troubleshooting and performance
Fix common shell integration issues and make large searches faster.
Inspect your default source command
Print the configured default command before running fzf.
bashANYdebugdefault-command
bash
printf '%s
' "$FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND"Notes
A good first step when file pickers return unexpected entries.
Prefer fd over find for speed
Switch your source command to fd for large trees.
bashANYperformancefd
bash
export FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND='fd --type f --hidden --follow --exclude .git'Notes
Performance often depends more on the source command than on fzf itself.
Ignore hidden or VCS files unless needed
Reduce list size to improve responsiveness.
bashANYperformanceignorenode_modules
bash
fd --type f --exclude .git --exclude node_modules | fzfNotes
Pruning noisy trees can dramatically improve interactive performance.
Avoid broken matching on colored input
Use --ansi only when the input really contains ANSI color codes.
bashANYansiperformancedebug
bash
git status --short | fzfNotes
Passing --ansi unnecessarily can slow matching and complicate field parsing.
Remember shell functions are not external commands
Use standalone commands for child processes spawned by fzf.
textANYshellfunctionstroubleshooting
text
# Child processes spawned by fzf cannot call a shell function unless you export or inline it.Notes
This explains why some custom shell functions work in the current shell but fail inside preview or reload commands.
More in fzf
fzf Reload, Event Bindings, and Dynamic Sources
Build live search interfaces with reload, change events, refresh-preview, and mode-switching key bindings.
fzf Recipes: Files, ripgrep, Git, Processes, and Navigation
Practical pipeline recipes that combine fzf with fd, ripgrep, bat, Git, and shell utilities.
fzf Shell Completion and Key Bindings
Set up fuzzy shell completion and customize built-in key bindings like CTRL-T, CTRL-R, and ALT-C.
fzf Layout, UI, and Styling
Tune layout, borders, headers, sorting, and visual style for cleaner fuzzy-finder interfaces.
fzf Preview Windows, Key Bindings, and Actions
Use previews, key bindings, execute actions, and dynamic UI changes to build powerful interactive pickers.
fzf Basics: Search, Select, and Script Output
Core fzf usage patterns for filtering lists, selecting items, and integrating the result into shell workflows.