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Ghostty supports both window splits and tabs, allowing you to organize multiple terminal sessions within a single window. This feature works on macOS and Linux (GTK).

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Splits

Splits allow you to divide a window into multiple panes, each running its own terminal session.

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Creating Splits

Default Keybindings (macOS)

  • super+d - Split right
  • super+shift+d - Split down

Default Keybindings (Linux)

  • ctrl+shift+right - Split right
  • ctrl+shift+down - Split down

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Configuration

Customize split creation keybindings:
~/.config/ghostty/config
# Create vertical split (left/right)
keybind = ctrl+alt+d=new_split:right

# Create horizontal split (top/bottom)  
keybind = ctrl+alt+shift+d=new_split:down
The new_split action accepts:
  • right - Create split to the right
  • down - Create split below
  • left - Create split to the left
  • up - Create split above
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Use navigation keybindings

  • super+alt+up - Move to split above
  • super+alt+down - Move to split below
  • super+alt+left - Move to split left
  • super+alt+right - Move to split right
  • super+alt+[ - Previous split
  • super+alt+] - Next split
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Configure custom navigation

keybind = ctrl+h=goto_split:left
keybind = ctrl+j=goto_split:down
keybind = ctrl+k=goto_split:up
keybind = ctrl+l=goto_split:right

# Cycle through splits
keybind = ctrl+tab=goto_split:next
keybind = ctrl+shift+tab=goto_split:previous
The goto_split action accepts:
  • left, right, up, down - Move to adjacent split
  • next, previous - Cycle through splits

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Split Appearance

# Set the color of split dividers
split-divider-color = #3e4451

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Split Zoom

Zoom a split to temporarily fill the entire window: 
keybind = ctrl+shift+z=toggle_split_zoom
Control zoom preservation during navigation: 
# Preserve zoom when navigating (zoomed split follows focus)
split-preserve-zoom = navigation

# Default: zoom is cleared when navigating or changing layout
split-preserve-zoom = false

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Resizing Splits

keybind = ctrl+shift+left=resize_split:left,10
keybind = ctrl+shift+right=resize_split:right,10
keybind = ctrl+shift+up=resize_split:up,10
keybind = ctrl+shift+down=resize_split:down,10

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Closing Splits

Close the focused split: 
keybind = ctrl+shift+w=close_surface
When you close a split, the remaining splits expand to fill the space.

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Tabs

Tabs provide another way to organize multiple terminal sessions, similar to browser tabs.

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Creating Tabs

macOS

super+t - New tab

Linux

ctrl+shift+t - New tab
Customize the keybinding: 
keybind = ctrl+t=new_tab
  • super+1 through super+9 - Jump to specific tab
  • super+shift+[ - Previous tab
  • super+shift+] - Next tab
Custom tab navigation: 
keybind = alt+1=goto_tab:1
keybind = alt+2=goto_tab:2
keybind = ctrl+page_up=previous_tab
keybind = ctrl+page_down=next_tab

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Tab Appearance

Control tab visibility: 
# Always show tabs
window-show-tab-bar = true

# Never show tabs
window-show-tab-bar = false

# Show tabs only when multiple exist (default)
window-show-tab-bar = auto

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Tab Position (Linux/GTK)

On Linux with GTK, you can configure tab bar position: 
gtk-tabs-location = top     # Default
gtk-tabs-location = bottom
gtk-tabs-location = left
gtk-tabs-location = right

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Closing Tabs

# macOS: super+w
# Linux: ctrl+shift+w
keybind = ctrl+w=close_surface

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Combining Splits and Tabs

You can use splits and tabs together:
  1. Create tabs for different projects or contexts
  2. Use splits within each tab to view multiple terminals side-by-side
# Example workflow keybindings
keybind = super+t=new_tab           # New project
keybind = super+d=new_split:right   # Add editor + terminal
keybind = super+shift+d=new_split:down  # Add log viewer

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Example Configurations

# Splits
keybind = ctrl+w+h=goto_split:left
keybind = ctrl+w+j=goto_split:down
keybind = ctrl+w+k=goto_split:up
keybind = ctrl+w+l=goto_split:right

# Split creation
keybind = ctrl+w+v=new_split:right
keybind = ctrl+w+s=new_split:down

# Close split
keybind = ctrl+w+q=close_surface

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Tips and Tricks

Make the focused split more obvious:
unfocused-split-opacity = 0.5
unfocused-split-fill = #000000
Create keybindings for common layouts:
# Three-column layout
keybind = ctrl+alt+3=new_split:right>new_split:right

# Two rows
keybind = ctrl+alt+2=new_split:down
Useful for temporarily maximizing a split:
split-preserve-zoom = navigation
keybind = ctrl+z=toggle_split_zoom

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Platform Differences

FeaturemacOSLinux (GTK)
Horizontal splits✅✅
Vertical splits✅✅
Tabs✅✅
Tab positioning❌✅
Native window integration✅✅