open

Opens or switches to a tmux window for a pre-existing git worktree. If the window already exists, switches to it. If not, creates a new window with the configured pane layout and environment. Accepts multiple names to open several worktrees at once.

workmux open [name...] [flags]

Arguments

• [name...]: One or more worktree names, matching the worktree directory or handle. The tmux target can differ when a worktree uses --target-name or --parent-session. Optional with --new when run from inside a worktree.

Options

Flag	Description
-n, --new	Force opening in a new window even if one already exists. Creates a duplicate window with a suffix (e.g., -2, -3). Useful for having multiple terminal views into the same worktree. Cannot be used with session mode.
--mode <window|session>	Override the multiplexer mode for this command. session persists the mode change for subsequent opens. window converts a session-mode worktree back to window mode. Session mode is only supported with tmux.
-s, --session	Shorthand for --mode session. Persists the mode change for subsequent opens. Cannot be combined with --mode.
--target-name <name>	Override the workmux-managed tmux target name for this command. In window mode, creates or selects window <window_prefix><name>. In session mode, creates or selects session <window_prefix><name>. Cannot be used with multiple worktree names.
--parent-session <name>	Window mode only. Creates the workmux-managed window inside the named tmux session without applying window_prefix to that parent session. Cannot be used with session mode or multiple worktree names.
--config <path>	Use an alternate config file for this invocation. Still merges with global config. Useful for per-command config overrides like workmux open feat/my-branch --config /path/to/workmux.session.yaml.
--run-hooks	Re-runs the post_create commands (these block window creation).
--force-files	Re-applies file copy/symlink operations. Useful for restoring a deleted .env file.
-p, --prompt <text>	Provide an inline prompt for AI agent panes.
-P, --prompt-file <path>	Provide a path to a file containing the prompt.
-c, --continue	Resume the agent's most recent conversation in this worktree. Injects the appropriate flag for the configured agent (e.g., --continue for Claude, --resume for Gemini).
-e, --prompt-editor	Open your editor to write the prompt interactively.
--prompt-file-only	Write the prompt file to the worktree without injecting it into agent commands.

What happens

1. Verifies that a worktree with <name> exists.
2. If the target exists and --new is not set, switches to it.
3. Otherwise, creates a new tmux window or session. --target-name can override the managed target, and --parent-session can choose the parent session for a window-mode target.
4. (If specified) Runs file operations and post_create hooks.
5. Sets up your configured tmux pane layout.
6. Automatically switches your tmux client to the new window.

Examples

# Open or switch to a window for an existing worktree
workmux open user-auth

# Force open a second window for the same worktree (creates user-auth-2)
workmux open user-auth --new

# Open a new window for the current worktree (run from within the worktree)
workmux open --new

# Open in session mode (converts from window mode if needed)
workmux open user-auth --mode session

# Convert a session-mode worktree back to a window
workmux open user-auth --mode window

# Recreate a closed worktree with a custom window target
workmux open user-auth --target-name review-auth

# Recreate a window-mode worktree inside a named tmux session
workmux open user-auth --parent-session prs --target-name review-auth

# Recreate a worktree as a custom-named session
workmux open user-auth --mode session --target-name review-auth

# Resume the agent's last conversation
workmux open user-auth --continue

# Resume and send a follow-up prompt
workmux open user-auth --continue -p "Continue implementing the login flow"

# Open and re-run dependency installation
workmux open user-auth --run-hooks

# Open and restore configuration files
workmux open user-auth --force-files

# Open multiple worktrees at once
workmux open user-auth api-refactor bugfix-login