Windows doesn’t have a built-in way to get a multi-pane terminal like macOS developers get with tmux or iTerm2. But there are several ways to split your terminal into multiple visible panes. Here’s every option, with the trade-offs.

Option 1: Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal is Microsoft’s modern terminal, included with Windows 11 and available from the Microsoft Store for Windows 10.

How to split:

Vertical split: Alt+Shift+Plus
Horizontal split: Alt+Shift+Minus
Navigate panes: Alt+Arrow keys
Close a pane: Ctrl+Shift+W

Getting a 2x2 grid:

Alt+Shift+Plus → two vertical panes
Click in the left pane, Alt+Shift+Minus → left pane splits horizontally
Click in the right pane, Alt+Shift+Minus → right pane splits horizontally

You now have four panes. Each can run PowerShell, CMD, WSL, or Azure Cloud Shell.

Pros: Free, ships with OS, supports all Windows shells. Cons: Manual splitting only (no preset grids), layouts don’t save between sessions, pane navigation is keyboard-only, no file browser or editor.

Option 2: GridTerm

GridTerm is a terminal workspace with preset grid layouts built specifically for multi-pane workflows.

How to split:

Open GridTerm
Click the grid selector in the toolbar
Choose: 1x1, 1x2, 2x2, 2x3, or 3x3

One click, instant grid. You can also split any individual pane horizontally or vertically.

Saving your layout: Click “Save Workspace” to store the grid size, directories, and auto-commands for each terminal. Load it in one click next time.

Pros: One-click grids (up to 3x3 = 9 panes), workspace save/restore, built-in file browser and code editor, screenshot capture. Cons: $67, not free.

Option 3: tmux via WSL

If you use Windows Subsystem for Linux, you can run tmux inside your WSL shell.

How to set up:

Install WSL: wsl --install
Install tmux in WSL: sudo apt install tmux
Open Windows Terminal, start a WSL tab
Run tmux
Split: Ctrl+B % (vertical), Ctrl+B " (horizontal)

Pros: Free, full tmux functionality, session persistence via detach/reattach. Cons: Only works inside WSL (not for PowerShell or CMD), steep learning curve, all panes share the WSL shell, no GUI features, no file browser or screenshot tools.

Option 4: ConEmu / Cmder

ConEmu is an older Windows terminal that supports tabs and split panes. Cmder is a popular wrapper around it.

How to split:

Open ConEmu or Cmder
Right-click the tab bar → “Split to right” or “Split to bottom”

Pros: Free, been around for years, good tab support. Cons: Dated UI, no preset grids, no workspace management, less active development than Windows Terminal.

Which option for which workflow

Just need two panes side by side: Windows Terminal. Built in, free, simple.

Need 4+ panes with quick setup: GridTerm. One-click grids, workspace save. Best for AI agent workflows.

Need tmux-style sessions over SSH: tmux via WSL. Detach/reattach is essential for remote work.

Already using ConEmu: It works, but consider Windows Terminal (more modern) or GridTerm (more features) as an upgrade.

The Windows terminal landscape

Windows has historically been behind macOS and Linux for terminal tooling. tmux doesn’t run natively. iTerm2 is macOS-only. Terminator is Linux-only.

GridTerm was built partly to solve this gap — give Windows developers the same multi-pane, workspace-based terminal experience that macOS and Linux users have had for years, plus the modern features (file browser, editor, screenshots) that those older tools lack.

Get GridTerm for Windows — $67 one-time purchase