Panes
Each session can be split into as many terminal panes as you need — for example an agent on the left, a dev server on the right, and tests underneath. Every pane is a full terminal with its own shell and working folder.
Written for PATerminal v1.8.3
Split a pane
- Split right (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+D) puts a new pane beside the focused one.
- Split down (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+S) puts a new pane under it.
The new pane starts in the same folder. Click a pane to focus it; the focused pane has a highlighted border and receives your typing.
Resize panes
Drag the divider between two panes. Each pane keeps at least 10% of the space, and terminals are re-fitted once you let go so running programs get the right size. Layouts are saved and restored with the session.
Rename, restart, and close
- Rename
- Double-click the pane name in its top bar.
- Restart this pane
- The trash icon in the focused pane's bar stops whatever is running and starts a fresh shell in the same place.
- Close
- The × in the pane bar or Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+W. The last pane of a session can't be closed — close the session instead.
Drop files into a terminal
Drag files or folders from Finder or File Explorer onto a pane. Their paths are typed at the cursor, quoted correctly for that shell (including PowerShell) and followed by a space, so you can keep typing — perfect for handing an agent a screenshot or a log file. Enter is not pressed for you.
What's restored after a restart
When you reopen PATerminal, every session comes back with its pane layout, pane names, working folders, and scrollback. A fresh interactive shell is started in each pane; claude and codex conversations are resumed automatically (see AI agents). Restored scrollback is history only — full-screen programs other than the agents start fresh.
Still stuck?
Check the FAQ, or email us with your OS, PATerminal version, and what you tried. We reply to every message.