@catppuccin_window_left_separator and similar settings are ignored unless using window_status_style = "custom", but then layout breaks

[AkramAki]

Body:

Hi everybody 👋

I'm trying to customize my tmux status line using the catppuccin plugin with tpm, specifically to set custom window separators like:

set -g @catppuccin_window_left_separator " "
set -g @catppuccin_window_right_separator " "
set -g @catppuccin_window_middle_separator "█ "

However, these settings seem to have no effect unless I also set:

set -g @catppuccin_window_status_style "custom"

When I do that, the settings are finally recognized — but the layout becomes broken: things don't align properly anymore, and the result looks very messy compared to the default rounded style.

---

What I'm trying to achieve:

I'd like to:

• Use my own separators (, , etc.)
• Maintain proper alignment and spacing, similar to how the rounded style looks out of the box

---

My environment:

• Tmux version: tmux 3.5a
• Nerd Font: MesloLGS NF
• Terminal: Standard Fedora KDE
• OS: Fedora KDE
• OS Installed today

---

Repro steps:

1. Set @catppuccin_window_left_separator, etc.
2. Leave @catppuccin_window_status_style unset → nothing changes
3. Set it to "custom" → settings are recognized, but the layout breaks

---

Question:

Is there a proper way to override just the window separators or just fix my problem?
Can I get the @catppuccin_status_modules_right to work?

---

My .tmux.conf

set -g default-shell /usr/bin/zsh

unbind r 
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf

set -g prefix C-s

set -g mouse on

bind-key h select-pane -L 
bind-key j select-pane -D 
bind-key k select-pane -U 
bind-key l select-pane -R 

set-option -g status-position top

set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm'

set -g @plugin 'catppuccin/tmux'

#set -g @catppuccin_window_status_style "custom"
set -g @catppuccin_window_left_separator " "
set -g @catppuccin_window_right_separator " "
set -g @catppuccin_window_middle_separator "█ "
set -g @catppuccin_window_number_position "right"

set -g @catppuccin_window_default_fill "number"
set -g @catppuccin_window_default_text "#W"

set -g @catppuccin_window_current_fill "number"
set -g @catppuccin_window_current_text "#W"


set -g @catppuccin_status_modules_right "directory user host session"
set -g @catppuccin_status_left_separator  " "
set -g @catppuccin_status_right_separator " "
set -g @catppuccin_status_right_separator_inverse "no"
set -g @catppuccin_status_fill "icon"
set -g @catppuccin_status_connect_separator "yes"
set -g @catppuccin_directory_text "#{pane_current_path}"

run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm'

---

📸 Screenshots:

Without setting window_status_style
Nothing changes, the separators are ignored:

---

With window_status_style = "custom"
Separators appear, but layout is broken and misaligned:

---

✅ Expected:

I'd like the status bar to look like Config 3 in this repo:
➡️ https://github.com/omerxx/catppuccin-tmux

---

[kjnsn]

Out of curiosity, how did you create your config? It's using very outdated options

[AkramAki]

I tried looking at the documentation from here which shows the same things I'd say.
"
Customising the separators:
set -g @catppuccin_window_status_style "custom"
set -g @catppuccin_window_left_separator ""
set -g @catppuccin_window_middle_separator ""
set -g @catppuccin_window_right_separator ""
"
Which is the part that i think gives me the most trouble
And the settings that are not working are from https://github.com/omerxx/catppuccin-tmux using config 3 at the bottom.

[kjnsn]

You need to change the colors yourself if you want to use unicode glyphs as separators. This is by design.

Why not use the rounded style? That will "just work"

And in regards to status line modules please read the docs, not a youtube video or a fork.

[AkramAki]

I was just wondering why the settings aren’t working, since I found them in what I believe is the official documentation under tmux/docs/references/config.md.
I've now read the documentation more thoroughly though and figured out more things. Thanks for your advice, and sorry for taking up your time. You're awesome!

[AkramAki]

For anyone interested my config file now looks like below and works fine.

# set default shell to zsh
set -g default-shell /usr/bin/zsh

# set source file binding
unbind r 
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \: display "Reloaded!"

# change prefix from ctr + b to ctr + s
set -g prefix C-s

# New pane always start at current path
bind c new-window -c "#{pane_current_path}"

# activate mouse
set -g mouse on

# Window numbering
set -g base-index 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1
set -g renumber-windows on

# vim like panel switching
bind h select-pane -L 
bind j select-pane -D 
bind k select-pane -U 
bind l select-pane -R 

# move status bar to top
set-option -g status-position top


# Set plugins
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm'

set -g @plugin 'catppuccin/tmux#v2.1.3'

set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-cpu'

# Window settings
set -g @catppuccin_window_status_style "rounded"
set -g @catppuccin_window_number_position "right"

set -g @catppuccin_window_text "#W"

set -g @catppuccin_window_current_text "#W"
set -g @catppuccin_status_left_separator " "
set -g @catppuccin_status_right_separator " "
set -g @catppuccin_status_fill "icon"
set -g @catppuccin_status_connect_separator "no"
set -g @catppuccin_status_background "default"

run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm' 

# Status settings
set -g status-right-length 100

# install plugins so cpu module works
source "~/.tmux/plugins/tmux/utils/status_module.conf"

# -a is append instead of replace, -g is set globaly, F treats it as a format string
set -g status-left ""
set -g status-right "#{E:@catppuccin_status_directory}"
set -agF status-right "#{E:@catppuccin_status_cpu}"
set -ag status-right "#{E:@catppuccin_status_session}"

run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm' 

[kjnsn]

Updated the config as per the troubleshooting guide so that others are not copying broken configs. Glad you worked it out!