Switching windows with Alt can be done by adding:
# switch windows alt+number bind-key -n M-1 select-window -t 1 bind-key -n M-2 select-window -t 2 bind-key -n M-3 select-window -t 3 bind-key -n M-4 select-window -t 4 bind-key -n M-5 select-window -t 5 bind-key -n M-6 select-window -t 6 bind-key -n M-7 select-window -t 7 bind-key -n M-8 select-window -t 8 bind-key -n M-9 select-window -t 9
to your ~/.tmux.conf
This is from: https://github.com/proft/dotfiles/blob/master/.tmux.conf
Further more, to make it not do this if irssi is in the active window:
#switch windows alt+number, unless we are running irssi bind -n M-1 if 'test `tmux list-panes -F "#W"` != "irssi"' 'select-window -t 1' 'send M-1' bind -n M-2 if 'test `tmux list-panes -F "#W"` != "irssi"' 'select-window -t 2' 'send M-2' bind -n M-3 if 'test `tmux list-panes -F "#W"` != "irssi"' 'select-window -t 3' 'send M-3' bind -n M-4 if 'test `tmux list-panes -F "#W"` != "irssi"' 'select-window -t 4' 'send M-4' bind -n M-5 if 'test `tmux list-panes -F "#W"` != "irssi"' 'select-window -t 5' 'send M-5' bind -n M-6 if 'test `tmux list-panes -F "#W"` != "irssi"' 'select-window -t 6' 'send M-6' bind -n M-7 if 'test `tmux list-panes -F "#W"` != "irssi"' 'select-window -t 7' 'send M-7' bind -n M-8 if 'test `tmux list-panes -F "#W"` != "irssi"' 'select-window -t 8' 'send M-8' bind -n M-9 if 'test `tmux list-panes -F "#W"` != "irssi"' 'select-window -t 9' 'send M-9' bind -n M-0 if 'test `tmux list-panes -F "#W"` != "irssi"' 'select-window -t 0' 'send M-0'
Which roughly reads Bind key [without requiring prefix], to the action of: check if current pane is not named irssi, and if isn't then select the appropriate window, otherwise, resend the key, so that the underlying application [irssi] can can get it.