Zellij 0.45 adds nested session handling, Kitty graphics protocol, mobile web UI, and more

Zellij 0.45 is now available, delivering new features for developers using this open source terminal workspace. This release introduces advanced handling for nested sessions, enabling users to detect when Zellij is started within another Zellij instance. Users can now choose whether to zoom in and control the nested session or focus on it directly.

Building on visual capabilities, Zellij now implements the Kitty graphics protocol alongside existing Sixel support. This enhancement allows images rendered by compatible viewers or libraries to display within panes and remain functional even when these panes are moved, resized, stacked, or scrolled, provided the terminal itself supports the protocol.

Following these technical updates, the built-in web client gains a dedicated mobile interface. With touch controls and a responsive layout, sessions can now be managed from phones or tablets. The web client is also installable as a standalone Progressive Web App directly from the browser.

The default interface has been redesigned with title frames and stacked lists. Users benefit from command-based scrolling, variable tab sizes across clients, and improved pane management, including toggling focus between two panes and full-screen support for floating panes. The release notes screen now detects missing keybindings post-update, offering to insert them into configuration files with a single keypress. In addition, work is ongoing for Zellij.online, an upcoming online terminal sharing and streaming service currently in closed beta.