screen Linux command

The Linux screen command is a powerful tool that allows users to create, manage, and multiplex multiple terminal sessions within a single window. With screen, you can detach from a session, letting it run in the background, and reattach to it later. This feature is particularly useful when working on tasks that require extended periods of time or when you need to switch between different tasks quickly. Additionally, screen supports splitting windows, session sharing, and session logging, making it a valuable tool for system administrators and power users alike. Whether you are a novice or an experienced user, mastering the Linux screen command can greatly enhance your productivity and efficiency in the terminal.

screen Syntax:

screen [options] [commands]

Options:

Option	Description
-a	Adapt the sizes of all windows to the size of the current terminal
-A	Adapt the sizes of all windows to the size of the current terminal or screen screen size
-d	Detach the elsewhere running screen (and reattach here)
-D	Detach and logout
-m	Ignore the $STY variable and create a new screen session
-r	Reattach to a detached screen process
-R	Reattach if possible, otherwise start a new session
-s	When creating a new session, specify a session name
-S	Specify a session name
-x	Attach to a not detached screen. Multi display only

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
commands	Specify one or more commands to run in the screen session

Caution

Exercise caution when using the screen command as detaching and reattaching can lead to unexpected behavior if not used correctly.

screen bash Examples:

Create a New Screen Session

screen -S mysession

Creates a new screen session named “mysession”.

List all Screen Sessions

screen -ls

Lists all the active screen sessions.

Resume a Detached Session

screen -r mysession

Resumes the detached screen session named “mysession”.

Detach from a Screen Session

Ctrl + a, d

Detaches from the currently active screen session.

Scroll in a Screen Session

Ctrl + a, [

Enables scroll mode to view the screen session history.

Send a Command to a Screen Session

screen -S mysession -X stuff 'ls\n'

Sends the command “ls” to the screen session named “mysession”.

Tip

To detach from a screen session, press Ctrl + A followed by d. To reattach to a detached session, use the command screen -r.

screen Command Help Center:

How do I start a new screen session in Linux?

To start a new screen session in Linux, execute the following command:

screen

How do I list all screen sessions in Linux?

To list all screen sessions in Linux, execute the following command:

screen -ls

How do I attach to a detached screen session in Linux?

To attach to a detached screen session in Linux, execute the following command:

screen -r

How do I detach from a screen session in Linux?

To detach from a screen session in Linux, press Ctrl + A followed by d.

How do I create a named screen session in Linux?

To create a named screen session in Linux, execute the following command:

screen -S session_name

How do I switch between windows in screen in Linux?

To switch between windows in screen in Linux, press Ctrl + A followed by the window number.

How do I split the screen in screen command in Linux?

To split the screen horizontally in the screen command, press Ctrl + A followed by S. To split vertically, press Ctrl + A followed by |.

How do I close a window in screen in Linux?

To close a window in screen in Linux, simply exit the application running in that window.

Applications of the screen command

• Run multiple terminal sessions within a single SSH session
• Keep processes running even after logging out of a remote session
• Share a session with collaborators for pair programming
• Manage multiple serial console connections
• Use as a terminal multiplexer for organizing and controlling multiple terminal windows