screen

Updated

July 31, 2026

Overview

screen multiplexes terminal sessions: detach from SSH, reattach later, multiple windows. Older than tmux but still common on minimal servers.

Syntax

screen [options] [command]

Common Options

Option Description
-S name Session name
-ls List sessions
-r name Reattach
-d -r name Detach elsewhere then reattach
-x Multi-attach
-dmS name cmd Start detached

Prefix key: Ctrl-a then command key.

Essential keys (after Ctrl-a)

Key Action
c New window
n / p Next / prev
" Window list
A Rename window
d Detach
k Kill window
| / S Split regions (version-dependent)
? Help
[ Copy/scrollback mode

Examples with Explanations

screen -S deploy
# ... work ...
# Ctrl-a d
screen -ls
screen -r deploy
screen -dmS train ./long-job.sh

Notes

  • Config: ~/.screenrc.
  • Prefer tmux for modern splits/scriptability unless screen is all you have.
  • Nested screen: Ctrl-a a sends prefix to inner.