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screen command in Linux with Examples

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025

The screen command is an advanced terminal multiplexer that allows you to have multiple sessions within one terminal window. It's like having "tabs" in your Linux terminal — you can open, detach, switch, or resume sessions at any time without losing what you're working on. It's particularly convenient for system administrators, developers, or anyone working remotely.

From executing lengthy installations to multi-tasking across multiple terminal windows, the screen command is easy to use, lightweight, and already present in most Linux installations such as Ubuntu, CentOS, or Debian.

What is Screen Command

The screen command for Linux is the remote control of your terminal. It lets you create, deal with, and reattach many terminal sessions in one window. If you ever lost work when your SSH connection dropped or internet went down, screen is your lifesaver tool.

Imagine this — instead of having tens of open terminals and risking losing them on disconnect or power outage, you can begin a screen session and continue working at your leisure without having to begin from scratch. It is particularly valuable for system administrators, programmers, or anyone else dealing with Linux remotely.

Key Features of the Linux Screen Command

Persistence of sessions: Prevent programs from exiting even when logged out.
Multi-tasking assistance: Have multiple terminal sessions open simultaneously.
Terminal splitting: Look at logs in a window, code in another.
Ease of navigation: Switch between screens with keyboard shortcuts.
Lightweight & pre-installed: It comes with most Linux distros by default.

What is the Screen Command Used For

The screen command in Linux can be used for:

Running terminal sessions in the background: It is ideal for scripts that are long-running, updates, downloads, or server configurations that will take hours.
Keeping programs running after you log out: Despite your internet losing connection or terminating your terminal, the session silently runs in the background.
Quickly switch between several terminal windows: It's similar to having several browser windows, but for your Linux command line. You don't need to leave the terminal to switch between tasks.
Reattach to previous sessions without losing work: Whether you're on a different device or you just rebooted your computer, you can reconnect to your old terminal right where you left it.
Split your terminal window: You can see system logs in one pane and edit files in another, all within the same screen session

Syntax:

screen [-opts] [cmd [args]]

How to Install the Screen Command

Most Linux distros (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS) include screen

sudo apt install screen       # For Debian/Ubuntu  
sudo yum install screen     # For CentOS/RHEL

How to Use Them 1. Start a New Screen Session

To start a new terminal screen session:

screen

2. Name Your Session

Naming a session helps you keep track of multiple sessions.

screen -S file

-S: It will start a new window within the screen and also gives a name to the window. It creates a session which is identified by that name. The name can be used to reattach screen at a later stage.

3. List All Running or Detached Screen Sessions

To see which screen sessions are active or have been detached:

screen -ls

-ls: It is used to display the currently opened screens including those running in the background. It will list all the attached as well as detached screen sessions.

4. Detach from a Screen Without Closing It

You can safely leave a screen session running in the background by detaching it.

screen -d 1643

-d: It is used to detach a screen session so that it can be reattached in future. It can also be done with the help of shortcut key Ctrl-a + d. Here 1643 is the screen id we want to detach.

5. Reattach to a Screen Session

To resume work on a previously detached session:

screen -r 1643

-r: It is used to reattach a screen session which was detached in past.

Note:

To check for the manual page of screen command, use the following command:

man screen

To check the help page of screen command, use the following command:

screen --help

Commonly Used screen Command Options in Linux

To use screen effectively, it's important to understand its command-line options.

Option Description -a Forces all capabilities into each window's terminal capability (termcap). `-A -[r R]` -c file Uses a custom configuration file instead of the default .screenrc. -d (-r) Detaches a running screen session from elsewhere and reattaches it here. -dmS name Starts screen in detached mode with a session name (like a background task). -D (-r) Detaches and logs out a remote session and reattaches it here. -D -RR Does whatever is needed to connect to a screen session. -e xy Changes the default control command characters. -f Enables flow control. Use -fn to disable, or -fa for auto mode. -h lines Sets the scrollback buffer size (number of history lines). -i Interrupts output sooner when flow control is on. -l Turns on login mode (updates /var/run/utmp). Use -ln to disable. -ls [match] Lists all current screen sessions, with optional name match. -L Enables output logging to a file. -m Ignores the $STY variable; forces a new session to start. -O Chooses optimized output over exact VT100 emulation. -p window Pre-selects the named window when screen starts. -q Starts screen quietly. Returns error code if it fails. -Q Sends command output to the stdout of the calling process. -r [session] Reattaches to a detached session (if it exists). -R Reattaches to an existing session or starts a new one. -S sockname Sets a custom session socket name (helpful for managing multiple sessions). -t title Sets a window title (name of the terminal window). -T term Uses a specific terminal type instead of the default screen. -U Enables UTF-8 encoding support inside the session. -v Prints screen version and build date. -x Attaches to a session even if it's already attached (multi-display mode). -X Executes a screen command in a specific session from outside. Screen Command Shortcuts in Linux (Cheat Sheet)

When working inside a screen session in Linux, you can navigate between windows, rename them, detach sessions, and more — all using quick keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut Action (What It Does) Ctrl-a + c Create a new window inside the screen session. Ctrl-a + w List all open windows within the current screen session. Ctrl-a + A Rename the current window. Helpful when using multiple windows (visible in Ctrl-a + w). Ctrl-a + n Go to the next window. Ctrl-a + p Go to the previous window. Ctrl-a + Ctrl-a Switch back to the last used window. Ctrl-a + k Close (kill) the current window. Ctrl-a + S Split the window horizontally. Switch with Ctrl-a + Tab. `Ctrl-a + ` Ctrl-a + X Close the active split window. Ctrl-a + Q Close all split windows. Ctrl-a + d Detach the session (keeps it running in background). Ctrl-a + r Reattach a previously detached session. Ctrl-a + [ Enter copy mode (use arrow keys to scroll and select). Ctrl-a + ] Paste copied text inside the screen session. Conclusion

Linux's screen command is not just a tool — it's a multitasking lifesaver and remote session manager. If you're writing files, running background jobs, or watching system logs, screen keeps your work from being disrupted, even if your SSH connection is interrupted.

By mastering screen, you take command of the way you work with the command line. You can detach sessions, pick up where you left off from another computer, or even split the terminal screen and work smarter. With its built-in shortcuts, session persistence, and lightweight footprint, it's no wonder screen remains a favorite among Linux power users.

How to resume screen in Linux?

To resume a detached screen session, use the screen -r command followed by the session ID if there are multiple sessions:
screen -r
If there are multiple sessions, list them first:
screen -ls
Then resume the desired session:
screen -r session_id

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