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GNU Screen Terminal multiplexer

Version 4.09.01 · source

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Start here

screen -S <name>
Start a named session
prefix d
Detach, keep it running
screen -r <name>
Reattach
prefix c
New window
prefix n / p
Next / previous window
prefix S
Split top / bottom
prefix Tab
Focus next region
prefix [
Scroll back / copy

Concepts

Session survives detach
Window full-screen shell
Region split view of a window

Sessions

screen -S <name>
New named session
Without -S the session is named <pid>.<tty>.<host>.
screen -ls
List sessions
screen -r <name>
Reattach to a session
With only one detached session, plain screen -r is enough.
prefix d
Detach from session
Programs inside keep running; reattach any time.
screen -R <name>
Reattach, or create if missing
Handy for aliases; -RR picks the first detached session.
screen -x <name>
Attach to an already attached session
Shares the session between two terminals (pairing).
screen -d -r <name>
Detach it elsewhere, reattach here
Use when it says Attached; -D -r also logs out the remote.
screen -dmS <name> <cmd>
Start a command detached
prefix \
Kill all windows and quit
Asks for confirmation.
screen -wipe
Remove dead sessions
screen -S <name> -X quit
Kill a session from outside
prefix D D
Power detach and log out

Windows

prefix c
Create window
prefix n / p
Next / previous window
Space and Backspace do the same.
prefix 0-9
Jump to window number
prefix "
Choose window from list
Move with arrows, Enter selects.
prefix Ctrl+a
Toggle to the last used window
prefix A
Rename window
prefix w
Show window list in status line
prefix k
Kill window
Asks for confirmation (y/n).
prefix '
Select window by number or name
Needed for windows 10 and above.
prefix i
Show info about this window
prefix N
Show window number and title
prefix C
Clear the screen
prefix l
Redraw window
Fixes a garbled display.
screen -t <title> <cmd>
Open a window running a command
Use as a command line inside (C-a :) or a .screenrc line.
number <n>
Renumber current window

Regions

prefix S
Split top / bottom
prefix |
Split left / right
prefix Tab
Focus next region
A new region is empty: press Ctrl+a c in it or select a window.
prefix X
Close current region
Closes only the view; the window keeps running.
prefix Q
Close all regions but this one
resize +5
Make region taller by 5 lines
Run via Ctrl+a : ; -h or -v set the direction in newer builds.
resize =
Even out region sizes
focus up
Focus region above
Also down / left / right; handy as key bindings.
layout new
New layout
Layouts save and recall a set of regions.
1
2
3
Ctrl+a | then Ctrl+a S in the right region

Copy Mode

prefix [
Enter copy / scroll mode
Scroll with arrows or PageUp/PageDown. Esc also enters it.
Space
Set start, then end of selection
Press once to mark, move, press again to copy.
Esc
Leave copy mode
Any unbound key leaves it.
prefix ]
Paste last copied text
Pastes screen's own buffer, not the system clipboard.
/ / ?
Search forward / backward
n / N
Next / previous match
Ctrl+u / Ctrl+d
Half page up / down
g / G
Jump to top / bottom
0 / $
Start / end of line
w / b
Next / previous word
c / C
Set left / right column of block
For rectangular selections.
prefix > / <
Write / read the paste buffer file
Default file is /tmp/screen-exchange.
prefix h
Save screen to hardcopy.<n>
defscrollback 10000
Longer scrollback in .screenrc
Default is 100 lines; applies to windows created afterwards.
Copy mode movement
Move Key
Line / column h j k l
Half page Ctrl+u / Ctrl+d
Full page Ctrl+b / Ctrl+f
Screen top / bottom H / L

Logging

prefix H
Toggle logging of this window
Appends to screenlog.<n> in the current directory.
screen -L -Logfile <file> -S <name>
Start a session with logging
logfile <name>
Set the log file name
Default is screenlog.%n; flush interval via logfile flush <secs>.
logtstamp on
Add timestamps to the log
prefix M
Watch window for activity
Reports when output appears.
prefix _
Watch window for silence

Command Mode

prefix :
Open command prompt
Accepts any .screenrc command.
prefix ?
List all key bindings
source ~/.screenrc
Reload configuration
screen -S <name> -X <cmd>
Send a command to a session
Example: -X stuff $'ls\n' types into the window.
bind <key> <cmd>
Bind a key
scrollback <n>
Scrollback of current window
prefix Z
Reset the terminal
prefix x
Lock the terminal
Needs the user password.
prefix v
Show version
prefix Ctrl+g
Toggle visual bell
screen -v
Show version

Recipes

Starter ~/.screenrc
# ~/.screenrcstartup_message offdefscrollback 10000vbell offaltscreen onhardstatus alwayslastlinehardstatus string '%{= kw}%-w%{= kG}%n %t%{-}%+w %=%H'escape ^Ee
Run a long job and leave
screen -S buildmake all# Ctrl+a d to detachscreen -r build  # back later
Pair on one session
# terminal 1screen -S pair# terminal 2, same userscreen -x pair
Start detached and log
screen -L -Logfile job.log -dmS job ./run.shscreen -lsscreen -r job

Help

man screen
Full manual
screen -h
Show option summary