`screen` command

Keep terminal sessions running and reattach to them later.

Shell & scheduling
Package screen
6 options · 6 examples

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Syntax
Common options
Examples
Guides
Related commands

Syntax

screen [options]

Provided by the screen package. Run man screen for the full manual.

Common options

Option	What it does
`-S NAME`	Start a named session
`-ls`	List sessions
`-r NAME`	Reattach to a session
`-d -r`	Detach elsewhere and reattach here
`-dmS NAME CMD`	Start a detached session running CMD
`Ctrl+A D`	Detach (inside screen)

Examples

Start a named session
```
screen -S deploy
```
List sessions
```
screen -ls
```
Reattach
```
screen -r deploy
```
Run a command detached
```
screen -dmS backup ./backup.sh
```
tmux equivalent: new session
```
tmux new -s deploy
```
tmux: reattach
```
tmux attach -t deploy
```

screen guides

Getting Started with Linux Screen Command: A Beginner’s Guide Linux Commands · Updated Apr 2025
10 Best Linux Screen Recording Tools in 2022 Linux · Updated Apr 2025

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