screen MacOS Command Guide
The screen command in MacOS allows users to create, manage, and navigate multiple terminal sessions with ease. It provides a virtual terminal window that persists even if the connection is lost. With screen, users can run processes in the background, detach from sessions, reattach to existing sessions, split the screen, and more. This command is particularly useful for managing tasks that require continuous monitoring or for running multiple commands simultaneously. By mastering the screen command, MacOS users can enhance their productivity and streamline their workflow when working in the terminal.
screen Syntax:
Section titled “screen Syntax:”screen [options] [parameters]Options:
Section titled “Options:”| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -S | Name the screen session |
| -ls | List all screen sessions |
| -r | Reattach to a detached session |
| -d | Detach a screen session |
| -X | Execute a command within the session |
| -wipe | Remove all dead sessions |
Parameters:
Section titled “Parameters:”| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| sessionID | ID of the session to attach or detach |
| command | Command to execute within the screen session |
screen Command Samples:
Section titled “screen Command Samples:”Create a New Screen Session
Section titled “Create a New Screen Session”screen -S mysessionCreates a new screen session named “mysession”.
Detach from a Screen Session
Section titled “Detach from a Screen Session”screen -d mysessionDetaches from the screen session named “mysession”.
List all Screen Sessions
Section titled “List all Screen Sessions”screen -lsLists all available screen sessions.
Reattach to a Screen Session
Section titled “Reattach to a Screen Session”screen -r mysessionReattaches to the screen session named “mysession”.
Split Screen Vertically
Section titled “Split Screen Vertically”screen -vSplits the screen vertically within the current session.
Split Screen Horizontally
Section titled “Split Screen Horizontally”screen -hSplits the screen horizontally within the current session.
Change the Screen Session Name
Section titled “Change the Screen Session Name”screen -S newsessionChanges the name of the current screen session to “newsession”.
How do I start a new screen session in MacOS?
Section titled “How do I start a new screen session in MacOS?”To start a new screen session in MacOS, use the following command:
screenHow do I list all screen sessions in MacOS?
Section titled “How do I list all screen sessions in MacOS?”To list all screen sessions in MacOS, execute the following command:
screen -lsHow do I reattach to a detached screen session in MacOS?
Section titled “How do I reattach to a detached screen session in MacOS?”To reattach to a detached screen session in MacOS, use the following command:
screen -r <session_id>How do I detach from a running screen session in MacOS?
Section titled “How do I detach from a running screen session in MacOS?”To detach from a running screen session in MacOS without terminating it, execute the following key combination:
Ctrl + A, then press DHow do I terminate a screen session in MacOS?
Section titled “How do I terminate a screen session in MacOS?”To terminate a screen session in MacOS, use the following command while inside the session:
exitHow do I customize the screen session name in MacOS?
Section titled “How do I customize the screen session name in MacOS?”To customize the screen session name in MacOS when starting a new session, use the following command:
screen -S <session_name>Applications of the screen command
Section titled “Applications of the screen command”- Running multiple terminal sessions
- Keeping processes running after closing a terminal
- Sharing terminal sessions with multiple users
- Running commands on a remote system
- Scripting automated tasks
- Monitoring and debugging processes