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Asked: 2024-09-24T04:01:40+05:30 In:

What are the steps to disconnect a screen session from a terminal in Ubuntu?

So, I’ve been diving into using screen sessions on my Ubuntu machine, and while I’ve got the hang of starting one, I keep getting stuck on how to properly disconnect from it when I’m done. I mean, it feels a bit clunky, and sometimes I just want to pop out without killing the session entirely.

I know there are plenty of cool things I can do with screen, like running multiple commands without having to keep the terminal window open. But I’m a little lost on the best way to disconnect and come back to it later. I’ve tried a couple of random key combinations like Ctrl+A followed by D, but honestly, I don’t know if I’m even doing it right. Is that actually how you do it?

Also, what happens to the screen session when you disconnect it? I’ve heard it keeps running in the background, which is great, but I’m not sure if there’s anything I need to do to make sure it’s actually paused or saved as I expect it to be.

And one more thing—if I disconnect and then later want to reattach to that same session, what’s the easiest way to get back in without doing too much digging? I imagine anyone who’s more experienced with screen has a slick way of handling this, and I’d love to know your go-to steps.

I’ve seen some commands floating around like `screen -r`, but what if I have multiple sessions? Does that complicate things? I really don’t want to mess up anything, especially since I’m trying to keep my workflow smooth and efficient.

So if anyone has a straightforward rundown or a little guide they can share, that’d be awesome! I’m sure others in the community would benefit from it too, especially those who are just getting into terminal use and all its quirks. Thanks in advance for helping out a fellow user!

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    2 Answers



    1. Screen Session Guide

      Using Screen Sessions on Ubuntu

      If you’re looking to disconnect from a screen session without killing it, you’re on the right track with Ctrl+A followed by D. That combination actually detaches the screen session, allowing it to keep running in the background!

      What Happens When You Disconnect?

      When you detach from the session, everything running in that session continues without any interruption. So don’t worry, it’s paused just the way you expect it to be!

      Reattaching to a Screen Session

      To get back into a screen session later, you simply use:

      screen -r

      If you have multiple screen sessions, you’ll see a list when you run screen -r. It might look something like this:

      There are several suitable screens on:
        1234.my_session (03/10/23 14:22:01) (Attached)
        5678.another_session (03/10/23 14:25:03) (Detached)

      To choose a specific session to reattach to, use:

      screen -r 5678

      Replace 5678 with the actual session ID you want to attach to.

      Quick Tips

      • To list all screen sessions, you can run screen -ls.
      • If you ever need to terminate a session, you can do that from inside the screen with exit.
      • Using Ctrl+A then ?” shows you all the shortcuts for screen.

      So, you’re set to dive deeper into using screen! It’s super useful for multitasking in the terminal. Just remember those key commands, and you’ll be navigating your sessions like a pro in no time!




    2. Screen Sessions on Ubuntu

      To properly disconnect from a screen session without terminating it, you can use the key combination Ctrl+A followed by D. This command sends a detach signal, allowing the session to continue running in the background while you exit the screen. You can return to your regular terminal without losing any of the processes or commands running inside the detached session. When you detach, the session remains active, meaning any commands you had running will continue to execute, and no additional steps are required to pause or save it unless you’re working with specific commands that have their own resume or pause functionality.

      To reattach to a disconnected session later, you can simply use the command screen -r. If you have multiple sessions running, you’ll need to specify which one to reattach to by using screen -r [session_id], where [session_id] is the identifier of the screen session you wish to return to. You can list all your existing screen sessions with the command screen -ls. This will help you see what sessions are available and make it easy to pick the one you want to reattach to, keeping your workflow smooth and efficient. With these key commands, managing your screen sessions should become much easier as you dive deeper into terminal use.


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