📺GNU Screen Keyboard Shortcuts
20 essential shortcuts for GNU Screen
Windows
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+a c | Create new window |
| Ctrl+a n/p | Next / previous window |
| Ctrl+a 0–9 | Switch to window number |
| Ctrl+a " | List all windows |
| Ctrl+a A | Rename current window |
| Ctrl+a k | Kill current window |
Regions
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+a S | Split horizontally |
| Ctrl+a | | Split vertically |
| Ctrl+a Tab | Switch between regions |
| Ctrl+a X | Remove current region |
| Ctrl+a Q | Remove all regions except current |
Sessions
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+a d | Detach from session |
| Ctrl+a D D | Detach and logout |
Copy Mode
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+a [ | Enter copy/scrollback mode |
| Ctrl+a ] | Paste copied text |
| Ctrl+a Esc | Enter copy mode (alternate) |
General
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+a H | Toggle logging to file |
| Ctrl+a x | Lock session |
| Ctrl+a ? | Show key bindings help |
| Ctrl+a : | Enter command prompt |
About GNU Screen Shortcuts
GNU Screen is a terminal multiplexer that allows multiple pseudo-terminals to be managed from a single terminal session. Like tmux, it supports session detaching and reattaching, making it invaluable for long-running processes on remote servers. Screen uses Ctrl+a as its default prefix key followed by a command character. While tmux has largely succeeded it for new users, Screen remains widely installed on servers and is still used extensively in production environments.
This reference covers 20 essential GNU Screen keyboard shortcuts organized across 5 categories: Windows, Regions, Sessions, and more. Each shortcut lists both macOS and Windows/Linux key combinations where applicable, making it easy to find the right key combo regardless of your operating system.
Learning keyboard shortcuts is one of the highest-leverage investments you can make in your daily workflow. Studies show that developers and designers who rely on keyboard shortcuts are measurably faster at common tasks. Rather than memorizing every shortcut at once, focus on the ones you use most frequently and gradually expand your repertoire.
Bookmark this page for quick reference whenever you need to look up a GNU Screen shortcut. The categorized layout makes it easy to find shortcuts by their function, whether you need navigation, editing, or specialized commands.