How to create a window in Screen

A Screen window is a separate terminal workspace inside one Screen session. Create one when a long-running command, log view, editor, or shell needs its own place without replacing the command already running in the current window.

Inside an attached session, the default C-a c binding runs Screen's screen command and switches to a new shell window. From another terminal, screen -S work -X screen -t logs sends that same Screen command to the named work session and gives the new window a title.

Use short titles for windows that will be selected, moved, monitored, or targeted later. Verify the result with the interactive window list or screen -S work -Q windows; if more than one session matches the same name, list sessions first and target the full process-qualified session name.

1. Create a new shell window from inside an attached session.

   C-a c

   Screen switches to the new window immediately.

2. Create a titled shell window from outside the session when the session is detached or controlled by automation.

   $ screen -S work -X screen -t logs

   The -t logs option sets the Screen window title. Without a command after the title, Screen starts the default shell in the new window.

3. Query the named session to confirm the new window exists.

   $ screen -S work -Q windows
   0 bash  1 logs

   screen -Q windows prints the session's window numbers and titles. In an attached session, C-a “ opens the interactive window list instead.

   Related: How to list Screen sessions

4. Create a titled window that starts a specific command when that window should run one program.

   $ screen -S work -X screen -t monitor top

   monitor is the Screen window title, and top is the command started inside that window.

5. Query the window list again to verify the command window was added.

   $ screen -S work -Q windows
   0 bash  1 logs  2 monitor

   When the command running in a command window exits, that Screen window normally closes.