# Using the screen program

> Use the Linux screen program to run several terminal sessions and keep them running if your SSH connection drops.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/developers/linux/using-the-screen-program/

**Using the screen program**\
Learn how to use the `screen` program in Linux to manage terminal sessions, run multiple commands, and maintain sessions even if your connection drops.

This article explains how to use `screen` with step-by-step instructions and relevant code snippets.

**When to use Linux screen**\
Have you ever lost your SSH connection while working at the command line? Or wanted to run multiple commands without opening separate SSH sessions?

The `screen` program handles these situations. It lets you maintain open terminal sessions if the connection drops and allows you to open multiple text windows to run commands within a single SSH session.

**How to use screen**\
To start `screen`, log in to your ruachost.com account via SSH and run:

```
screen
```

> **Note:**
If you encounter an error, see the troubleshooting section below.

To list active screen sessions, run:

```
screen -ls
```

You may see output like:

```
There is a screen on:
```

```
        231102.pts-2.sr10       (Attached)
1 Socket in /home/username/.screen.
```

This shows that one screen session is attached. You can type commands as usual.

- To open a new window, press `Ctrl-a` then `c`.
- To switch between windows, press `Ctrl-a` then `n`.
- To close a window or session, type `exit`.
- To view help within screen, press `Ctrl-a` then `?`, or run:

```
man screen
```

You can also create a customized status bar by adding a `~/.screenrc` file. For example, to display the server hostname and window name at the bottom:

```
hardstatus alwayslastline "[%H] %w "
```

**Important**\
Do not leave idle screen sessions open for long periods or run CPU-intensive processes for extended times, in accordance with our Terms of Service.

**Troubleshooting screen**\
Some accounts, such as shared hosting, may not support `screen`. The bash shell must be enabled. To check your shell, run:

```
echo $SHELL
```

If it shows `jailshell`, `screen` will not work. To enable bash, submit a support ticket at [https://ruachost.com](https://ruachost.com/).

Even with bash enabled, you may encounter:

```
Directory '/var/run/screen' must have mode 775.
```

To fix this, run:

```
mkdir ~/.screen && chmod 700 ~/.screen
```

Then add this line to your `~/.bashrc` file:

```
export SCREENDIR=$HOME/.screen
```

Log out and back in via SSH, and `screen` should work properly.