Where Is the GNU Screen Config File?
Screen reads startup commands from .screenrc in your home, with system defaults layered underneath.
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Screen's configuration is one dotfile with decades of stability. Startup commands, key bindings, status lines, and default windows all declare in .screenrc loaded at every launch.
The file stays optional: missing means compiled defaults, present means overrides. Long lived servers accumulate elaborate status lines worth versioning. Tmux users switching over find the concepts familiar and the syntax terser.
Where GNU Screen stores this, by platform
~/.screenrc
Startup commands and bindings live here. System defaults in /etc/screenrc apply underneath; your file overrides them.
~/.screenrc
Same file and role as Linux. Homebrew and system Screen builds share this location.
Frequently asked questions
How do I migrate my setup?
Copy .screenrc to the new home directory. Sessions themselves never migrate, only the configuration does. Detached sessions die with logout unless the machine persists.
What do I actually put in it?
System screenrc ships defaults that your file overrides line by line. Keep personal settings minimal and readable; the man page documents every command the file accepts.
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