How to Scroll Up in the Linux Terminal

When working with the Linux terminal, it's common to run commands that generate a lot of output-whether it's reading log files, compiling software, or listing directories. Sometimes the output scrolls by so fast that you miss important information.

If you've ever asked, "How do I scroll up in the Linux terminal?", you're not alone. Many users-especially those new to Linux or working on Go4hosting's cloud servers or dedicated servers-face this question.

In this knowledgebase article, we'll explore various ways to scroll up in the Linux terminal, depending on the terminal emulator, shell, or environment you�re using.

Why Scrolling Up Isn't Always Straightforward

Before diving into solutions, it helps to understand why scrolling can sometimes be tricky:

• Linux terminals (also called TTYs) and terminal emulators (GUI programs like GNOME Terminal, Konsole, PuTTY) handle scrolling differently.
  
  

• Many command-line tools (like less, more, man) implement their own internal paging controls.
  
  

• When using SSH to connect to cloud servers (like those on Go4hosting), you depend on your local terminal's scroll buffer.
  

Basic Methods to Scroll Up

1. Using the Mouse Scroll Wheel

In most modern terminal emulators:

• You can simply use your mouse scroll wheel to scroll up and down through the terminal buffer.
  

Common supported terminals:

• GNOME Terminal (Ubuntu, Fedora)
  
  

• Konsole (KDE)
  
  

• XFCE Terminal
  
  

• Tilix
  
  

• Windows Terminal
  
  

• macOS Terminal
  
  

• iTerm2
  

Tip: Some terminals let you configure how much to scroll per wheel tick.

2. Using Scrollbars

Some terminal emulators display a scrollbar on the right-hand side:

• You can click and drag the scrollbar to scroll up.
  
  

• If it's not visible, check your terminal settings (sometimes scrollbars are disabled by default).
  

3. Using Keyboard Shortcuts (Terminal Buffer)

Many terminal emulators support keyboard shortcuts to scroll:

GNOME Terminal / Ubuntu Terminal

• Shift + Page Up- Scroll up one screen.
  
  

• Shift + Page Down - Scroll down one screen.
  
  

Konsole (KDE)

• Shift + Page Up / Page Down - Same behavior.
  
  

macOS Terminal / iTerm2

• Use Cmd + Up Arrow or Cmd + Down Arrow, or your mouse.
  
  

Windows Terminal / PowerShell / PuTTY

• Shift + Page Up / Page Down, or use mouse wheel.
  
  

Why "Shift"?
By default, Page Up / Page Down scroll through command history (not the screen buffer). Adding Shift tells the terminal to scroll the screen instead.

4. Using Terminal Multiplexers (tmux / screen)

If you�re using a terminal multiplexer like:

• tmux
  
  

• screen
  
  

These tools manage their own buffers. Normal scrolling shortcuts may not work unless you enter copy mode.

tmux

• Enter copy mode: Ctrl + b, then [
  
  

• Scroll using Up Arrow, Page Up, or mouse (if mouse mode is enabled).
  
  

• Exit copy mode: q
  
  

screen

• Enter copy mode: Ctrl + a, then [
  
  

• Scroll with Up Arrow or Page Up.
  
  

• Exit copy mode: Esc
  

Tip: Terminal multiplexers are extremely useful when working on Go4hosting Cloud VPS server or servers over SSH because they allow you to:

• Detach and reattach sessions.
  
  

• Keep programs running even if your SSH connection drops.
  
  

• Scroll through large amounts of output.
  

Scrolling Within Command Output

Some Linux commands generate lots of output and open an internal pager. Common pagers include:

less

Commands like:

bash

CopyEdit

man bash

git log

less /var/log/syslog

will launch less, which has built-in scrolling:

• Up Arrow / Down Arrow - Scroll line by line.
  
  

• Page Up / Page Down - Scroll by pages.
  
  

• g - Go to beginning of file.
  
  

• G - Go to end of file.
  
  

• q - Quit less.
  
  

more

Older pager with limited functionality:

• Enter - Scroll line by line.
  
  

• Spacebar - Scroll by page.
  
  

• b - Scroll backward by page.
  
  

• q - Quit.
  
  

tail with follow (tail -f)

If you run:

bash

CopyEdit

tail -f /var/log/syslog

You will not be able to scroll up using tail itself, because it's continuously streaming the latest output. However:

• You can use your terminal�s scroll buffer (mouse wheel or Shift + Page Up) to scroll up through the buffer.
  
  

• If you need full backward scrolling, use less +F instead of tail -f.
  

Example:

bash

CopyEdit

less +F /var/log/syslog

Press Ctrl + C to pause, then scroll freely.

Why Can't I Scroll Up?

1. Small Scrollback Buffer

Your terminal emulator has a scrollback buffer limit. If the output exceeds this buffer, older lines are lost.

Solution:

• Increase the scrollback buffer size in your terminal settings. For example:
  
  

• GNOME Terminal - Preferences - Profile - Scrolling - Scrollback - Unlimited or large number (5000�100000 lines).
  

2. No GUI Terminal (Pure TTY)

If you're on a virtual console (Ctrl + Alt + F1�F6) or using a serial console, scrolling is limited:

• You can often use Shift + Page Up / Page Down if supported.
  
  

• If not, use a pager (less, more) or redirect output to a file.
  

Example:

bash

CopyEdit

command > output.txt

less output.txt

Scrolling When Connected via SSH

When you SSH into a Go4hosting Cloud VPS or Linux server, you�re using your local terminal (PuTTY, GNOME Terminal, Windows Terminal, etc.):

• Mouse wheel and Shift + Page Up scroll through your local terminal's scroll buffer.
  
  

• Tools like tmux or screen allow you to scroll internally within the SSH session, even if you disconnect/reconnect.
  
  

Pro tip: Using tmux is highly recommended for professional server work.

Summary of Scrolling Methods

Conclusion

Knowing how to scroll up in the Linux terminal is an essential skill, whether you're:

• Debugging an error
  
  

• Reviewing server logs on a Go4hosting Cloud VPS
  
  

• Reading lengthy command output
  
  

• Using SSH from a remote location
  

Key takeaways:

• Use mouse scroll and Shift + Page Up/Down in GUI terminals.
  
  

• Use tmux or screen for advanced scrolling in persistent SSH sessions.
  
  

• Use less or more when viewing files or piped output.
  
  

• Configure your terminal's scrollback buffer for better usability.
  
  

At Go4hosting, our cloud servers and Linux hosting platforms provide full support for:

• Terminal multiplexers
  
  

• Developer-friendly environments
  
  

• Managed and unmanaged Linux setups
  
  

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