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Phone SSH sessions usually disconnect because a standard SSH terminal depends on one live TCP connection. A Wi-Fi-to-cellular handoff, a short loss of signal, an idle firewall timeout, or a phone suspending its terminal app can interrupt it. OpenSSH keepalives can help with some idle-timeout problems, but they cannot make SSH roam to a new network address. For roaming interactive shells, use Mosh; to keep remote work running after you reconnect, use tmux.
Why does SSH disconnect when your phone switches networks?
SSH carries a normal terminal session over TCP. If your phone changes networks, loses connectivity briefly, or gets a different IP address, the existing TCP connection may no longer have a working path to the server. SSH keepalives can detect an unresponsive connection and sometimes prevent an intermediary from expiring an idle one, but they do not migrate the existing connection to a new address. The Mosh project is designed for roaming and intermittent connectivity.
Wi-Fi or cellular handoff
If the drop happens during a Wi-Fi-to-cellular switch or a weak-signal interruption, suspect a broken network path rather than an idle timeout. Ordinary SSH does not resume its TCP session on the new path. Mosh is the directly relevant option if the host and network can support it.
Phone locks or terminal app goes to the background
If SSH drops only after the screen locks or you switch apps, first test with the terminal visible. Then check the specific terminal app’s documentation and your phone’s battery and background-execution settings. Background behavior varies by app, operating system version, device manufacturer, and user settings; there is no single setting that applies to every iPhone or Android device.
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Disconnect after a predictable idle period
If the phone remains on the same network and the session closes after a repeatable period of inactivity, an idle timeout in a firewall or NAT device is a possibility. A client keepalive may keep some idle paths active, depending on that intermediary’s policy.
Terminal stops responding without a clear disconnect
Check the mobile client’s connection log and, if available, its verbose diagnostics. Blink’s documentation describes using ssh -vvv to increase SSH diagnostic output; the equivalent steps vary across mobile apps. Server logs may also help distinguish an SSH failure from an app or network problem.
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How do I keep SSH alive on my phone?
For an OpenSSH client, add a host entry like this to its SSH configuration:
Host myserver
ServerAliveInterval 30
ServerAliveCountMax 3This is an illustrative starting point, not a universal setting or a guarantee. ServerAliveInterval asks the client to request a response through the encrypted channel after the configured period with no data from the server. ServerAliveCountMax sets how many unanswered checks the client tolerates. The OpenBSD ssh_config(5) manual documents defaults of 0 for the interval (disabled) and 3 for the count. It also gives an example: with a 15-second interval and the default count of 3, SSH disconnects after approximately 45 seconds if the server remains unresponsive. That example illustrates failure detection; it is not a recommended value for every connection.
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Mobile SSH apps may expose equivalent options under different names, or may not offer them. Server-side ClientAliveInterval and ClientAliveCountMax are separate sshd settings: they govern checks initiated by the server, not the phone’s client configuration. Increasing timeout values indiscriminately can delay detection of a dead connection without fixing the underlying network change.
- Use client keepalives to address some idle-path timeouts or detect a connection that has stopped responding.
- Do not expect keepalives to restore a broken radio link, move a TCP connection to a new IP address, or prevent the phone from suspending its terminal app.
When should I use Mosh instead of SSH?
Use Mosh when you need an interactive shell that can cope with temporary connectivity loss or a change of network address. Mosh uses SSH for initial authentication and to start mosh-server; the interactive terminal then runs over UDP. The project documentation describes a default UDP port range of 60000–61000. The host needs the Mosh server component, your phone needs a Mosh-capable client, and the network must allow the selected UDP port or range. If UDP is blocked, Mosh may not work on that network.
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Mosh is not a drop-in replacement for every SSH task. Keep ordinary SSH for workflows such as port forwarding or file transfer, and check whether the client supports the features your workflow requires. SSH still performs Mosh’s initial login.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can I stop a command from dying when my phone disconnects?
Run long-lived work inside a tmux session on the server. For example:
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- Start a named session on the remote host:
tmux new -s work. - Run the command inside that session.
- After reconnecting, reattach with
tmux attach -t work.
The OpenBSD tmux(1) manual describes sessions as persistent across accidental disconnection. Because tmux runs on the server, the session and work started inside it can remain available independently of the phone’s terminal connection. tmux does not keep the SSH TCP stream connected, restore input typed while disconnected, or protect a command that you started outside the tmux session. For commands started elsewhere, whether they survive a terminal or connection closure depends on how the command handles hangups and terminal shutdown.
Which fix matches the problem?
| Remedy | What it addresses | Server setup | Survives a network handoff? | Keeps remote work running? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenSSH client keepalives | Some idle timeouts and detection of an unresponsive path | Usually no server change for client-side settings; server-side settings are separate | No | No, not by itself |
| Mosh | Interactive terminal roaming and intermittent connectivity | Yes: mosh-server and reachable UDP |
Designed to | Preserves the interactive remote shell through supported interruptions |
| tmux | Remote terminal and work persistence after disconnection | Yes: tmux must be available on the host | No; reconnect separately | Yes, when the work runs inside its session |
Choose based on the failure and the outcome you need: keepalives are for some quiet connections, Mosh is for interactive roaming, and tmux is for work that must remain available after a disconnect. They address different problems and can be used together where appropriate.
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