Would `screen -d -R` & al not work? From `man screen`:
-d|-D [pid.tty.host]
does not start screen, but detaches the elsewhere running screen session. It has the same effect as typing "C-a d" from screen's controlling terminal. -D is the equivalent to the power
detach key. If no session can be detached, this option is ignored. In combination with the -r/-R option more powerful effects can be achieved:
-d -r Reattach a session and if necessary detach it first.
-d -R Reattach a session and if necessary detach or even create it first.
-d -RR Reattach a session and if necessary detach or create it. Use the first session if more than one session is available.
-D -r Reattach a session. If necessary detach and logout remotely first.
-D -R Attach here and now. In detail this means: If a session is running, then reattach. If necessary detach and logout remotely first. If it was not running create it and notify the user.
This is the author's favorite.
-D -RR Attach here and now. Whatever that means, just do it.
Note: It is always a good idea to check the status of your sessions by means of "screen -list".
Believe me I tried all combinations, lowercase and uppercase, it would just freeze, as if it was trying to get my session back, but it wouldn't do anything. It happened often, and I would lose my sessions, so I learnt to use tmux, and that's what I've been using for ten years.
Yeah... I kind of vaguely remember having an issue with this sort of thing 20 years ago, but I don't remember if I even knew about force detach at the time. I definitely haven't experienced a screen session I couldn't detach--and I use screen a LOT--in at least 10 years... probably 15.
