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1
votes
1
answers
446
views
How to make terminal bell not so loud (quieter)?
I use Debian and Mate, also I use vim a lot. There are a lot of answers about how to disable that loud beeping sound, it is called "terminal bell" in mate-terminal settings, but actually the sound alert has some good use in vim. My typical workflow is to work with a silent music and I need the alert...
I use Debian and Mate, also I use vim a lot.
There are a lot of answers about how to disable that loud beeping sound, it is called "terminal bell" in mate-terminal settings, but actually the sound alert has some good use in vim. My typical workflow is to work with a silent music and I need the alert to be quieter. It sounds like a drip of water and not like system beep.
An example of possible solution: if I figure up where the sound file is located, I would like to edit it with an audio editor.
Eimrine
(23 rep)
Mar 28, 2023, 07:53 PM
• Last activity: Jul 24, 2025, 07:00 AM
2
votes
3
answers
1572
views
KDE somehow mute Konsole, yet IntelliJ terminal plays "beep" sound as normal
I found out that the "beep" sound is only produced inside of the IntelliJ's (RubyMine to be more specific) terminal. All `tput bel`, `echo ^G` and `echo $'\a'` produces a normal annoying sound. On addition it is played as normal if i use backspace when line is empty, or for example an right arrow wh...
I found out that the "beep" sound is only produced inside of the IntelliJ's (RubyMine to be more specific) terminal. All
This produces a sound:
This does not:
tput bel
, echo ^G
and echo $'\a'
produces a normal annoying sound. On addition it is played as normal if i use backspace when line is empty, or for example an right arrow when i reach the end of the text.
But when i run Konsole app (or Yakuake) it is completely mute.
I have the **"Play sound"** option for **"Bell in Focused Session"** event checked, in my Konsole > Settings > Configure Notifications (pic rel).
The play button, visible on the screen below, doesn't produce any sound neither.



Radek
(21 rep)
Mar 27, 2020, 09:32 AM
• Last activity: Feb 24, 2025, 12:03 PM
0
votes
1
answers
33
views
How to make ring-bell in a pc without pc speaker?
Some modern pc motherboards don't have pc speaker. In my case sudo modprobe pcspkr module load but I cannot see any changes in dev sudo modprobe pcspkr sudo find /dev/ -mmin -1 /dev/ptmx /dev/pts/5 /dev/pts/6 module is not used lsmod |grep pcspkr pcspkr 12288 0 Trying echo -e '\a' or printf \\a give...
Some modern pc motherboards don't have pc speaker.
In my case
sudo modprobe pcspkr
module load but I cannot see any changes in dev
sudo modprobe pcspkr
sudo find /dev/ -mmin -1
/dev/ptmx
/dev/pts/5
/dev/pts/6
module is not used
lsmod |grep pcspkr
pcspkr 12288 0
Trying echo -e '\a' or printf \\a
give no sound.
There is a way to create a fake bell?
Thanks
elbarna
(13690 rep)
Dec 16, 2024, 09:26 PM
• Last activity: Dec 17, 2024, 02:10 AM
1
votes
1
answers
257
views
Unix terminal flashes white on autocomplete
When I work with a terminal via ssh and press Tab button my screen is flickering white. Is there a way to disable it? * I connect to a Ubuntu server via `putty`. * My shell is Zsh but I have the same behavior in Bash. * I turned off the bell in `putty` but it didn't help. I don't know what causes th...
When I work with a terminal via ssh and press Tab button my screen is flickering white.
Is there a way to disable it?
* I connect to a Ubuntu server via
putty
.
* My shell is Zsh but I have the same behavior in Bash.
* I turned off the bell in putty
but it didn't help.
I don't know what causes this.

SavaLione
(21 rep)
Apr 15, 2024, 01:37 AM
• Last activity: Apr 15, 2024, 01:09 PM
0
votes
1
answers
291
views
Zsh - how to enable backspace terminal beep sound
How can I enable the bell sound in my kali linux terminal (zsh) when I backspace or hit tab for suggestions, notice that the beep works when I'm in a sub shell (eg. I accessed mysql CLI the backspace works fine)
How can I enable the bell sound in my kali linux terminal (zsh) when I backspace or hit tab for suggestions, notice that the beep works when I'm in a sub shell (eg. I accessed mysql CLI the backspace works fine)
ALLAOUA Okba
(1 rep)
Jan 6, 2024, 02:58 AM
• Last activity: Jan 6, 2024, 08:43 PM
1
votes
0
answers
44
views
Why does `$PS1` sometimes include the bell, `\a`?
In Ubuntu 18.04 and 22.04 (WSL), I've noticed that `$PS1` contains a "bell" character, `\a`: ``` $ echo $PS1 \[\e]0;\u@\h: \w\a\]${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\[\033[01;32m\]\u@\h\[\033[00m\]:\[\033[01;34m\]\w\[\033[00m\]\$ #I then use sudo su to become root: # echo $PS1 \[\e]0;\u@\h: \w\a\]${de...
In Ubuntu 18.04 and 22.04 (WSL), I've noticed that
$PS1
contains a "bell" character, \a
:
$ echo $PS1
\[\e]0;\u@\h: \w\a\]${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\[\033[01;32m\]\u@\h\[\033[00m\]:\[\033[01;34m\]\w\[\033[00m\]\$
#I then use sudo su to become root:
# echo $PS1
\[\e]0;\u@\h: \w\a\]${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\u@\h:\w\$
Note the \a
before the closing square bracket in both of the above.
I have also noticed this in Kali, back in January:
$ echo $PS1
\[\e]0;\u@\h: \w\a\]\[\033[;32m\]┌──${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)──}${VIRTUAL_ENV:+(\[\033[0;1m\]$(basename $VIRTUAL_ENV)\[\033[;32m\])}(\[\033[1;34m\]\u㉿\h\[\033[;32m\])-[\[\033[0;1m\]\w\[\033[;32m\]]\n\[\033[;32m\]└─\[\033[1;34m\]\$\[\033[0m\]
and in msys2 ucrt64 running on a Windows PC.
There seems to be no reason for this character to be present, especially as no "bell" sound is actually output when the prompt is displayed. And I'd find it very annoying if such a sound was played! So what is the reason for its presence in these $PS1
variables?
AJM
(295 rep)
Dec 14, 2023, 03:25 PM
• Last activity: Dec 14, 2023, 04:14 PM
2
votes
3
answers
1052
views
How to make the screen blink from the command prompt?
Is there a Linux command that makes the screen blink for a fraction of a second? Possibly on all virtual desktops? I would use it to get a visual feedback to signal the end of a build, something like: $ make; blink I already tried with the `beep` command, to get an audio feedback, but on my system i...
Is there a Linux command that makes the screen blink for a fraction of a second? Possibly on all virtual desktops?
I would use it to get a visual feedback to signal the end of a build, something like:
$ make; blink
I already tried with the
beep
command, to get an audio feedback, but on my system it produces no sound.
Pietro
(663 rep)
Sep 7, 2023, 09:59 AM
• Last activity: Sep 7, 2023, 04:01 PM
2
votes
1
answers
1750
views
Disable beeping in lightdm
When typing backspace in an empty password box in lightdm, noisy beep sound comes out. Is there a way to mute this beeping?
When typing backspace in an empty password box in lightdm, noisy beep sound comes out. Is there a way to mute this beeping?
xuhdev
(597 rep)
Jun 17, 2017, 11:02 PM
• Last activity: Aug 9, 2023, 04:46 AM
28
votes
5
answers
48168
views
How to disable beep tone in xfce when the delete button is pressed?
I newly installed xfce on Arch Linux. xfce makes a beep noise every time I press the delete button or backspace, which is really annoying. How can I disable this? I tried un-commenting `set bell-style none`, but that didn't work.
I newly installed xfce on Arch Linux. xfce makes a beep noise every time I press the delete button or backspace, which is really annoying. How can I disable this?
I tried un-commenting
set bell-style none
, but that didn't work.
DScript
(1083 rep)
Jul 8, 2015, 01:36 PM
• Last activity: Aug 29, 2022, 08:29 AM
0
votes
2
answers
4349
views
Loud beep sound from manjaro
I am using Manjaro When I press backspace in an empty search or when I want to shutdown my PC using the GUI, a loud beep is heard. Can anyone help me remove this sound?
I am using Manjaro
When I press backspace in an empty search or when I want to shutdown my PC using the GUI, a loud beep is heard.
Can anyone help me remove this sound?
Charbel Eid
(87 rep)
Sep 25, 2021, 08:05 AM
• Last activity: Aug 19, 2022, 03:10 PM
1
votes
0
answers
848
views
Screen goes blank (black) for a few seconds when (Ubuntu) dual monitor setup
The laptop and monitor screen (connected via hdmi) goes blank. example: - when autocomplete in terminal fails - when taking a screenshot I believe the OS is trying to play a notification sound but it is failing to do so. The audio is working fine. Laptop specs: [![enter image description here][1]][1...
The laptop and monitor screen (connected via hdmi) goes blank.
example:
- when autocomplete in terminal fails
- when taking a screenshot
I believe the OS is trying to play a notification sound but it is failing to do so.
The audio is working fine.
Laptop specs:

$ dmesg -l err
[ 0.225931] x86/cpu: VMX (outside TXT) disabled by BIOS
[ 0.225941] x86/cpu: SGX disabled by BIOS.
[ 0.380562] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [\_SB.PCI0.RP03.PEGP.TDGC], AE_NOT_FOUND (20210331/psargs-330)
[ 0.380603] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_SB.PCI0.RP03.PC01._ON due to previous error (AE_NOT_FOUND) (20210331/psparse-529)
[ 0.440228] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [\_SB.PCI0.RP03.PEGP.TDGC], AE_NOT_FOUND (20210331/psargs-330)
[ 0.440265] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_SB.PCI0.RP03.PC01._OFF due to previous error (AE_NOT_FOUND) (20210331/psparse-529)
[ 19.777581] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): AE_AML_PACKAGE_LIMIT, Index (0x00000004B) is beyond end of object (length 0x44) (20210331/exoparg2-393)
[ 19.777656] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_SB.WMID.WHCM due to previous error (AE_AML_PACKAGE_LIMIT) (20210331/psparse-529)
[ 19.777674] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_SB.WMID.WMAA due to previous error (AE_AML_PACKAGE_LIMIT) (20210331/psparse-529)
[ 5934.030523] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] *ERROR* CPU pipe B FIFO underrun
[11419.226593] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [\_PR.CPU0._PPC], AE_NOT_FOUND (20210331/psargs-330)
[11419.226643] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_PTS due to previous error (AE_NOT_FOUND) (20210331/psparse-529)
[11420.273090] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [\_SB.PCI0.RP03.PEGP.TDGC], AE_NOT_FOUND (20210331/psargs-330)
[11420.273134] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_SB.PCI0.RP03.PC01._OFF due to previous error (AE_NOT_FOUND) (20210331/psparse-529)
[15439.063104] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:0e.0: azx_get_response timeout, switching to single_cmd mode: last cmd=0x20bf8100
[15439.361819] snd_hda_codec_hdmi hdaudioC0D2: Unable to sync register 0x2f0d00. -5
[15439.926958] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: Unable to sync register 0x2b8000. -5
[15439.927318] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: Unable to sync register 0x2b8000. -5
[24227.045287] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [\_PR.CPU0._PPC], AE_NOT_FOUND (20210331/psargs-330)
[24227.045346] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_PTS due to previous error (AE_NOT_FOUND) (20210331/psparse-529)
[24227.849375] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [\_SB.PCI0.RP03.PEGP.TDGC], AE_NOT_FOUND (20210331/psargs-330)
[24227.849436] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_SB.PCI0.RP03.PC01._OFF due to previous error (AE_NOT_FOUND) (20210331/psparse-529)
[24349.016510] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [\_PR.CPU0._PPC], AE_NOT_FOUND (20210331/psargs-330)
[24349.016564] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_PTS due to previous error (AE_NOT_FOUND) (20210331/psparse-529)
[24350.287650] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [\_SB.PCI0.RP03.PEGP.TDGC], AE_NOT_FOUND (20210331/psargs-330)
[24350.287694] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_SB.PCI0.RP03.PC01._OFF due to previous error (AE_NOT_FOUND) (20210331/psparse-529)
[27414.886509] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [\_PR.CPU0._PPC], AE_NOT_FOUND (20210331/psargs-330)
[27414.886566] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_PTS due to previous error (AE_NOT_FOUND) (20210331/psparse-529)
[27415.918488] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [\_SB.PCI0.RP03.PEGP.TDGC], AE_NOT_FOUND (20210331/psargs-330)
[27415.918530] ACPI Error: Aborting method \_SB.PCI0.RP03.PC01._OFF due to previous error (AE_NOT_FOUND) (20210331/psparse-529)
MiKz
(23 rep)
Jul 5, 2022, 09:15 AM
• Last activity: Jul 5, 2022, 09:52 AM
1
votes
2
answers
398
views
How to invert 'watch -b'?
I'm trying to get my terminal to alert me with a simple bell once my domain registration has finished (is resolvable). From `watch --help`: >Options: >-b, --beep beep if command has a non-zero exit How can I invert this option, so it beeps if the command has a zero exit? I also tried variations of t...
I'm trying to get my terminal to alert me with a simple bell once my domain registration has finished (is resolvable).
From
watch --help
:
>Options:
>-b, --beep beep if command has a non-zero exit
How can I invert this option, so it beeps if the command has a zero exit?
I also tried variations of the following, but I can't get it to beep when inside watch
.
watch 'nslookup foo.bar && echo "\a"'
Panki
(7162 rep)
Oct 13, 2019, 08:22 AM
• Last activity: Jan 13, 2022, 05:26 AM
9
votes
3
answers
14814
views
Turn off beep of Xorg
How should I disable beep permanently? I know `xset b off` can do this, but what's the corresponding option in `xorg.conf`? Or any other way to do this?
How should I disable beep permanently? I know
xset b off
can do this, but what's the corresponding option in xorg.conf
? Or any other way to do this?
daisy
(55777 rep)
May 28, 2012, 11:05 AM
• Last activity: Dec 28, 2021, 02:40 PM
93
votes
4
answers
67635
views
How to turn off the beep only in bash tab-complete
I find the beep useful for some things, so I **only** want to turn it off for tab completion (I'm not asking how to completely turn it off, that [has already been answered][1] in a different question on Serverfault). I also don't have root access, working on RHEL5. [1]:https://serverfault.com/q/2640...
I find the beep useful for some things, so I **only** want to turn it off for tab completion (I'm not asking how to completely turn it off, that has already been answered in a different question on Serverfault). I also don't have root access, working on RHEL5.
Shep
(1121 rep)
Apr 25, 2013, 09:10 AM
• Last activity: Nov 27, 2020, 08:35 AM
3
votes
1
answers
324
views
Best practice for generating bell/beep in a *n*x GUI-oriented program
I've managed to get myself into an argument elsewhere trying to discourage somebody from writing a library that invokes aplay in order to get a GUI program to make a simple noise: the sort of thing that on a text console would be done by \a My understanding is that ALSA as a subsystem is fairly perv...
I've managed to get myself into an argument elsewhere trying to discourage somebody from writing a library that invokes aplay in order to get a GUI program to make a simple noise: the sort of thing that on a text console would be done by \a
My understanding is that ALSA as a subsystem is fairly pervasive, and libasound.so as a client library appears to be installed on any (Linux) host capable of running a GUI-oriented program even if it doesn't have a full desktop environment (i.e. a program relies on X11 tunnelled over SSH etc.).
On the other hand, I notice https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/elisp/Desktop-Notifications.html which implies that at least Emacs is able to raise an audible alert via D-Bus, and it looks as though KDE's konsole does something similar although I've not yet looked inside the messages in detail. In those cases I don't know if it's possible to rely on the fact that there's a theme-selected default alert sound.
I've not found anything equivalent using e.g. wmctrl.
Does the community think that best practice would be to interface with ALSA via libasound, or is there in fact a better way using e.g. D-Bus or some other way of interceding with the desktop environment (Window Manager etc.)?
Mark Morgan Lloyd
(359 rep)
Oct 23, 2020, 10:33 AM
• Last activity: Oct 24, 2020, 12:00 PM
0
votes
0
answers
277
views
plan 9 fonts on linux console
I am wondering how I can convert plan 9 fonts for use with the linux console, there is very little info on the topic. All i can find is vga medium having been ported to true type, but it doesnt look anything like vga medium and sort of sucks. I will be posting any helpful data I have shortly. edit:...
I am wondering how I can convert plan 9 fonts for use with the linux console, there is very little info on the topic. All i can find is vga medium having been ported to true type, but it doesnt look anything like vga medium and sort of sucks.
I will be posting any helpful data I have shortly.
edit:
http://sciops.net/downloads/vga/
the plan 9 vga font can be downloaded for 9front here.
sugond desenuts
(111 rep)
Oct 8, 2020, 09:55 PM
• Last activity: Oct 8, 2020, 10:12 PM
1
votes
1
answers
1170
views
disable beep/bell notification from irssi when terminal in focus?
In `irssi`, it is easy to enable bells on notifications (mentions, or direct messages) with the following command: `/SET beep_msg_level MSGS HILIGHT DCCMSGS` However; this does just that. It sends beeps on highlights, and private messages — regardless of terminal state. Is there a way to continue to...
In
irssi
, it is easy to enable bells on notifications (mentions, or direct messages) with the following command:
/SET beep_msg_level MSGS HILIGHT DCCMSGS
However; this does just that. It sends beeps on highlights, and private messages — regardless of terminal state. Is there a way to continue to receive beeps, but only if the terminal window is not in focus? It does not make much sense to receive beeps in a private chat if you're already actively chatting.
I am using Bash on macOS.
marked-down
(431 rep)
Mar 2, 2018, 08:16 AM
• Last activity: Oct 15, 2019, 07:55 PM
2
votes
2
answers
1380
views
Ring the computer bell without a terminal
I know how to ring the bell with `echo -ne '\a'` (or, even better if you don’t mind relying on an external command: `tput bel`). However, what it actually does is sending some special code to the output; then, _if that output happens to be a terminal_, the terminal interprets the code and rings the...
I know how to ring the bell with
echo -ne '\a'
(or, even better if you don’t mind relying on an external command: tput bel
). However, what it actually does is sending some special code to the output; then, _if that output happens to be a terminal_, the terminal interprets the code and rings the bell.
My issue is that I want to emit warning noises from a background script, whose output is not read by any terminal. I might play some harmonious .wav
file with paplay
or similar, but I prefer that plain, strident beeeep. And I would like not to depend on external programs.
So, questions:
1. Is the bell sound, as emitted by terminals, special in some way (for example using a dedicated hardware), or is it a sound file like any other?
2. How to reproduce that sound?
Maëlan
(446 rep)
Jul 21, 2019, 05:41 PM
• Last activity: Aug 30, 2019, 06:52 PM
2
votes
1
answers
670
views
Make noise on Ubuntu 18.04 without internet
I have an Ubuntu machine that currently has no internet connection. I want to set it up so it makes a sound when internet comes back. I'm not sure this machine has a PC speaker, but there is a speaker connected to the on-board sound card. In the past I think I used `cat /dev/urandom > /dev/audio` fo...
I have an Ubuntu machine that currently has no internet connection. I want to set it up so it makes a sound when internet comes back.
I'm not sure this machine has a PC speaker, but there is a speaker connected to the on-board sound card.
In the past I think I used
cat /dev/urandom > /dev/audio
for this, but this doesn't seem to work anymore.
None of these tools are currently installed: beep
, aplay
, padsp
None of these made any sound:
modprobe pcspkr
echo -e '\a' > /dev/tty1
echo -e '\a' > /dev/console
This failed with write error: File descriptor in bad state
:
cat /dev/urandom > /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p
AndreKR
(1218 rep)
Oct 24, 2018, 09:59 AM
• Last activity: Oct 25, 2018, 07:59 PM
2
votes
1
answers
772
views
How to configure the system in order to be able to hear the sound of the \a escape character?
I read that if I execute: echo -e "\a" a sound emerges, but I executed this command several times and no sound happened.
I read that if I execute:
echo -e "\a"
a sound emerges, but I executed this command several times and no sound happened.
Abdul Al Hazred
(27600 rep)
Mar 22, 2015, 12:08 AM
• Last activity: Sep 1, 2018, 08:47 PM
Showing page 1 of 20 total questions