OS Manuals

/usr/bin/setterm

Misc binaries for util-linux

From util-linux-misc 2.42.4-r2 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running setterm --help (exit 0). permalink

Usage:
 setterm [options]

Set the attributes of a terminal.

Options:
 --term <terminal_name>        override TERM environment variable
 --reset                       reset terminal to power-on state
 --resize                      reset terminal rows and columns
 --initialize                  display init string, and use default settings
 --default                     use default terminal settings
 --store                       save current terminal settings as default

 --cursor on|off               display cursor
 --repeat on|off               keyboard repeat
 --appcursorkeys on|off        cursor key application mode
 --linewrap on|off             continue on a new line when a line is full
 --inversescreen on|off        swap colors for the whole screen

 --msg on|off                  send kernel messages to console
 --msglevel <0-8>              kernel console log level

 --foreground default|<color>  set foreground color
 --background default|<color>  set background color
 --ulcolor [bright] <color>    set underlined text color
 --hbcolor [bright] <color>    set half-bright text color
        <color>: black blue cyan green grey magenta red white yellow

 --bold on|off                 bold
 --half-bright on|off          dim
 --blink on|off                blink
 --underline on|off            underline
 --reverse  on|off             swap foreground and background colors

 --clear[=<all|rest>]          clear screen and set cursor position
 --tabs[=<number>...]          set these tab stop positions, or show them
 --clrtabs[=<number>...]       clear these tab stop positions, or all
 --regtabs[=1-160]             set a regular tab stop interval
 --blank[=0-60|force|poke]     set time of inactivity before screen blanks

 --dump[=<number>]             write vcsa<number> console dump to file
 --append <number>             append vcsa<number> console dump to file
 --file <filename>             name of the dump file

 --powersave on|vsync|hsync|powerdown|off
                               set vesa powersaving features
 --powerdown[=<0-60>]          set vesa powerdown interval in minutes

 --blength[=<0-2000>]          duration of the bell in milliseconds
 --bfreq[=<number>]            bell frequency in Hertz

 --help                        display this help
 --version                     display version

For more details see setterm(1).
Options (36)
OptionDescriptionSource
--term terminal_nameOverrides the TERM environment variable.help + man
--resetDisplays the terminal reset string, which typically resets the terminal to its power-on state.help + man
--resizeReset terminal size by assessing maximum row and column.help + man
--initializeDisplays the terminal initialization string, which typically sets the terminal’s rendering options, and other attributes to the default values.help + man
--defaultSets the terminal’s rendering options to the default values.help + man
--storeStores the terminal’s current rendering options (foreground and background colors) as the values to be used at reset-to-default.help + man
--cursor on|offTurns the terminal’s cursor on or off.help + man
--repeat on|offTurns keyboard repeat on or off.help + man
--appcursorkeys on|offSets Cursor Key Application Mode on or off.help + man
--linewrap on|offMakes the terminal continue on a new line when a line is full.help + man
--inversescreen on|offSwaps foreground and background colors for the whole screen.help + man
--msg on|offEnables or disables the sending of kernel printk() messages to the console.help + man
--msglevel 0-8Sets the console logging level for kernel printk(9) messages.help + man
--foreground default|<colorSets the foreground text color.help + man
--background default|<colorSets the background text color.help + man
--ulcolor brightSets the color for underlined characters.help + man
--hbcolor brightset half-bright text color <color>: black blue cyan green grey magenta red white yellowhelp + man
--bold on|offTurns bold (extra bright) mode on or off.help + man
--half-bright on|offTurns dim (half-brightness) mode on or off.help + man
--blink on|offTurns blink mode on or off.help + man
--underline on|offTurns underline mode on or off.help + man
--reverse on|offon|off swap foreground and background colorshelp + man
--clear all|restWithout an argument or with the argument all, the entire screen is cleared and the cursor is set to the home position, just like clear(1) does.help + man
--tabs number>...Sets tab stops at the given horizontal cursor positions, in the range 1-160.help + man
--clrtabs number>...Clears tab stops from the given horizontal cursor positions, in the range 1-160.help + man
--regtabs 1-160Clears all tab stops, then sets a regular tab stop pattern, with one tab every specified number of positions.help + man
--blank 0-60|force|pokeSets the interval of inactivity, in minutes, after which the screen will be automatically blanked (using APM if available).help + man
--dump numberWrites a snapshot of the virtual console with the given number to the file specified with the --file option, overwriting its contents;help + man
--append numberLike --dump, but appends to the snapshot file instead of overwriting it.help + man
--file filenameSets the snapshot file name for any --dump or --append options on the same command line.help + man
--powersave on|vsync|hsync|powerdown|offset vesa powersaving featureshelp + man
--powerdown 0-60Sets the VESA powerdown interval in minutes.help + man
--blength 0-2000Sets the bell duration in milliseconds.help + man
--bfreq numberSets the bell frequency in Hertz.help + man
--helpDisplay help text and exit.help + man
--versionDisplay version and exit.help + man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.