If you use the Ubuntu Terminal frequently, you have likely encountered the system “beep” or “bell.” This is the loud, sudden noise your computer makes when you press the Backspace key too many times, attempt to tab-complete a command that has multiple options, or try to navigate past the end of a text file in the Nano editor.
In a quiet office or late at night, this jarring auditory warning is highly disruptive. Fortunately, you do not have to mute your entire computer’s audio to stop it. You can permanently disable this specific terminal warning bell by modifying the core input configuration file.
How to Disable the Terminal Bell
The most effective way to kill the beep across all terminal sessions is to configure the inputrc file, which handles all keyboard input rules for the bash shell.
- Open your Ubuntu Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).
- You need to edit the global input configuration file. Type the following command and press Enter:
sudo nano /etc/inputrc - Provide your administrator password when prompted.
- The configuration file will open in the nano text editor. Use your arrow keys to scroll down. Look for the following line of code:
# set bell-style none - This line is currently “commented out” (deactivated) because it has a hash (
#) symbol at the beginning. - Move your cursor over the hash symbol and press Delete or Backspace to remove it. The line should now exactly read:
set bell-style none - Save the file by pressing Ctrl + O (the letter O), then press Enter to confirm.
- Exit the nano editor by pressing Ctrl + X.
The change is saved, but it will not affect your currently open terminal window.
Simply close your terminal window (click the X or type exit) and open a brand-new terminal window. Start pressing the Backspace key repeatedly on an empty prompt. The terminal will remain completely silent.