Enable Cursor Blinking in Ubuntu for Better Accessibility
Enabling keyboard cursor blinking in Ubuntu makes the text insertion point flash, which helps you easily see where your typing will appear.
This blinking feature is especially useful for people who have trouble seeing a static cursor, improving their typing experience.
Activating cursor blinking in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS makes the cursor more noticeable as you type, acting as a visual aid.
You can turn this blinking on or off directly in Ubuntu’s system settings, often found in the Accessibility section.
Go to Settings, then Accessibility, and under Typing, toggle Cursor Blinking to On. You can also adjust the blinking speed with the slider. This feature helps make the text insertion point easier to see.
How to turn on or off cursor blinking in Ubuntu Linux
You can turn cursor blinking on or off in Ubuntu Linux using the System Settings application. This setting change helps you see your text cursor better while typing, making your work smoother. Follow these steps to adjust your cursor blinking in Ubuntu Linux.
Follow these steps:
Ubuntu Linux keeps most of its settings in the System Settings panel. You can manage everything from system configurations to creating new users and updates within this panel.
Alternatively, click on the System menu in the top-right corner of your desktop’s top bar.
From the System menu, select Settings, as shown in the screenshot below.
In the Settings app, click on the Accessibility tile to open that section.
In the System Settings > Accessibility panel, look under Typing and select Cursor Blinking, which is highlighted below.
The Cursor Blinking window lets you turn cursor blinking on. To make the cursor blink, move the Cursor Blinking button to the On position. This helps you see the cursor more easily when typing.
To disable it, move the button to the Off position.
Once enabled, use the Speed slider to adjust how quickly the cursor blinks.
And that’s it! You can now close the Settings app.
Conclusion:
- Enabling cursor blinking can be helpful for users with poor vision, making it easier to locate the keyboard cursor in a text field.
- Ubuntu Linux offers a centralized location for adjusting accessibility settings, including the cursor blinking feature.
- Users can easily toggle the cursor blinking on or off and adjust the blinking speed according to their preferences through the System Settings panel.
- This accessibility feature, along with others like increasing the mouse pointer size and enabling the pointer locator, aims to improve the user experience for individuals with visual challenges.
Why does my cursor keep blinking?
This flickering can sometimes occur if your display is set to use more than 256 colors. On Windows, you can address this by going to Control Panel, then Mouse, and unchecking the ‘Shadow select pointer’ option on the Pointers tab.
How do I get rid of the blinking cursor?
If the cursor continues blinking, especially within the terminal, you might need to adjust the keyboard’s blink rate in its properties, setting it to ‘none’. You may then need to relaunch the application.
How do I force Ubuntu to boot into recovery mode?
Restart your computer. Before the boot splash screen appears, press the Shift or Esc key (it could be another key, as it depends on the laptop’s manufacturer) to enter the GRUB boot menu. In the advanced options, select a recovery mode. This will boot normally to your main OS.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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