How to Enable Visual Alerts on Ubuntu Linux
Visual alerts on Ubuntu Linux provide a flashing light signal for system notifications.
This feature is helpful if you cannot hear standard notification sounds or prefer your computer to stay silent.
When you turn on visual alerts, your screen or a particular window will flash whenever a system notification appears, giving you a clear visual cue.
Ubuntu normally relies on sound for alerts, but visual alerts are a great option if your computer doesn’t have speakers, sound is turned off, or you’re working in a quiet place.
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing and select Visual Alerts. Turn the switch on to enable flashing alerts for your window or entire screen. Flip the switch off to disable them.
Turn on or off visual alerts on Ubuntu Linux
Enabling visual alerts on Ubuntu Linux provides a flashing screen or window notification instead of an audible sound. This guide shows you how to turn these visual alerts on or off using the Settings panel.
On Ubuntu Linux, most settings are organized in one place: the Settings panel.
To access Settings, open the Activities overview and start typing “Settings.”
Alternatively, click the System menu in the top-right corner of your desktop and select Settings.
In the Settings app, click on Accessibility in the left-hand menu.
Visual Alerts settings, found within Ubuntu Linux’s Accessibility menu, allow you to receive notifications through visual cues instead of sound. To turn on Visual Alerts, open the Hearing section and select the Visual Alerts tile. This action reveals the specific options for configuring these visual cues.
- Flash the entire window.
- Flash the entire screen.
How to test your settings
Testing visual alerts in Ubuntu Linux is straightforward. You can check if the screen flashing setting is working by playing a test sound from the terminal using a single command. This confirms your visual alerts are active and ready.
canberra-gtk-play –id=bell (This command prompts your system to play a test sound.)
Press Enter. If visual alerts are enabled, your screen or window will flash right away.
That completes the process!
Reference:
https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-help/a11y-visualalert.html.en
Conclusion:
Enabling visual alerts on Ubuntu Linux is a great option if you have no speakers or often work in quiet environments. You’ll find these settings under Accessibility, within the Hearing section. You can choose to flash a window or the entire screen. Turning them off is equally simple.
Where to see notifications in Ubuntu?
Open the Activities overview and start typing Settings. Click on Settings. Click on Notifications in the sidebar to open the panel.
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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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