How to Enable Visual Alerts on Ubuntu Linux
Visual alerts on Ubuntu Linux flash your screen or window instead of playing a sound when a notification arrives. This built-in accessibility setting helps you spot system alerts instantly when your speakers are broken, muted, or turned off.
You can turn on visual alerts through the Universal Access settings menu in Ubuntu version 22.04 and later. You can choose to flash just the current window or the entire screen so you never miss an important warning.
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. The Settings panel manages these configurations.
On Ubuntu Linux, most system preferences organize into one central hub: the Settings panel.
Opening the Activities overview and typing “Settings” brings up the application.
Alternatively, the System menu in the top-right corner of the desktop provides a direct path to Settings.
The left-hand menu inside the Settings app contains the Accessibility category.
Visual alerts, found within Ubuntu Linux's Accessibility menu, allow notifications through visual cues instead of sound. Opening the Hearing section and selecting the Visual Alerts tile reveals specific configuration options for these cues.
Moving the switch to the On position inside the Visual Alerts window activates the feature, followed by selecting an appearance preference:
- Flash the entire window.
- Flash the entire screen.
Flipping the switch back to the Off position disables the feature entirely.
How to test your settings
Testing the setup takes only a second. Open the terminal and run this command to trigger a system sound:
canberra-gtk-play --id=bell (This command prompts your system to play a test sound.)
Press Enter, and the screen or active window should flash immediately if the feature works.
This completes the setup process.
Reference:
https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-help/a11y-visualalert.html.en
Conclusion:
Silent workspaces or missing speakers make visual cues a practical alternative. The Hearing section under Accessibility houses these controls, allowing users to flash a window or the entire screen. Turning them off requires a single toggle.
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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