Nothing shows up in the terminal when I type my password
When I'm about to install a program in the terminal it wants the password:
[sudo] password for xxx:
But when I start to type my password nothing happens. What should I do?
command-line password sudo
add a comment |
When I'm about to install a program in the terminal it wants the password:
[sudo] password for xxx:
But when I start to type my password nothing happens. What should I do?
command-line password sudo
1
Terminal doesn't echo you keyboard's input cause of security reasons, so you're not able to see any character.
– sparkmood
Jul 4 '14 at 9:58
Related (but not a duplicate): What would be the concept behind the password not being echoed on cli
– Eliah Kagan
Aug 14 '17 at 23:04
1
In Lubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark, 32-bit) I had to type my password twice.
– stan
Nov 1 '17 at 7:57
add a comment |
When I'm about to install a program in the terminal it wants the password:
[sudo] password for xxx:
But when I start to type my password nothing happens. What should I do?
command-line password sudo
When I'm about to install a program in the terminal it wants the password:
[sudo] password for xxx:
But when I start to type my password nothing happens. What should I do?
command-line password sudo
command-line password sudo
edited Dec 18 '18 at 16:35
Zanna
50.3k13133241
50.3k13133241
asked Mar 11 '12 at 16:09
LazloinnLazloinn
156123
156123
1
Terminal doesn't echo you keyboard's input cause of security reasons, so you're not able to see any character.
– sparkmood
Jul 4 '14 at 9:58
Related (but not a duplicate): What would be the concept behind the password not being echoed on cli
– Eliah Kagan
Aug 14 '17 at 23:04
1
In Lubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark, 32-bit) I had to type my password twice.
– stan
Nov 1 '17 at 7:57
add a comment |
1
Terminal doesn't echo you keyboard's input cause of security reasons, so you're not able to see any character.
– sparkmood
Jul 4 '14 at 9:58
Related (but not a duplicate): What would be the concept behind the password not being echoed on cli
– Eliah Kagan
Aug 14 '17 at 23:04
1
In Lubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark, 32-bit) I had to type my password twice.
– stan
Nov 1 '17 at 7:57
1
1
Terminal doesn't echo you keyboard's input cause of security reasons, so you're not able to see any character.
– sparkmood
Jul 4 '14 at 9:58
Terminal doesn't echo you keyboard's input cause of security reasons, so you're not able to see any character.
– sparkmood
Jul 4 '14 at 9:58
Related (but not a duplicate): What would be the concept behind the password not being echoed on cli
– Eliah Kagan
Aug 14 '17 at 23:04
Related (but not a duplicate): What would be the concept behind the password not being echoed on cli
– Eliah Kagan
Aug 14 '17 at 23:04
1
1
In Lubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark, 32-bit) I had to type my password twice.
– stan
Nov 1 '17 at 7:57
In Lubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark, 32-bit) I had to type my password twice.
– stan
Nov 1 '17 at 7:57
add a comment |
8 Answers
8
active
oldest
votes
Even though no characters appear when you type your password, you are actually typing your password.
So type password, then hit Enter and see the magic.
add a comment |
For security reasons there is no feedback of passwords given in the terminal. Read the following discussion on reasoning behind this and why this will not be implemented:
- Bug #194472: Entering password in Terminal gives no visual feedback
In this discussion, and also given in the answer to a corresponding question at superuser
Feedback when typing password at a sudo prompt
There is an option to enable password feedback for sudo and only for sudo by editing options in the sudoers file.
Warning: The instructions below are for advanced users only. If something goes wrong when editing the sudoers file, and this file is inaccessible or malformed you will have effectively locked out yourself and any other administrator users of performing any administrative tasks in your system. It is not a good idea to do this on a productive system.
To enable password feedback by asterisks * when running the sudo command we have to edit the sudoers file with
sudo visudo
We then will have to add pwfeedback to the default options as shown below:
Defaults env_reset,pwfeedback
add a comment |
Passwords are hidden so no-one can see over your shoulder when you enter it. It's a security measure.
add a comment |
Password is not shown when you write it in the terminal after the sudo command but it is still read. Is this the case here? i.e. have you tried to give your password and press Enter?
add a comment |
Nothing is supposed to happen, just type the password and hit Enter.
add a comment |
When using the terminal, for security reasons (Like if someone is standing just behind you and has nothing else to do but stare at your screen while you type a password) you will never see your typed password. You are effectively typing it even if you don't see it.
So just type your password and press ENTER

Here I am checking one of my drives. As you can see, it would look like I did not type my password but I indeed have.
add a comment |
For security reasons, characters typed in at the password request prompt are not echoed back to the terminal.
Type your password and hit enter. The characters are there, you just can't see them, that's all.
add a comment |
Don't worry, it is a common and positive behavior.
Because the output of any software can be logged to a permanent storage (like the hard disk) in a format readable by humans, the Linux libraries used by most terminal softwares (in your case the login utility with the PAM system) have a security feature that hides the passwords from the screen: the password is memorized and - if the software is well made - encrypted in memory when you press RETURN but even while typing the output does not arrive to the standard output.
This both prevents passive screen logging and people near you from catching the password. Have a nice day and remember to type quickly, because anyone can still see your physical keyboard! :-)
Important: when you see a password field, insert the root password only if the application is trusted; never publish or save your root password, even if the password field seems secure and does not show any letter.
add a comment |
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8 Answers
8
active
oldest
votes
8 Answers
8
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Even though no characters appear when you type your password, you are actually typing your password.
So type password, then hit Enter and see the magic.
add a comment |
Even though no characters appear when you type your password, you are actually typing your password.
So type password, then hit Enter and see the magic.
add a comment |
Even though no characters appear when you type your password, you are actually typing your password.
So type password, then hit Enter and see the magic.
Even though no characters appear when you type your password, you are actually typing your password.
So type password, then hit Enter and see the magic.
edited Feb 24 '14 at 4:45
kiri
18.9k1258104
18.9k1258104
answered Apr 23 '12 at 12:27
OrangeTuxOrangeTux
3,57282452
3,57282452
add a comment |
add a comment |
For security reasons there is no feedback of passwords given in the terminal. Read the following discussion on reasoning behind this and why this will not be implemented:
- Bug #194472: Entering password in Terminal gives no visual feedback
In this discussion, and also given in the answer to a corresponding question at superuser
Feedback when typing password at a sudo prompt
There is an option to enable password feedback for sudo and only for sudo by editing options in the sudoers file.
Warning: The instructions below are for advanced users only. If something goes wrong when editing the sudoers file, and this file is inaccessible or malformed you will have effectively locked out yourself and any other administrator users of performing any administrative tasks in your system. It is not a good idea to do this on a productive system.
To enable password feedback by asterisks * when running the sudo command we have to edit the sudoers file with
sudo visudo
We then will have to add pwfeedback to the default options as shown below:
Defaults env_reset,pwfeedback
add a comment |
For security reasons there is no feedback of passwords given in the terminal. Read the following discussion on reasoning behind this and why this will not be implemented:
- Bug #194472: Entering password in Terminal gives no visual feedback
In this discussion, and also given in the answer to a corresponding question at superuser
Feedback when typing password at a sudo prompt
There is an option to enable password feedback for sudo and only for sudo by editing options in the sudoers file.
Warning: The instructions below are for advanced users only. If something goes wrong when editing the sudoers file, and this file is inaccessible or malformed you will have effectively locked out yourself and any other administrator users of performing any administrative tasks in your system. It is not a good idea to do this on a productive system.
To enable password feedback by asterisks * when running the sudo command we have to edit the sudoers file with
sudo visudo
We then will have to add pwfeedback to the default options as shown below:
Defaults env_reset,pwfeedback
add a comment |
For security reasons there is no feedback of passwords given in the terminal. Read the following discussion on reasoning behind this and why this will not be implemented:
- Bug #194472: Entering password in Terminal gives no visual feedback
In this discussion, and also given in the answer to a corresponding question at superuser
Feedback when typing password at a sudo prompt
There is an option to enable password feedback for sudo and only for sudo by editing options in the sudoers file.
Warning: The instructions below are for advanced users only. If something goes wrong when editing the sudoers file, and this file is inaccessible or malformed you will have effectively locked out yourself and any other administrator users of performing any administrative tasks in your system. It is not a good idea to do this on a productive system.
To enable password feedback by asterisks * when running the sudo command we have to edit the sudoers file with
sudo visudo
We then will have to add pwfeedback to the default options as shown below:
Defaults env_reset,pwfeedback
For security reasons there is no feedback of passwords given in the terminal. Read the following discussion on reasoning behind this and why this will not be implemented:
- Bug #194472: Entering password in Terminal gives no visual feedback
In this discussion, and also given in the answer to a corresponding question at superuser
Feedback when typing password at a sudo prompt
There is an option to enable password feedback for sudo and only for sudo by editing options in the sudoers file.
Warning: The instructions below are for advanced users only. If something goes wrong when editing the sudoers file, and this file is inaccessible or malformed you will have effectively locked out yourself and any other administrator users of performing any administrative tasks in your system. It is not a good idea to do this on a productive system.
To enable password feedback by asterisks * when running the sudo command we have to edit the sudoers file with
sudo visudo
We then will have to add pwfeedback to the default options as shown below:
Defaults env_reset,pwfeedback
edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18
Community♦
1
1
answered Sep 16 '13 at 21:28
TakkatTakkat
106k35249375
106k35249375
add a comment |
add a comment |
Passwords are hidden so no-one can see over your shoulder when you enter it. It's a security measure.
add a comment |
Passwords are hidden so no-one can see over your shoulder when you enter it. It's a security measure.
add a comment |
Passwords are hidden so no-one can see over your shoulder when you enter it. It's a security measure.
Passwords are hidden so no-one can see over your shoulder when you enter it. It's a security measure.
answered Apr 23 '12 at 13:01
TommieTommie
30113
30113
add a comment |
add a comment |
Password is not shown when you write it in the terminal after the sudo command but it is still read. Is this the case here? i.e. have you tried to give your password and press Enter?
add a comment |
Password is not shown when you write it in the terminal after the sudo command but it is still read. Is this the case here? i.e. have you tried to give your password and press Enter?
add a comment |
Password is not shown when you write it in the terminal after the sudo command but it is still read. Is this the case here? i.e. have you tried to give your password and press Enter?
Password is not shown when you write it in the terminal after the sudo command but it is still read. Is this the case here? i.e. have you tried to give your password and press Enter?
edited Jan 19 '13 at 20:27
Aditya
9,228125589
9,228125589
answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28
Esa MamiaEsa Mamia
1162
1162
add a comment |
add a comment |
Nothing is supposed to happen, just type the password and hit Enter.
add a comment |
Nothing is supposed to happen, just type the password and hit Enter.
add a comment |
Nothing is supposed to happen, just type the password and hit Enter.
Nothing is supposed to happen, just type the password and hit Enter.
edited Jan 19 '13 at 19:11
Aditya
9,228125589
9,228125589
answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28
mikewhatevermikewhatever
23.6k76785
23.6k76785
add a comment |
add a comment |
When using the terminal, for security reasons (Like if someone is standing just behind you and has nothing else to do but stare at your screen while you type a password) you will never see your typed password. You are effectively typing it even if you don't see it.
So just type your password and press ENTER

Here I am checking one of my drives. As you can see, it would look like I did not type my password but I indeed have.
add a comment |
When using the terminal, for security reasons (Like if someone is standing just behind you and has nothing else to do but stare at your screen while you type a password) you will never see your typed password. You are effectively typing it even if you don't see it.
So just type your password and press ENTER

Here I am checking one of my drives. As you can see, it would look like I did not type my password but I indeed have.
add a comment |
When using the terminal, for security reasons (Like if someone is standing just behind you and has nothing else to do but stare at your screen while you type a password) you will never see your typed password. You are effectively typing it even if you don't see it.
So just type your password and press ENTER

Here I am checking one of my drives. As you can see, it would look like I did not type my password but I indeed have.
When using the terminal, for security reasons (Like if someone is standing just behind you and has nothing else to do but stare at your screen while you type a password) you will never see your typed password. You are effectively typing it even if you don't see it.
So just type your password and press ENTER

Here I am checking one of my drives. As you can see, it would look like I did not type my password but I indeed have.
answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:15
Luis Alvarado♦Luis Alvarado
144k135484649
144k135484649
add a comment |
add a comment |
For security reasons, characters typed in at the password request prompt are not echoed back to the terminal.
Type your password and hit enter. The characters are there, you just can't see them, that's all.
add a comment |
For security reasons, characters typed in at the password request prompt are not echoed back to the terminal.
Type your password and hit enter. The characters are there, you just can't see them, that's all.
add a comment |
For security reasons, characters typed in at the password request prompt are not echoed back to the terminal.
Type your password and hit enter. The characters are there, you just can't see them, that's all.
For security reasons, characters typed in at the password request prompt are not echoed back to the terminal.
Type your password and hit enter. The characters are there, you just can't see them, that's all.
edited Sep 16 '18 at 16:06
NIMISHAN
85321119
85321119
answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:12
JoeJoe
311
311
add a comment |
add a comment |
Don't worry, it is a common and positive behavior.
Because the output of any software can be logged to a permanent storage (like the hard disk) in a format readable by humans, the Linux libraries used by most terminal softwares (in your case the login utility with the PAM system) have a security feature that hides the passwords from the screen: the password is memorized and - if the software is well made - encrypted in memory when you press RETURN but even while typing the output does not arrive to the standard output.
This both prevents passive screen logging and people near you from catching the password. Have a nice day and remember to type quickly, because anyone can still see your physical keyboard! :-)
Important: when you see a password field, insert the root password only if the application is trusted; never publish or save your root password, even if the password field seems secure and does not show any letter.
add a comment |
Don't worry, it is a common and positive behavior.
Because the output of any software can be logged to a permanent storage (like the hard disk) in a format readable by humans, the Linux libraries used by most terminal softwares (in your case the login utility with the PAM system) have a security feature that hides the passwords from the screen: the password is memorized and - if the software is well made - encrypted in memory when you press RETURN but even while typing the output does not arrive to the standard output.
This both prevents passive screen logging and people near you from catching the password. Have a nice day and remember to type quickly, because anyone can still see your physical keyboard! :-)
Important: when you see a password field, insert the root password only if the application is trusted; never publish or save your root password, even if the password field seems secure and does not show any letter.
add a comment |
Don't worry, it is a common and positive behavior.
Because the output of any software can be logged to a permanent storage (like the hard disk) in a format readable by humans, the Linux libraries used by most terminal softwares (in your case the login utility with the PAM system) have a security feature that hides the passwords from the screen: the password is memorized and - if the software is well made - encrypted in memory when you press RETURN but even while typing the output does not arrive to the standard output.
This both prevents passive screen logging and people near you from catching the password. Have a nice day and remember to type quickly, because anyone can still see your physical keyboard! :-)
Important: when you see a password field, insert the root password only if the application is trusted; never publish or save your root password, even if the password field seems secure and does not show any letter.
Don't worry, it is a common and positive behavior.
Because the output of any software can be logged to a permanent storage (like the hard disk) in a format readable by humans, the Linux libraries used by most terminal softwares (in your case the login utility with the PAM system) have a security feature that hides the passwords from the screen: the password is memorized and - if the software is well made - encrypted in memory when you press RETURN but even while typing the output does not arrive to the standard output.
This both prevents passive screen logging and people near you from catching the password. Have a nice day and remember to type quickly, because anyone can still see your physical keyboard! :-)
Important: when you see a password field, insert the root password only if the application is trusted; never publish or save your root password, even if the password field seems secure and does not show any letter.
answered Sep 29 '16 at 18:48
Lorenzo AncoraLorenzo Ancora
2,9151327
2,9151327
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
Terminal doesn't echo you keyboard's input cause of security reasons, so you're not able to see any character.
– sparkmood
Jul 4 '14 at 9:58
Related (but not a duplicate): What would be the concept behind the password not being echoed on cli
– Eliah Kagan
Aug 14 '17 at 23:04
1
In Lubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark, 32-bit) I had to type my password twice.
– stan
Nov 1 '17 at 7:57