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Nothing shows up in the terminal when I type my password

I cannot enter my password in the terminal - can't install packagesWhy can't I type my password after using a sudo command?I cannot enter my password when using sudo to install Sophos AV for Linuxsudo in the Terminal seems not to accept password inputHow do i put my password in to terminal?When I try to reset my password using root I couldn't typeBeginner installing rpm packageHow do I get past a 'frozen' terminal with a sudo password prompt?Can't Type Password in TerminalHow to use the sudo commandAuthentication token manipulation error when I try to change passwordsudo in the Terminal seems not to accept password inputWhen I run sudo lshw in terminal, it asks for my administrator password, but it won't accept keyboard input when I try to type?How do I get past a 'frozen' terminal with a sudo password prompt?Asks password when trying to install Boot-RepairIssue when running from terminalCan't Type Password in TerminalCan't type passwords in terminalHow can I make stars appear when I type sudo password?Terminal password doesn't work

33

7

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

share|improve this question

edited Dec 18 '18 at 16:35

Zanna

50.9k13137241

asked Mar 11 '12 at 16:09

LazloinnLazloinn

166123

• 
  
  
  

  
  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 | 

33

7

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

share|improve this question

edited Dec 18 '18 at 16:35

Zanna

50.9k13137241

asked Mar 11 '12 at 16:09

LazloinnLazloinn

166123

• 
  
  
  

  
  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

share|improve this question

edited Dec 18 '18 at 16:35

Zanna

50.9k13137241

asked Mar 11 '12 at 16:09

LazloinnLazloinn

166123

[sudo] password for xxx:

share|improve this question

edited Dec 18 '18 at 16:35

Zanna

50.9k13137241

asked Mar 11 '12 at 16:09

LazloinnLazloinn

166123

share|improve this question

edited Dec 18 '18 at 16:35

Zanna

50.9k13137241

asked Mar 11 '12 at 16:09

LazloinnLazloinn

166123

edited Dec 18 '18 at 16:35

Zanna

50.9k13137241

edited Dec 18 '18 at 16:35

Zanna

50.9k13137241

asked Mar 11 '12 at 16:09

LazloinnLazloinn

166123

asked Mar 11 '12 at 16:09

LazloinnLazloinn

166123

9 Answers
9

active

oldest

votes

44

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.

share|improve this answer

edited Feb 24 '14 at 4:45

kiri

19.2k1359105

answered Apr 23 '12 at 12:27

OrangeTuxOrangeTux

3,59582452

add a comment | 

31

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

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

Community♦

1

answered Sep 16 '13 at 21:28

TakkatTakkat

108k37249377

add a comment | 

21

Passwords are hidden so no-one can see over your shoulder when you enter it. It's a security measure.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 23 '12 at 13:01

TommieTommie

31113

add a comment | 

8

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?

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 19 '13 at 20:27

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

Esa MamiaEsa Mamia

1262

add a comment | 

7

Nothing is supposed to happen, just type the password and hit Enter.

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 19 '13 at 19:11

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

mikewhatevermikewhatever

24.1k77086

add a comment | 

7

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.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:15

Luis Alvarado♦Luis Alvarado

146k138486654

add a comment | 

4

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.

share|improve this answer

edited Sep 16 '18 at 16:06

NIMISHAN

89331119

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:12

JoeJoe

411

add a comment | 

3

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.

share|improve this answer

answered Sep 29 '16 at 18:48

Lorenzo AncoraLorenzo Ancora

2,9251328

add a comment | 

0

thanks for the quick feedback. you were all right LOL. I am a total noob at this so apologies for the silly mistake.

share|improve this answer

answered 21 mins ago

Ae1518Ae1518

1

New contributor

Ae1518 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

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44

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.

share|improve this answer

edited Feb 24 '14 at 4:45

kiri

19.2k1359105

answered Apr 23 '12 at 12:27

OrangeTuxOrangeTux

3,59582452

add a comment | 

44

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.

share|improve this answer

edited Feb 24 '14 at 4:45

kiri

19.2k1359105

answered Apr 23 '12 at 12:27

OrangeTuxOrangeTux

3,59582452

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.

share|improve this answer

edited Feb 24 '14 at 4:45

kiri

19.2k1359105

answered Apr 23 '12 at 12:27

OrangeTuxOrangeTux

3,59582452

share|improve this answer

edited Feb 24 '14 at 4:45

kiri

19.2k1359105

answered Apr 23 '12 at 12:27

OrangeTuxOrangeTux

3,59582452

edited Feb 24 '14 at 4:45

kiri

19.2k1359105

edited Feb 24 '14 at 4:45

kiri

19.2k1359105

answered Apr 23 '12 at 12:27

OrangeTuxOrangeTux

3,59582452

answered Apr 23 '12 at 12:27

OrangeTuxOrangeTux

3,59582452

31

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

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

Community♦

1

answered Sep 16 '13 at 21:28

TakkatTakkat

108k37249377

add a comment | 

31

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

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

Community♦

1

answered Sep 16 '13 at 21:28

TakkatTakkat

108k37249377

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

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

Community♦

1

answered Sep 16 '13 at 21:28

TakkatTakkat

108k37249377

sudo visudo

Defaults        env_reset,pwfeedback

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

Community♦

1

answered Sep 16 '13 at 21:28

TakkatTakkat

108k37249377

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

Community♦

1

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18

Community♦

1

answered Sep 16 '13 at 21:28

TakkatTakkat

108k37249377

answered Sep 16 '13 at 21:28

TakkatTakkat

108k37249377

21

Passwords are hidden so no-one can see over your shoulder when you enter it. It's a security measure.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 23 '12 at 13:01

TommieTommie

31113

add a comment | 

21

Passwords are hidden so no-one can see over your shoulder when you enter it. It's a security measure.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 23 '12 at 13:01

TommieTommie

31113

add a comment | 

Passwords are hidden so no-one can see over your shoulder when you enter it. It's a security measure.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 23 '12 at 13:01

TommieTommie

31113

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 23 '12 at 13:01

TommieTommie

31113

answered Apr 23 '12 at 13:01

TommieTommie

31113

answered Apr 23 '12 at 13:01

TommieTommie

31113

8

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?

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 19 '13 at 20:27

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

Esa MamiaEsa Mamia

1262

add a comment | 

8

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?

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 19 '13 at 20:27

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

Esa MamiaEsa Mamia

1262

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?

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 19 '13 at 20:27

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

Esa MamiaEsa Mamia

1262

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 19 '13 at 20:27

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

Esa MamiaEsa Mamia

1262

edited Jan 19 '13 at 20:27

Aditya

9,353125589

edited Jan 19 '13 at 20:27

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

Esa MamiaEsa Mamia

1262

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

Esa MamiaEsa Mamia

1262

7

Nothing is supposed to happen, just type the password and hit Enter.

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 19 '13 at 19:11

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

mikewhatevermikewhatever

24.1k77086

add a comment | 

7

Nothing is supposed to happen, just type the password and hit Enter.

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 19 '13 at 19:11

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

mikewhatevermikewhatever

24.1k77086

add a comment | 

Nothing is supposed to happen, just type the password and hit Enter.

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 19 '13 at 19:11

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

mikewhatevermikewhatever

24.1k77086

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 19 '13 at 19:11

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

mikewhatevermikewhatever

24.1k77086

edited Jan 19 '13 at 19:11

Aditya

9,353125589

edited Jan 19 '13 at 19:11

Aditya

9,353125589

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

mikewhatevermikewhatever

24.1k77086

answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28

mikewhatevermikewhatever

24.1k77086

7

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.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:15

Luis Alvarado♦Luis Alvarado

146k138486654

add a comment | 

7

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.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:15

Luis Alvarado♦Luis Alvarado

146k138486654

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.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:15

Luis Alvarado♦Luis Alvarado

146k138486654

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:15

Luis Alvarado♦Luis Alvarado

146k138486654

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:15

Luis Alvarado♦Luis Alvarado

146k138486654

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:15

Luis Alvarado♦Luis Alvarado

146k138486654

4

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.

share|improve this answer

edited Sep 16 '18 at 16:06

NIMISHAN

89331119

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:12

JoeJoe

411

add a comment | 

4

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.

share|improve this answer

edited Sep 16 '18 at 16:06

NIMISHAN

89331119

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:12

JoeJoe

411

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.

share|improve this answer

edited Sep 16 '18 at 16:06

NIMISHAN

89331119

answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:12

JoeJoe

411