Nothing shows up in the terminal when I type my password











up vote
30
down vote

favorite
7












When I'm about to install a program in the terminal it wants the password:



[sudo] password for xxx:


But when I want to type my password it happens nothing. What should I do?










share|improve this question




















  • 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










  • In Lubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark, 32-bit) I had to type my password twice.
    – stan
    Nov 1 '17 at 7:57

















up vote
30
down vote

favorite
7












When I'm about to install a program in the terminal it wants the password:



[sudo] password for xxx:


But when I want to type my password it happens nothing. What should I do?










share|improve this question




















  • 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










  • In Lubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark, 32-bit) I had to type my password twice.
    – stan
    Nov 1 '17 at 7:57















up vote
30
down vote

favorite
7









up vote
30
down vote

favorite
7






7





When I'm about to install a program in the terminal it wants the password:



[sudo] password for xxx:


But when I want to type my password it happens nothing. What should I do?










share|improve this question















When I'm about to install a program in the terminal it wants the password:



[sudo] password for xxx:


But when I want to type my password it happens nothing. What should I do?







command-line password sudo






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Apr 23 '14 at 17:40









Radu Rădeanu

113k34243321




113k34243321










asked Mar 11 '12 at 16:09









Lazloinn

151123




151123








  • 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










  • In Lubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark, 32-bit) I had to type my password twice.
    – stan
    Nov 1 '17 at 7:57
















  • 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










  • 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












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












8 Answers
8






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
43
down vote













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






























    up vote
    28
    down vote













    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






























      up vote
      20
      down vote













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






      share|improve this answer




























        up vote
        7
        down vote













        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






























          up vote
          6
          down vote













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






          share|improve this answer






























            up vote
            6
            down vote













            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



            enter image description here



            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




























              up vote
              3
              down vote













              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






























                up vote
                2
                down vote













                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





















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                  8 Answers
                  8






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes








                  8 Answers
                  8






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes









                  active

                  oldest

                  votes






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes








                  up vote
                  43
                  down vote













                  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



























                    up vote
                    43
                    down vote













                    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

























                      up vote
                      43
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      43
                      down vote









                      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














                      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














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited Feb 24 '14 at 4:45









                      kiri

                      18.6k1258103




                      18.6k1258103










                      answered Apr 23 '12 at 12:27









                      OrangeTux

                      3,52282351




                      3,52282351
























                          up vote
                          28
                          down vote













                          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



























                            up vote
                            28
                            down vote













                            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

























                              up vote
                              28
                              down vote










                              up vote
                              28
                              down vote









                              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














                              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














                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer








                              edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:18









                              Community

                              1




                              1










                              answered Sep 16 '13 at 21:28









                              Takkat

                              104k35245374




                              104k35245374






















                                  up vote
                                  20
                                  down vote













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






                                  share|improve this answer

























                                    up vote
                                    20
                                    down vote













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






                                    share|improve this answer























                                      up vote
                                      20
                                      down vote










                                      up vote
                                      20
                                      down vote









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






                                      share|improve this answer












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







                                      share|improve this answer












                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer










                                      answered Apr 23 '12 at 13:01









                                      Tommie

                                      30113




                                      30113






















                                          up vote
                                          7
                                          down vote













                                          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



























                                            up vote
                                            7
                                            down vote













                                            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

























                                              up vote
                                              7
                                              down vote










                                              up vote
                                              7
                                              down vote









                                              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














                                              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














                                              share|improve this answer



                                              share|improve this answer








                                              edited Jan 19 '13 at 20:27









                                              Aditya

                                              9,143125389




                                              9,143125389










                                              answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28









                                              Esa Mamia

                                              1162




                                              1162






















                                                  up vote
                                                  6
                                                  down vote













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






                                                  share|improve this answer



























                                                    up vote
                                                    6
                                                    down vote













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






                                                    share|improve this answer

























                                                      up vote
                                                      6
                                                      down vote










                                                      up vote
                                                      6
                                                      down vote









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






                                                      share|improve this answer














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







                                                      share|improve this answer














                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                      edited Jan 19 '13 at 19:11









                                                      Aditya

                                                      9,143125389




                                                      9,143125389










                                                      answered Mar 11 '12 at 16:28









                                                      mikewhatever

                                                      23.2k76685




                                                      23.2k76685






















                                                          up vote
                                                          6
                                                          down vote













                                                          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



                                                          enter image description here



                                                          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

























                                                            up vote
                                                            6
                                                            down vote













                                                            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



                                                            enter image description here



                                                            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























                                                              up vote
                                                              6
                                                              down vote










                                                              up vote
                                                              6
                                                              down vote









                                                              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



                                                              enter image description here



                                                              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












                                                              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



                                                              enter image description here



                                                              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












                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                              share|improve this answer










                                                              answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:15









                                                              Luis Alvarado

                                                              143k135482649




                                                              143k135482649






















                                                                  up vote
                                                                  3
                                                                  down vote













                                                                  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



























                                                                    up vote
                                                                    3
                                                                    down vote













                                                                    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

























                                                                      up vote
                                                                      3
                                                                      down vote










                                                                      up vote
                                                                      3
                                                                      down vote









                                                                      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














                                                                      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














                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                                      edited Sep 16 at 16:06









                                                                      NIMISHAN

                                                                      83521119




                                                                      83521119










                                                                      answered Aug 8 '13 at 13:12









                                                                      Joe

                                                                      311




                                                                      311






















                                                                          up vote
                                                                          2
                                                                          down vote













                                                                          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

























                                                                            up vote
                                                                            2
                                                                            down vote













                                                                            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























                                                                              up vote
                                                                              2
                                                                              down vote










                                                                              up vote
                                                                              2
                                                                              down vote









                                                                              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












                                                                              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












                                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                                              share|improve this answer










                                                                              answered Sep 29 '16 at 18:48









                                                                              Lorenzo Ancora

                                                                              2,9261327




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