{
    "mode": "man",
    "parameter": "resizecons",
    "section": "8",
    "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/resizecons/8/json",
    "generated": "2026-10-08T07:47:58Z",
    "synopsis": "resizecons COLSxROWS\nresizecons -lines ROWS",
    "sections": {
        "NAME": {
            "content": "resizecons - change kernel idea of the console size\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "SYNOPSIS": {
            "content": "resizecons COLSxROWS\nresizecons -lines ROWS\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "DESCRIPTION": {
            "content": "The  resizecons  command tries to change the videomode of the console.  There are several as‐\npects to this: (a) the kernel must know about it, (b) the hardware must know  about  it,  (c)\nuser programs must know about it, (d) the console font may have to be adapted.\n\n(a) The kernel is told about the change using the ioctl VTRESIZE.  This causes the kernel to\nreallocate  console  screen  memory  for all virtual consoles, and might fail if there is not\nenough memory.  (In that case, try to disallocate some  virtual  consoles  first.)   If  this\nioctl  succeeds, but a later step fails (e.g., because you do not have root permissions), you\nmay be left with a very messy screen.\n\nThe most difficult part of this is (b), since it requires detailed  knowledge  of  the  video\ncard  hardware,  and  the  setting of numerous registers. Only changing the number of rows is\nslightly easier, and resizecons will try to do that itself, when  given  the  -lines  option.\n(Probably,  root permission will be required.)  The command resizecons COLSxROWS will execute\nrestoretextmode -r COLSxROWS (and hence requires that you have svgalib installed). Here  COL‐\nSxROWS  is  a  file  that was created earlier by restoretextmode -w COLSxROWS.  Again, either\nroot permissions are required, or restoretextmode has to be suid root.\n\nIn order to deal with (c), resizecons does a `stty rows ROWS cols COLS' for each active  con‐\nsole  (in  the  range  tty0..tty15), and sends a SIGWINCH signal to selection if it finds the\nfile /tmp/selection.pid.\n\nFinally, (d) is dealt with by executing a setfont command. Most likely,  the  wrong  font  is\nloaded, and you may want to do another setfont yourself afterwards.\n\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "BUGS": {
            "content": "resizecons  does not work on all hardware.  For example, it cannot be used on platforms other\nthan x86 and x8664.  See the fbset(1) program if you are looking for an alternative.\n\nThis command used to be called resize, but was renamed to avoid conflict with another command\nwith the same name.\n\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "SEE ALSO": {
            "content": "setfont(8), stty(1), selection(1), restoretextmode(8), deallocvt(8), fbset(1)\n\n\nkbd                                          17 Jan 1995                               RESIZECONS(8)",
            "subsections": []
        }
    },
    "summary": "resizecons - change kernel idea of the console size",
    "flags": [],
    "examples": [],
    "see_also": [
        {
            "name": "setfont",
            "section": "8",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/setfont/8/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "stty",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/stty/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "selection",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/selection/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "restoretextmode",
            "section": "8",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/restoretextmode/8/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "deallocvt",
            "section": "8",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/deallocvt/8/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "fbset",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/fbset/1/json"
        }
    ]
}