{
    "mode": "man",
    "parameter": "resizecons",
    "section": "8",
    "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/resizecons/8/json",
    "generated": "2026-06-13T22:57:58Z",
    "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), disalloc(8), fbset(1)\n\n\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": "disalloc",
            "section": "8",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/disalloc/8/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "fbset",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/fbset/1/json"
        }
    ]
}