Solved How to switch TTYs

-Snake- · Jul 9, 2015

Hi, I'm new in FreeBSD, in Linux I use ctrl+alt+f1/f2f/3.... in FreeBSD I read that it's alt+f1/f2...but I press alt+f1 or alt + f2 and nothing happened.

Thanks.

Juanitou · Jul 9, 2015

What FreeBSD version are you using? Pure CLI or GUI? If working in a X session, you use Ctrl+Alt+Fn (see here).

wblock@ · Jul 9, 2015

In FreeBSD, switching between consoles is with the Alt+F1 combinations. If X is running, Ctrl-Alt-F1 must be used to switch to the text console. Then the Alt+F1 combinations work. To switch back to X, it is usually Alt-F9. However some setups might have X at a lower-numbered function key.

Note that FreeBSD is just one of several BSD-based operating systems. NetBSD and OpenBSD might do consoles differently. There are also appliance variations that use FreeBSD that also might do things differently, like FreeNAS, pfSense, and opnSense.

-Snake- · Jul 9, 2015

I'm in FreeBSD 10.1 and I'm using GUI, MATE desktop, but I haven't Fn button in my keyboard.

-Snake- · Jul 9, 2015

wblock@ said:
In FreeBSD, switching between consoles is with the Alt+F1 combinations. If X is running, Ctrl-Alt-F1 must be used to switch to the text console. Then the Alt+F1 combinations work. To switch back to X, it is usually Alt-F9. However some setups might have X at a lower-numbered function key.

Note that FreeBSD is just one of several BSD-based operating systems. NetBSD and OpenBSD might do consoles differently. There are also appliance variations that use FreeBSD that also might do things differently, like FreeNAS, pfSense, and opnSense.

I try Ctrl-Alt-F1 and nothing happened.

wblock@ · Jul 9, 2015

-Snake- said:
but I haven't Fn button in my keyboard.

Fn means F1, F2, or any of those function keys.

-Snake- · Jul 9, 2015

Ok, thanks, is resolved

wblock@ · Jul 9, 2015

Please describe what worked. Other people might have the same problem.

phoenix · Jul 9, 2015

wblock@ said:
Fn means F1, F2, or any of those function keys.

We need a better shorthand for "function keys 1 through 12" than Fn as many keyboards (especially on laptops, but also on some desktop keyboards [like mine]) include a separate Fn key that does different things depending on the key pressed. All the little blue symbols on keys are activated using the blue Fn key.

Maybe specifying things a little more like, "CTRL+ALT+F1 through CTRL+ALT-F12"? Or "CTRL+ALT+Fx (where x is a number from 1-12)"? Or something else?

-Snake- · Jul 9, 2015

wblock@ said:
Please describe what worked. Other people might have the same problem.

Work Ctrl+Alt+Fn in GUI, and Alt+Fn in console, thanks.

wblock@ · Jul 10, 2015

phoenix said:
We need a better shorthand for "function keys 1 through 12" than Fn

The standard in documents is to use italics, and maybe bold, for characters the user is supposed to replace:
Fn or F1 through F12

Not everyone recognizes those, though.