How do I change the screen font size when using a virtual console?

Question

Using LDXE and Ubuntu, I can log into a virtual console via Ctrl+Alt+F1.

The text is far too small. How do I change the screen resolution to get a larger font?

This might help : http://askubuntu.com/a/173221/434885 – Kshitij Saraogi Dec 15 '15 at 16:16 — Kshitij Saraogi, Dec 15 '15 at 16:16

score 15 · Accepted Answer · answered May 25 '13 at 10:36

15

You should edit the file /etc/default/console-setup and change the FONTSIZE variable. Once you've made your changes you must reconfigure your terminal by running:

$ sudo service console-setup restart

answered May 25 '13 at 10:36

Spack

1,997

7

This answer is correct, but the problem is knowing what possible settings are allowed. The default font is "Fixed" and its largest size is 8x16. sudo dpkg-reconfigure console-setup allows you to see what the options are. (answer from @boulder_ruby) – Tim Tisdall Jan 05 '16 at 13:34

score 10 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 31 '14 at 17:00

10

@Spack's answer didn't work for my raspberry-pi, but I found a set of instructions that did work for me here

To sum it up

sudo dpkg-reconfigure console-setup
#select "UTF-8"
#select "Guess optimal character set"
#select "Terminus"
#select 16*32 (my selection for a 7 inch monitor on raspberry pi)

answered Dec 31 '14 at 17:00

boulder_ruby

251

1

This only sort of worked for me... :( I seem to have to type setupcon in the virtual terminal to get it to be used (on each reboot and on each terminal!). – Tim Tisdall Jan 05 '16 at 13:35

score -4 · Answer 3 · edited Oct 23 '14 at 11:23

-4

Ctrl+Shift++ - use the plus symbol on the text keypad not on the numeric pad.

edited Oct 23 '14 at 11:23

slm

369,824

answered Oct 23 '14 at 10:50

Satheeshraja

1

I tried this (on Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS). It just sends a + character. – Keith Thompson Jan 04 '16 at 19:29
2

When he says "Ctrl+Alt+F1" makes clear he doesn't mean a terminal emulator, more info here. – Pablo A Mar 04 '18 at 21:38

How do I change the screen font size when using a virtual console?

3 Answers3