---
name: "bell"
section: "n"
platform: "linux"
package: "tk"
version: "8.6.16-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bell/n"
---

# bell(n)

Ring a display's bell

```

```

## NAME

bell - Ring a display's bell

## SYNOPSIS

**bell** ?**-displayof** *window*? ?**-nice**?

```

```

## DESCRIPTION

This command rings the bell on the display for *window* and returns an empty string. If the **-displayof** option is omitted, the display of the application's main window is used by default. The command uses the current bell-related settings for the display, which may be modified with programs such as **xset**.

If **-nice** is not specified, this command also resets the screen saver for the screen.  Some screen savers will ignore this, but others will reset so that the screen becomes visible again.

## KEYWORDS

beep, bell, ring