---
name: "chvt"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "kbd"
version: "2.10.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/chvt"
---

# chvt(1)

change foreground virtual terminal

## NAME

chvt - change foreground virtual terminal

## SYNOPSIS

**chvt** \[*option*...\] \[*N*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The command **chvt** *N* makes */dev/ttyN* the foreground terminal. (The corresponding screen is created if it did not exist yet. To get rid of unused VTs, use [**deallocvt**(1)](/deallocvt/1.md).) The key combination (Ctrl-)LeftAlt-F*N* (with *N* in the range 1-12) usually has a similar effect.

## OPTIONS

- **-C**, **--console**=*DEV*

  the console device to be used.

- **-V**, **--version**

  print version number.

- **-h**, **--help**

  print this usage message.

## AUTHORS

Andries Brouwer \<aeb@cwi.nl\>

## SEE ALSO

[**deallocvt**(1)](/deallocvt/1.md), [**openvt**(1)](/openvt/1.md)