---
name: "conscontrol"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/conscontrol"
---

# conscontrol(8)

control physical system video console devices

## NAME

**conscontrol** – control physical system video console devices

## SYNOPSIS

**conscontrol** \[**list**\]

**conscontrol** **mute** **on** \| **off**

**conscontrol** **add** \| **delete** *console*

**conscontrol** **set** \| **unset** *console*

## DESCRIPTION

The **conscontrol** utility is used to examine and modify the physical devices which back the virtual console devices. If no arguments (or only the **list** command) are specified, the current console settings are shown.

There are two types of logical consoles; a high level console which is represented by */dev/console*, and a low level console. The low level console is used for kernel [printf(9)](/printf/9.md) and [ddb(4)](/ddb/4.md) debugger support, while the high level console is used by user programs like [syslogd(8)](/syslogd/8.md). Multiple device support is implemented only for the low level console; the high level console is set to the first device in the console list.

Multiple console support may be invoked by passing the kernel the **-D** flag from the boot loader, or by using **conscontrol** to change the list of console devices after the system has booted.

The following options are available:

- **add** \| **delete** *console*

  Add or delete a physical device from the logical console. The device must support low-level console operations. Adding a device will place it at the front of the list of console devices; the first device is used for the high level console.

  The *console* argument is the name of a console device in */dev*; the name of the directory may be omitted.

- **mute** **on** \| **off**

  Change the state of console muting. All console output is suppressed when console muting is **on**.

- **set** \| **unset** *console*

  Set or unset the virtual console. When unset, output from the system, such as the kernel [printf(9)](/printf/9.md), always goes out to the real main console. When set, it goes to another. This is an interface to the tty ioctl TIOCCONS.

## SEE ALSO

[syscons(4)](/syscons/4.md), [tty(4)](/tty/4.md), [vt(4)](/vt/4.md), [boot(8)](/boot/8.md), [loader(8)](/loader/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **conscontrol** utility first appeared in FreeBSD 5.0.

## AUTHORS

Jonathan Lemon