---
name: "mesg"
section: "1"
platform: "macos"
package: "basic_cmds"
version: "70"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mesg"
---

# mesg(1)

display (do not display) messages from other users

## NAME

**mesg** – display (do not display) messages from other users

## SYNOPSIS

**mesg** \[**n** \| **y**\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **mesg** utility is invoked by a user to control write access others have to a terminal device. Write access is allowed by default, and programs such as [talk(1)](/talk/1.md) and [write(1)](/write/1.md) may display messages on the terminal.

The first terminal device in the sequence of devices associated with standard input, standard output and standard error is affected.

The following options are available:

- **n**

  Disallow messages.

- **y**

  Permit messages to be displayed.

If no arguments are given, **mesg** displays the present message status to the standard output.

## EXIT STATUS

The **mesg** utility exits with one of the following values:

- 0

  Messages are allowed.

- 1

  Messages are not allowed.

- \>1

  An error has occurred.

## EXAMPLES

Disallow messages from other users to the current terminal:

```
mesg n
```

Allow messages from other users to *ttyp1* (assuming you are also logged in on that terminal):

```
mesg y </dev/ttyp1
```

## COMPATIBILITY

Previous versions of the **mesg** utility wrote the message status to the standard error output and affected the terminal attached to standard error without first trying the standard input or output devices.

## SEE ALSO

[biff(1)](/biff/1.md), [talk(1)](/talk/1.md), [wall(1)](/wall/1.md), [write(1)](/write/1.md)

## STANDARDS

The **mesg** utility conforms to IEEE Std 1003.1-2001 (“POSIX.1”).

## HISTORY

A **mesg** command appeared in Version 1 AT&T UNIX.