Misconfigured terminal settings

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 139 views

Introduction

As a user of Ubuntu, you expect your terminal to behave normally, executing commands as you type them. However, if you've encountered a situation where every command you enter is displayed in Figlet font instead of executing normally, you're not alone. This issue can be frustrating, especially if you're in the middle of an important task. In this article, we'll explore the possible causes of this problem and provide you with a step-by-step guide to resolve it.

Understanding Figlet

Before we dive into the solution, let's understand what Figlet is. Figlet is a program that generates ASCII art from a string of text. It's often used to create decorative text, such as banners or titles. However, in the context of your terminal, Figlet is being used to display your commands in a font that's not meant for execution.

Possible Causes

There are several possible causes for this issue:

Misconfigured terminal settings: Your terminal settings might be configured to use Figlet as the default font or to display commands in a specific way.
Corrupted or outdated terminal emulator: Your terminal emulator might be corrupted or outdated, leading to this issue.
Conflicting packages: Conflicting packages might be installed on your system, causing this issue.
Permissions issues: Permissions issues might be preventing your commands from executing normally.

Troubleshooting Steps

To resolve this issue, follow these troubleshooting steps:

Step 1: Check Terminal Settings

First, let's check your terminal settings to see if they're configured to use Figlet as the default font.

Open your terminal and type the following command: echo $TERM
This will display the current terminal type. If it's set to xterm-256color, it might be causing the issue.
To change the terminal type, type the following command: export TERM=xterm

Step 2: Update Terminal Emulator

Next, let's update your terminal emulator to the latest version.

Open your terminal and type the following command: sudo apt update
This will update the package list.
Then, type the following command: sudo apt upgrade
This will upgrade your terminal emulator to the latest version.

Step 3: Check for Conflicting Packages

Now, let's check for conflicting packages that might be causing this issue.

Open your terminal and type the following command: sudo apt autoremove
This will remove any unnecessary packages.
Then, type the following command: sudo apt install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop
This will reinstall the Ubuntu desktop environment, which might resolve the issue.

Step 4: Check Permissions

Finally, let's check permissions to see if they're preventing your commands from executing normally.

Open your terminal and type the following command: sudo chown -R $USER:$USER ~
This will change the ownership of your home directory to your user.
Then, type the following command: sudo chmod -R 755 ~
This will change the permissions of your home directory to allow execution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of all commands being displayed in Figlet and not executing normally can be caused by misconfigured terminal settings, corrupted or outdated terminal emulator, conflicting packages, or permissions issues. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve this issue and have your terminal behaving normally again.

Additional Tips

Here are some additional tips to help you troubleshoot and resolve this issue:

Check your terminal emulator settings: Make sure your terminal emulator settings are not configured to use Figlet as the default font.
Use a different terminal emulator: If you're using a specific terminal emulator, try using a different one to see if the issue persists.
Check for updates: Regularly check for updates to your terminal emulator and other packages to ensure you have the latest versions.
Use the --help option: When using a command, try adding the --help option to see if it provides any additional information.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the possible causes of the issue where all commands are displayed in Figlet and do not execute normally. We also provided a step-by-step guide to resolve this issue. However, we understand that you may still have questions about this issue. In this article, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this issue.

Q: What is Figlet, and why is it being used to display my commands?

A: Figlet is a program that generates ASCII art from a string of text. It's often used to create decorative text, such as banners or titles. However, in the context of your terminal, Figlet is being used to display your commands in a font that's not meant for execution.

Q: Why are my commands being displayed in Figlet instead of executing normally?

A: There are several possible causes for this issue, including misconfigured terminal settings, corrupted or outdated terminal emulator, conflicting packages, or permissions issues.

Q: How can I check if my terminal settings are misconfigured?

A: To check if your terminal settings are misconfigured, open your terminal and type the following command: echo $TERM. This will display the current terminal type. If it's set to xterm-256color, it might be causing the issue.

Q: How can I update my terminal emulator to the latest version?

A: To update your terminal emulator to the latest version, open your terminal and type the following command: sudo apt update. This will update the package list. Then, type the following command: sudo apt upgrade. This will upgrade your terminal emulator to the latest version.

Q: How can I check for conflicting packages that might be causing this issue?

A: To check for conflicting packages that might be causing this issue, open your terminal and type the following command: sudo apt autoremove. This will remove any unnecessary packages. Then, type the following command: sudo apt install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop. This will reinstall the Ubuntu desktop environment, which might resolve the issue.

Q: How can I check permissions to see if they're preventing my commands from executing normally?

A: To check permissions to see if they're preventing your commands from executing normally, open your terminal and type the following command: sudo chown -R $USER:$USER ~. This will change the ownership of your home directory to your user. Then, type the following command: sudo chmod -R 755 ~. This will change the permissions of your home directory to allow execution.

Q: What are some additional tips to help me troubleshoot and resolve this issue?

A: Here are some additional tips to help you troubleshoot and resolve this issue:

Check your terminal emulator settings: Make sure your terminal emulator settings are not configured to use Figlet as the default font.
Use a different terminal emulator: If you're using a specific terminal emulator, try using a different one to see if the issue persists.
Check for updates: Regularly check for updates to your terminal emulator and other packages to ensure you have the latest versions.
Use the --help option: When using a command, try adding the --help option to see if it provides any additional information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of all commands being displayed in Figlet and not executing normally can be caused by misconfigured terminal settings, corrupted or outdated terminal emulator, conflicting packages, or permissions issues. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article and the additional tips provided, you should be able to resolve this issue and have your terminal behaving normally again.

Additional Resources

If you're still experiencing issues after trying the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you may want to consider seeking additional help from the following resources:

Ubuntu Forums: The Ubuntu forums are a great place to ask for help and get advice from experienced users.
Ubuntu Documentation: The Ubuntu documentation provides detailed information on how to use and configure Ubuntu.
Ubuntu Support: The Ubuntu support team is available to help with any issues you may be experiencing.

By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article and seeking additional help from the resources provided, you should be able to resolve the issue of all commands being displayed in Figlet and not executing normally.