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To enable or disable Sound Keys in Ubuntu, open Settings → Accessibility, select Sound Keys in the Seeing section, and switch the control On or Off. The Ubuntu instructions describe the change as immediate, so there is normally no save button or restart.
Sound Keys supplies an audible indication when a lock key changes state. The exact keys mentioned vary by documentation and release: Ubuntu guidance names Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock, while GNOME-family documentation names Num Lock and Caps Lock. Treat the setting as feedback for lock-key state changes rather than assuming every release handles the same list.
What Sound Keys does
Sound Keys is an accessibility setting built into the Ubuntu desktop. When enabled, the system plays a tone as a lock key changes between on and off. This can help when you cannot easily see the keyboard indicator or when you want confirmation that a key press was registered.
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Which keys are covered?
The key list is not identical in every source. The Ubuntu-specific instructions refer to Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock. A recent GNOME-family support description refers to beeps when Num Lock or Caps Lock are turned on or off. Because Ubuntu releases and desktop variants can differ, the safest description is audible feedback for lock-key state changes. If Scroll Lock matters to your workflow, test it on your own release instead of assuming that it is included.
| Documentation context | Keys explicitly named | What to take from it |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu-specific instructions (September 2022) | Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock | Ubuntu presents Sound Keys as feedback for these lock-key changes. |
| GNOME-family support page (updated August 14, 2026) | Num Lock and Caps Lock | GNOME describes the same kind of beep, but its page does not promise Scroll Lock behavior. |
The setting controls audible state feedback; it does not change what a lock key does, alter keyboard layout, or force Caps Lock, Num Lock or Scroll Lock to remain enabled.
Enable or disable Sound Keys from Ubuntu Settings
Use this route when you want the supported graphical control and can open the desktop settings application.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute- Open Settings. Select Settings from the system menu, or open the Activities overview and launch it from the application list.
- Open Accessibility. In the Settings window, select Accessibility.
- Find the Seeing section. In the accessibility categories, locate Seeing. Select Sound Keys to reveal its control.
- Choose the state. Move the switch to On to hear tones for supported lock-key changes, or to Off to silence them.
- Close Settings. The Ubuntu-specific instructions say the change applies immediately. There is no separate Apply button in this workflow.
How to confirm the change
Press a supported lock key once and observe whether the expected tone occurs. Press it again to change the state back. The exact tone and the keys that trigger it depend on the desktop implementation, so use this as a practical check rather than as a guarantee that every lock key is covered.
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When your menus look different
Ubuntu releases do not all present accessibility controls in exactly the same place. GNOME-family documentation describes the option within Universal Access, while Ubuntu’s instructions place it under Settings → Accessibility → Seeing. The wording, grouping and visual layout can change with the Ubuntu release, GNOME version or flavor you installed.
Use the Settings search
If you do not immediately see Sound Keys, open Settings and use its search field for “Sound Keys,” “lock keys” or “Universal Access.” Search results may take you directly to the accessibility page even when the category names differ.
Check the desktop environment
The Ubuntu-specific path applies to the standard Ubuntu desktop described by that guidance. Other Ubuntu flavors may use a different desktop environment and may not expose the same control or schema. In that case, look for an accessibility or keyboard section in the flavor’s own settings application. Do not assume that a missing menu means the keyboard is defective.
Account for release differences
A visual guide for Ubuntu 24.04 shows Sound Keys in the accessibility settings. Older or newer releases can reorganize the page, rename a group or change which lock keys are documented. Follow the label on the system you are actually using; the function is the same kind of audible lock-state feedback even when the navigation is not identical.
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Optional terminal method: the reported gsettings key
A 2019 Ask Ubuntu answer identifies the setting with the GNOME schema key org.gnome.desktop.a11y.keyboard togglekeys-enable. That answer is community-provided and does not establish that the key is compatible with every current Ubuntu release. Use this method only if you are comfortable checking the schemas installed on your own system.
Inspect the key before changing it
Open a terminal and check whether the schema and key exist:
gsettings list-keys org.gnome.desktop.a11y.keyboard
gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.a11y.keyboard togglekeys-enableIf the first command lists togglekeys-enable, the second should report its current Boolean value, such as true or false. If the schema is not found or the key is absent, stop there and use the graphical Settings path instead. A missing key indicates a compatibility or desktop-environment difference, not a reason to create an unverified schema.
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Set the reported Boolean value
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gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.a11y.keyboard togglekeys-enable truegsettings set org.gnome.desktop.a11y.keyboard togglekeys-enable false
The first command requests enabled feedback and the second requests disabled feedback. Run one command, not both. Check the result with:
gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.a11y.keyboard togglekeys-enableBecause this key comes from a 2019 community answer, regard the commands as version-sensitive. A command can complete without producing the behavior you expect if your desktop uses a different implementation. The graphical switch is the better authority for the release currently running on your machine.
Do not confuse it with event sounds
The original community question recorded org.gnome.desktop.sound event-sounds as an initial guess. That is not the accepted Sound Keys setting identified in the answer. Event-sound preferences and lock-key feedback are separate concepts; changing general desktop sounds may affect other interface noises without enabling lock-key tones.
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Troubleshooting
The switch is on, but no tone is audible
- Press a lock key that your release documents as supported, then press it again to change state. The Ubuntu and GNOME descriptions do not list exactly the same keys.
- Check the desktop’s master volume and mute status. A muted output device can hide the tone even when Sound Keys is enabled.
- Verify that audio is being sent to the output device you are listening to, particularly if headphones, a monitor or a dock is connected.
- Return to the Sound Keys switch, turn it off, turn it on again and test once more. The Ubuntu procedure applies the change immediately.
Sound Keys is not listed
- Confirm that you opened the desktop’s actual Accessibility or Universal Access settings rather than a keyboard-layout panel.
- Use Settings search for the feature name.
- Check your Ubuntu release and flavor. Menu organization and feature availability can differ between desktop environments.
- If you tried the terminal route, inspect the installed schema first. Do not paste commands for a schema that your system does not list.
The tones are distracting
Return to Settings → Accessibility → Sound Keys and move the switch to Off. Since the documented change is immediate, the feedback should stop without logging out or restarting. Disabling Sound Keys does not disable the lock keys themselves; it only removes their audible indication.
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The terminal command reports an error
An error such as an unknown schema or key means the 2019 community setting does not match your installed desktop configuration. Use the graphical control if it is available. If it is not, record your Ubuntu release and desktop environment before looking for a release-specific configuration reference; do not substitute org.gnome.desktop.sound event-sounds merely because it sounds similar.
Choosing the setting for your workflow
Sound Keys is most useful when an audible confirmation helps you notice a lock-state change. For example, someone who cannot reliably see a keyboard indicator may prefer to leave it enabled. Someone working in a quiet room, recording audio or sharing a workspace may prefer it disabled. These are preference decisions rather than performance settings: the sources describe the toggle and its beep, but do not provide comparative measurements of productivity, accuracy or battery use.
- Enable it when confirmation of Caps Lock or Num Lock changes is valuable to you.
- Test your usual keys after enabling, because documentation differs on Scroll Lock and releases may implement the list differently.
- Disable it when the audible feedback is disruptive; the keyboard’s normal lock behavior remains unchanged.
What is established about current support
The Ubuntu step-by-step guidance was published in September 2022. The GNOME-family description used for comparison was updated August 14, 2026 and documents a GNOME-based environment rather than every Ubuntu flavor. The terminal key comes from a 2019 Ask Ubuntu answer. Together, these sources support the Settings workflow while leaving the command-line key and exact lock-key coverage release-sensitive.
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