Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: How to disable screen flashing on error while using iTerm2?

iTerm2 screen flashing issue on Mac OS Mojave resolved by adjusting terminal settings.

Quick Answer: Disable the visual bell in iTerm2 preferences and ensure the screen flash option is unchecked in System Preferences.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. 🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

A flashing screen when backspacing on an empty command line can be frustrating and distracting. This issue affects iTerm2 users on Mac OS Mojave, causing a brief white flash across the entire screen.

Disabling this feature is crucial for maintaining focus while working with terminal applications.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The flashing screen occurs due to the terminal's visual bell setting. When the visual bell is enabled, the terminal flashes the screen when an alert sound or notification occurs. In this case, the issue might be related to the iTerm2 configuration or a system-level setting.
  • Another possible cause could be a conflict between the terminal and other system settings, such as accessibility options.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Disable Visual Bell in iTerm2 Preferences

  1. Step 1: Open iTerm2 and navigate to Preferences by clicking on iTerm2 in the menu bar and selecting 'Preferences'.
  2. Step 2: In the Preferences window, click on the 'Advanced' tab.
  3. Step 3: Find the 'Terminal: Visual bell' option and select 'No' from the dropdown menu.
  4. Step 4: Click 'OK' to save the changes.
  5. Step 5: Restart iTerm2 or log out and log back in to ensure the changes take effect.

Disable Screen Flashing in System Preferences

  1. Step 1: Open System Preferences by clicking on the Apple logo in the top left corner of the screen and selecting 'System Preferences'.
  2. Step 2: Navigate to the 'Accessibility' preferences.
  3. Step 3: Click on the 'Audio' tab.
  4. Step 4: Find the 'Flash the screen when an alert sound occurs' checkbox and uncheck it.
  5. Step 5: Click 'OK' to save the changes.
  6. Step 6: Restart your Mac or log out and log back in to ensure the changes take effect.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to disable the flashing screen in iTerm2 on Mac OS Mojave. Remember to restart your terminal application after making any changes to ensure they take effect.

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