Disable Caps Lock Indicator on macOS Sonoma

A feature has been added to macOS Sonoma - the onscreen caps lock indicator.

While i am sure this may be useful for some, for me it is not, is there any way to disable it?



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Sep 27, 2023 5:14 AM

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Posted on Apr 24, 2024 10:02 PM

OK maryo10 and others asking, here goes. There is nothing magic about using Terminal for Apple if you follow the steps verbatim and copy and paste the Command exactly as printed from a trusted source


First you have to be logged on your computer as the Administrator. In other words you need to be logged on and able to make changes by entering your username/admin password.


Here is how to access the Terminal app


Go to Applications/Utilities/Terminal App. Open The Terminal App


Once open Click Return/Enter (you should see your computer name and your user name) Now you are ready to enter the command



Copy and Paste (do not try to write it) the command that yochess posted. Disable Caps Lock Indicator on macOS Sono… - Apple Community The post is the third post I believe.

I will reprint it here but all credit goes to yochees This command has worked perfectly for me. MacBookPro running Sonoma


Make sure you copy and paste exactly as written. No spaces and no deletions.


With Terminal app open and your username showing copy the first line of the command and paste to the Terminal app.

Click Return/Enter and it will ask for your admin password. Enter password and click Return/Enter



First line of command


sudo mkdir -p /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain



Now copy the last two lines of the command and paste to the Terminal app.

Click Return/Enter.


Last two lines of command


sudo /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add 'redesigned_text_cursor:Enabled' bool false" /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain/UIKit.plist



Now restart your computer. All done.


Hope this helps.



335 replies

Nov 15, 2023 10:01 AM in response to richardm04

I discovered when you press caps lock on and then switch to another window using the three finger drag on touchpad and then coming back to window previously on activates it. I suggest two things to try, first, going to another window(three finger drag left or right with touchpad)with caps lock still on and with new window open, pressing caps lock off and then going back to previous window(three finger drag technique with touchpad)or Second with caps lock on and blue/green symbol on screen still, turning caps lock off and then switching window(three finger drag left or right with touchpad) and then coming back to original window gets it to go away, pressing and releasing touchpad between windows is important. Hopefully this helps😎🙏🤞

Nov 26, 2023 6:07 AM in response to richardm04

Here's a fix. It's imperfect but it will defeat this infuriating bug.


In Microsoft Word for Mac go to the drop down menu in the upper left and select Format.

In the Format drop-down, select Font.

In the Effects field, check All Caps

Deselect "caps lock" on your keyboard.


This will allow you to write in all caps without the caps lock symbol obscuring what you are trying to write.

It's imperfect because when you want to switch to lower case you have to go through the process to deselect all caps.


I write scripts for the spoken word, (television, podcasts, speeches) so we write in all caps for the ease of the narrator. It's become nearly impossible to work with the caps lock icon covering the words I'm editing.


Good luck, maybe Apple will create a fix that will make this a selectable feature.


Nov 30, 2023 4:38 PM in response to malfetis

I used this simpler, single Terminal command to disable the Caps Lock indicator (without disabling the caps lock function):


sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain/UIKit.plist redesigned_text_cursor -dict-add Enabled -bool NO


To reverse you replace NO with YES. Don't know how to reverse yochees's suggestion, but once reversed, would be interested to know if my solution creates the same side effects, which I haven't seen, but perhaps don't understand.

Oct 23, 2023 6:18 AM in response to MikeBruner

MikeBruner wrote:

THE ICON IS NOT A FEATURE! IT IS INCREDIBLY ANNOYING.

This icon is a feature, just one you find annoying.


WHY CAN'T I JUST TURN IT OFF!!!

Because Apple didn't give you that option. You can let them know your feelings on the matter here:


Product Feedback - Apple

ONLY ANSWER HERE IS FOR PROGRAMERS. NUTS.

Pasting a couple of lines of coded into Terminal isn't most people's idea of "programming". Using Terminal can be a bit intimidating, especially to younger folks who never used DOS or UNIX but it's really not that hard.


Oh, an please, while it's still working on your computer, pay attention to the caps lock indicator. You mistakenly typed your entire post in caps. I'm sure you wouldn't want people to think you were intentionally being rude to us, your fellow users.


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Disable Caps Lock Indicator on macOS Sonoma

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