Disable Caps Lock Indicator on macOS Sonoma

@autnagrag

In many command line instructions, it's simply a matter of changing the 'false' command to 'true'. (or vise versa)

If you successfully turned it off, try this to reverse it.

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

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Though, if they added the Flying Toasters, I might be tempted.

FWIW, these worked in Monterey on Intel Macs. Never tried it on Ventura or Sonoma on Apple silicon.

https://en.infinisys.co.jp/product/afterdarkclassicset/index.shtml

tuqqer wrote:

Well, they're all useful features to some.

A central key to good UI design is to not make disruptive new features the default on new Operating Systems upgrades.

It’s not disruptive to me. I didn’t even notice it. Having to swipe around to see the content I’m referencing is incredibly disrupting.

Apple always makes new features the default.

I only get the text cursor issue when the flag for disabling the Caps Lock and the Input Source switcher is set. If I set the flag back to Enabled = YES, then I don't have any text cursor issues. Not all apps seemed to be affected by it, but I'm getting a growing list that are. So far the pop ups are more annoying, but I'm hoping to find a way to have the best of both worlds. :)

DesiredAliasGoesHere wrote:

This feature isn't useful for anyone. It should be disabled; it should be removed. We've had a caps lock key for over 100 years, you don't have to tell me when it's on.

[Edited by Moderator]

I once read a statistic on the internet that there are 26 other people with an issue/problem for every one that posts on a tech support board. That makes a whopping 16,000 people who don't like this feature. I couldn't find any adoption rate numbers for Sonoma. I would imagine it dwarfs the 16,000.

[Edited by Moderator] 

bf144 wrote:

Imagine for a moment that Apple decided to add this feature to let you know when you're typing in lowercase letters. When you're writing here, or an email, or you're drafting a document using lower case letters, the icon would be there, and it would follow where ever you're typing. It would be there in documents, in apps, in other platforms, there it is, with no way to shut it off without disabling lower case letters. Would you find that to be a helpful feature?

I always type in lowercase letters. Why would anyone need to know that? The only reason to use capital letters is to start a sentence or proper nouns. Consecutive ones are only necessary when typing an extremely long initialization or acronym. You should definitely be warned that you are typing a long string of difficult to read text. I do like knowing when I have accidentally enabled Caps Lock so I don't have to go back and fix a whole line of text. I can't imagine why it bothers you. It is a quite useful feature for people who want to type legible sentences.

I think the problem for many of us who have been active in this discussion is we are in an industry that always uses CAPS, like creating construction documents. When a feature hides the box you are trying to type in, it is a problem.

Just click on it, hit caps lock again, AND IT WILL NOT APPEAR. Or, just follow the instructions posted way above to disable it permanently. For as much time that has been spent complaining here (which will do no good), the people who hate it could have disabled it.

The new caps lock UI "feature" in Sonoma is unwelcome to me. It seems to be related to the fact that the Keyboard Shortcuts -> Modifier Keys -> Caps Lock key parameter in System Settings no longer works in Sonoma 14.1.2. This is incredibly frustrating. I don't want a Caps Lock key. For years I used keyboards where the Control key was comfortably in this space on my keyboard. MacOS used to let me have this, and System Settings claims that I can. Please fix this bug, or be honest and remove the Caps Lock parameter altogether (which will force my hand to write event interceptor code to make this work for myself).

This feature has got to go!!! I take lots of notes and use it constantly on and off.

I’d rather learn without the annoying reminder! Been just fine without it for years. Now it’s driving me crazy.

Rifadm817 wrote:

CLEARLY MOST IRRITATING FEATURE THAT I GET ANNOYED EVERY OTHER MINUTE I USE MY LAPTOP. PLEASE APPLE REMOVE THIS FEATURE. THIS IS VERY VERY VERY ANNOYING AND FRUSTRATING TO USE.

Clearly, it is a feature that you need, as I know you would not have intentionally been so rude as to leave your caps lock on and shout as us, your fellow users.

I have been watching this thread for a while now.

The clicking on the icon that is suggested is only a temporary fix, it works only ONCE.

The TERMINAL fix is permanent it seems.

That's all there is to it.

P

Absolutely on point! It did not work for me. It is in the hand of Apple. I'm sure they'll talk about whether or not annoying their users is a priority.

Terminal solutions are uncomfortable to users...and for good reason! We don't know what we're typing. What if the posted code does something the we definitively would not choose to do if we knew what we were doing? I was an IT professional for twenty-five years and I don'tI wanna mess with code I don't understand because they've stuck a cute little button on the screen. The accessibility option is the definitive solution. That can't be that difficult to implement.

This one is worth giving users a choice.

Only issue Ive found with this, is that a number of apps no longer show the blinking curser in text fields for example.

Other than that, it works in removing the caps lock symbol. I just now wish I could have it both ways - keep the blinky and lose the green symbol.

It's nice that you like this "feature", however, it's intended for those who accidentally turned on caps lock. But for those of us who know when caps lock is on, we don't need it, since 1) we intentionally turned it on, 2) there's a light on the caps lock key when it's on, and 3) the letters on the screen are typing in all caps. To make this something that cannot be disabled in preferences is remarkably shortsighted by Apple.

This solution worked for me, but I first had to give myself admin access to the FeatureFlags and Domain folders. Just FYI to anyone else who is trying to solve this problem. Thank you to Ken for the fix!