ACPI command in Linux with examples (original) (raw)
Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025
ACPI is the command in Linux that helps the users in managing power settings. It also helps in monitoring the hardware status efficiently. It facilitates with providing essential information such as battery health, CPU temperatures, and fan speeds, providing support in system maintenance and performance optimization. In thi s article we through discussing what are acpi commands and how to utilize ACPI commands effectively through practical examples, helping users enhance their control over power management and hardware configurations on Linux systems.
Table of Content
- What is acpi Command?
- Options of acpi Command
- Usage and Examples of acpi Command
- Difference between acpi, acpi-listen and acpi_call Commands
- Features of ACPI Command
What is acpi Command?
The `acpi` command in Linux helps in retrieving and displaying the critical system information that is related to power management and hardware status. It facilitates with providing a detailed information such as battery status, CPU temperatures, fan speeds, and power consumption data. It is essential for monitoring system health and optimizing performance. This command is valuable for both troubleshooting hardware issues and implementing effective power management strategies on Linux systems.
**Syntax
acpi [options]
Options of acpi Command
The following are the options of acpi command:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -b, --battery | Display battery information including status, charge, and capacity. |
| -t, --thermal | Show thermal information such as CPU temperature and cooling device status. |
| -f, --fan | View fan information like speed and status. |
| -c, --ac-adapter | Check AC adapter status and power supply details. |
**Usage and Examples of acpi Command
The following are the examples of acpi command explaining with its usage:
1. -b, --battery option
- The following is used for displaying the battery information including status, charge, and capacity.
acpi -b
**2. -a | --ac-adapter
- It is used to displays the ac adapter information, the command looks as follows:
acpi -a
**3. -t | --thermal
- This option is used for displaying the thermal information, the command looks as follows:
acpi -t
**4. -c | --cooling
- It is used for displaying the cooling device information. The command looks as follows:
acpi -c
**5. -V | --everything
- It is used to show every device, overrides above options. The command looks as follows:
acpi -v
**6. -s | --show-empty
- It displays the non-operational devices. For implementing use the following command:
acpi -s
**7. -i | --details
- It is used in displaying the additional details if available. The command looks as follows:
**8. -f | --fahrenheit
It is used as fahrenheit as the temperature unit instead of default celsius. For implementing the command looks as follows:
**acpi -f
**9. -k | --kelvin
- It is used as kelvin as the temperature unit instead of default celsius. The command looks as follows:
acpi -k
**10. -h | --help
- It is used for displaying the helpful information as guide of command, The command looks as follows:
acpi --help
**11. -v | --version
- It is used in shows the output version of acpi information:
acpi -version
Difference between acpi, acpi-listen and acpi_call Commands
The following are the difference between acpi, acpi_listen and acpi_call Commands:
| Feature | acpi Command | acpi_listen Command | acpi_call Command |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Purpose | It used for displaying the ACPI information like battery status, thermal data, etc. | It is used for listening the ACPI events and displays corresponding information. | It executes ACPI methods from userspace for advanced system control. |
| **Information | It providess Static ACPI data | It provides Real-time ACPI event monitoring | It provides the dynamic ACPI method execution for system configuration tasks |
| **Output | It helps in showing the current system hardware state and configurations. | It shows the events that are triggered by acpi. It is useful for scripting and debugging. | It executes the specific acpi methods providing direct control of system. |
| **Usage | Monitoring system health and hardware status | Real-time debugging of ACPI events | Advanced system configuration and power management tasks |
Features of ACPI Command
The following are the features of acpi command:
- **Hardware Monitoring: It provides the detailed information regarding the hardware components such as battery status, CPU temperatures, fan speeds, and power consumption, providing the support in system health monitoring.
- **System Health Assessment: It facilitates the users to assess overall system health by displaying critical ACPI data, including thermal conditions and power supply details.
- **Diagnostic Tool: It act as a diagnostic tool for troubleshooting hardware-related issues and optimizing power management strategies based on real-time data.
- **Scripting Support: It facilitates with scripting and automation by retrieving ACPI information that can be used for scripting solutions and monitoring scripts.