Have you ever been working on a Linux system, trying to connect to a network, and found yourself stuck at a command prompt asking for confirmation? If you’ve encountered a prompt like yes nm login, you might have been momentarily confused. This isn’t a typical login screen, but rather a specific interaction with NetworkManager’s command-line tool.
It usually appears when you’re trying to connect to a network that requires some form of acceptance, like a captive portal or a less-secure Wi-Fi network. The system is essentially pausing and asking, “Are you sure you want to proceed?” Knowing how to respond can get you connected quickly.
What the “yes nm login” Prompt Means
This prompt isn’t about a username and password for your computer account. Instead, it’s generated by the nmcli (NetworkManager Command Line Interface) tool. It often happens when you attempt to connect to a network that has no encryption or uses an old, insecure method like WEP. The system is being cautious, asking for your explicit approval before connecting to a potentially risky network. It’s a safety feature, not an error.
How to Respond to the Prompt
Responding is straightforward. The prompt is literally asking for the word “yes” to confirm you want to proceed. Simply type:
yes
Then press Enter. In most cases, this confirmation is all that’s needed, and NetworkManager will continue its process to establish the connection. If a password is required for the network, it will prompt you for that next.
Connecting to Networks More Smoothly
If you find yourself frequently needing to confirm connections, you can sometimes bypass the prompt by including the –ask flag when using the nmcli command. For a more permanent solution, you can adjust NetworkManager’s configuration to automatically connect to trusted networks without confirmation. However, it’s often wise to keep these prompts active for new or unknown networks to maintain a good security practice.
So, the next time you see yes nm login, you’ll know it’s just the system looking out for you. A simple “yes” is your key to getting online, keeping you in control of your network connections.