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sensors Cheatsheet

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sensors is a command-line tool from lm-sensors package for monitoring hardware sensors. Displays temperature, voltage, fan speed, and other hardware sensor data.

Basic Usage

  • sensors - Display all sensor readings
  • sensors -u - Show raw sensor data
  • sensors -A - Show adapter information
  • sensors -j - Output in JSON format
  • sensors -f - Output in Fahrenheit
  • sensors -c <config> - Use specific config file

Sensor Detection

  • sensors-detect - Detect and configure sensors
  • sensors-detect --auto - Auto-detect without prompts
  • sensors-detect --batch - Batch mode (no prompts)

Configuration

  • sensors -s - Set sensor limits from config
  • sensors -c <file> - Use custom config file
  • sensors --set-adapter <adapter> - Set adapter

Output Options

  • sensors -u - Raw/unformatted output
  • sensors -A - Show adapter names
  • sensors -j - JSON output
  • sensors -f - Fahrenheit instead of Celsius
  • sensors -h - Show help

Common Examples

Basic Reading

sensors

Display all sensor readings.

Raw Data

sensors -u

Show raw sensor data with chip names.

JSON Output

sensors -j

Output in JSON format for scripting.

Fahrenheit

sensors -f

Display temperatures in Fahrenheit.

Detect Sensors

sudo sensors-detect

Detect and configure hardware sensors.

Auto Detect

sudo sensors-detect --auto

Auto-detect sensors without prompts.

Real-time Monitoring

watch -n 1 sensors

Monitor temperatures in real-time, updating every second.

Tips

  • Run sensors-detect first to detect hardware sensors
  • Use -j for JSON output when scripting
  • Use -u to see raw chip data and sensor names
  • Use -f if you prefer Fahrenheit temperatures
  • Combine with watch for real-time monitoring: watch -n 1 sensors
  • Use sensors -s to apply limits from configuration
  • Check /etc/sensors3.conf for configuration options
  • Essential for monitoring CPU and system temperatures
  • Use watch sensors to monitor temperatures in real-time (updates every 2 seconds by default)
  • For custom update interval: watch -n 0.5 sensors (updates every 0.5 seconds)