xfce4-screensaver - Xfce Screensaver

• Usage
• Building & Installation – Instructions for building and installing the screensaver.
• DBUS Interface – Interacting with the screensaver via DBUS.
• Frequently Asked Questions – Diagnose and resolve configuration issues.
• Known Issues
• Installation
• Latest Release
• Source Code Repository
• Reporting Bugs

Xfce Screensaver is a screen saver and locker that aims to have simple, sane, secure defaults and be well integrated with the desktop.

This project is a port of MATE Screensaver, itself a port of GNOME Screensaver.
It has been tightly integrated with the Xfce desktop, utilizing Xfce libraries and the Xfconf configuration backend.

• Integration with the Xfce desktop per-monitor wallpaper
• Locking down of configuration settings via Xfconf
• Support for XScreensaver screensavers
• (optional) Integration with ConsoleKit and Systemd
• DBUS interface for limited control and querying screensaver status
• Idle time and inhibition state are based on the X11 Screensaver extension
• Shared styles with LightDM GTK+ Greeter
• No GNOME or MATE dependencies. Requirements are lightweight and shared with Xfce.
• Full translation support into many languages
• User switching

The application combines two functions: a screensaver that blanks the screen or fills it with images when the computer is idle; a locker that provides session security.

Screensaver Preferences Window

• This is the master switch for the screensaver. Note that the screensaver will not actually run unless activation has been enabled at the bottom of the tab.

• The middle box consists of two parts: a list panel on the left and a small preview screen.
• The list panel displays available themes (also called “screensavers”). At the bottom of the list panel there is a small configuration button that can be clicked to change available theme traits.
• A full-screen preview can be seen by clicking the Preview button at the bottom of the tab.
• Only a small number of themes are available by default. But Xfce Screensaver uses Xscreensaver-compatible screensavers, and collections of such screensavers (xscreensaver-data, xscreensaver-gl, etc.) can usually be installed separately from the main Xscreensaver package.
• For troubleshooting information about themes, consult the FAQs.

• Click the slider to activate the screensaver when the computer is idle.
• Use the counter below the slider to set the time interval after the last screen activity before the computer is considered “idle.”

Lock Screen (Locker)

• This is the master switch for the locker. This also integrates with Xfce4 Power Manager, which can be launched using the button at the bottom of the tab.
• Note that the locker will not automatically run unless at least one activation listed below has been enabled, although manual locking remains available.

• User has the option to decide how long the screensaver should run before the screen is locked.

• Enable to allow Xfce4-screensaver to put the system to sleep (suspend).

• Enabling this triggers an on-screen keyboard for login. The keyboard’s visibility before the screen was locked is remembered; a small toggle on the right end of the login screen can be used to restore visibility if required.
• The command and any options to activate an installed on-screen keyboard may be entered in the command box. For example: onboard -e needs to be used to activate the onboard keyboard, if installed.

• When enabled, status messages will be shown despite the locked state.

• Enable to use Xfce4-screensaver to log out.
• Enter any required command, and use the counter below the slider to set the time interval before logout.

• Enable to allow Xfce4-screensaver to switch user.

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Allow embedding a keyboard into the window, /embedded-keyboard-enabled, may be non-functional. Onboard crashes when embedded.

See README.md.

• xfce4-screensaver 4.18.4 released (2024/12/21 07:41)

Read the CHANGELOG

• Download current release (older versions of this component are also available here)

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https://gitlab.xfce.org/apps/xfce4-screensaver

• Reporting Bugs – List of currently open bugs and instructions on how to submit new bug reports

In the bug report please include information about your system, if possible:

- What operating system and version - What version of xfce4-screensaver, i.e. the output of the xfce4-screensaver-command –version command apps:xfce4-screensaver If you want to debug your installation you may also be able to get meaningful debug output when starting xfce4-screensaver from the debug script: ./src/debug-screensaver.sh

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Return to Xfce 4.18 Main Documentation Page