[SOLVED] xfce4-screensaver and xset to disable screen saver

BearInMind · 2025-09-18 21:57:28

Hi,

Running Debian13/xfce4.20

I'm trying to disable screensaver using xfce4-screensaver GUI...
"Regard the computer as idle after" parameter is related to xset's "screen saver" section "timeout" parameter:

xset q
...
Screen Saver:
  prefer blanking:  no    allow exposures:  no
  timeout:  60    cycle:  60
...
DPMS (Display Power Management Signaling):
  Standby: 0    Suspend: 0    Off: 0
  DPMS is Disabled

It is not possible to make it zero in the GUI, and disabling screensaver doesn't actually disable it. In example from screenshot, it will lock after a minute, that I believe is a bug, because I can run

xset s off

and I see timeout becomes zero in "xset q" output and screen stays turned on, while GUI still shows 1 minute.
If I re-open GUI, it breaks xset setting 1 minute back again, that activates screensaver again.

Am I doing something wrong?

Last edited by BearInMind (2025-09-20 01:20:24)

ToZ · 2025-09-18 22:40:42

Hello and welcome.

What exact versions of xfce4-screensaver and xfce4-power-manager are running?

disabling screensaver doesn't actually disable it.

If you want to disable the screensaver, then unchecking the "Enable Screensaver" in that dialog should do it.

In example from screenshot, it will lock after a minute,

If you want to disable screen locking, you need to do it on the "Lock Screen" tab - they are two different functions.

And if you want to disable screen blanking/dpms, then that is done in the power manager tab as you've indicated above.

BearInMind · 2025-09-19 23:49:19

Thanks for the reply.
xfce4-power-manager 4.20.0-1 - comes with distro
xfce4-screensaver 4.18.4-1 - manually installed form stable, also tried 4.20.1-1 from testing, both produce same result.

As recommended:
"Enable Screensaver" is disabled;
"Enable Lock Screen" at "Lock Screen" tab is disabled;
"Activate screenserver when computer is idle" is disabled;
"Display Power Management" at "Display" tab in power management tool is disabled. I've also tried enabling it with "Put to sleep" and "Switch off" set to "Never", result is same ether way.

Expected:
Screen is always on.

Result:
"xset q" still shows 60 seconds timeout, screen turns black according to that value.
When i move mouse or press any button - login screen shows up.

ToZ · 2025-09-19 23:58:40

When i move mouse or press any button - login screen shows up.

Do you have another screensaver/locker program active?

ps -ef | grep -E 'screensaver|locker'

BearInMind · 2025-09-20 00:09:35

Good point.

ps -ef | grep -E 'screensaver|locker'
user        2075    1805  0 15:05 ?        00:00:02 xfce4-screensaver
user        2079    1805  0 15:05 ?        00:00:00 light-locker
user        8018    8010  0 17:06 pts/1    00:00:00 grep -E screensaver|locker

light-locker 1.8.0-3+b1
the default one from lightdm... not sure how they compatible.

Last edited by BearInMind (2025-09-20 00:16:10)

ToZ · 2025-09-20 01:00:33

Uninstall light-locker - it conflicts with xfce4-screensaver. Restart or log out and back in again after you do so.

BearInMind · 2025-09-20 01:20:00

Awesome, it worked cool This explains why xfce4-screensaver is not included in distro by default.

Thanks a lot!

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#1 2025-09-18 21:57:28

[SOLVED] xfce4-screensaver and xset to disable screen saver

#2 2025-09-18 22:40:42

Re: [SOLVED] xfce4-screensaver and xset to disable screen saver

#3 2025-09-19 23:49:19

Re: [SOLVED] xfce4-screensaver and xset to disable screen saver

#4 2025-09-19 23:58:40

Re: [SOLVED] xfce4-screensaver and xset to disable screen saver

#5 2025-09-20 00:09:35

Re: [SOLVED] xfce4-screensaver and xset to disable screen saver

#6 2025-09-20 01:00:33

Re: [SOLVED] xfce4-screensaver and xset to disable screen saver

#7 2025-09-20 01:20:00

Re: [SOLVED] xfce4-screensaver and xset to disable screen saver

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