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papaathome

Member

Registered: 2026-03-12

Posts: 8

[SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

Whatever I try to disable the screensaver, it fails. The screensaver always comes in after 15 minutes of inactivity.

I'm using Debian (trixie) with Xfce.

I have searched on different items and also found this thread from yesterday (https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=19107) which is very much the same problem but the other way around. I have scanned configuration options and disabled anything I could find that may be causing a screensaver timeout event. But obviously I have missed at least one setting. 

A possible work around, suggested by the other thread, was to have 'presentation-mode' set to true. But I can't find that option in the power manager app. (I did not try the command line option to switch it on.) If it works it would not be a fix of the timeout configuration but just a block of the event on the timeout moment. Not ideal.

From the other message I ran the following commands:

xfconf-query -c xfce4-power-manager -lv
xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -lv | grep Lock
xfconf-query -c xfce4-screensaver -lv
ps -ef | grep -E 'saver|locker'
xfce4-power-manager --dump
xfce4-power-manager --quit
xfce4-power-manager --debug

Checked the output bud did not recognise anything out of order.
Waited and after exact 15 minutes the screensaver came in.

What could trigger it?
Any advise is welcome.

Oh, and the output form the commands was like this

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-power-manager -lv
/xfce4-power-manager/dpms-enabled                   false
/xfce4-power-manager/dpms-on-ac-off                 0
/xfce4-power-manager/dpms-on-ac-sleep               0
/xfce4-power-manager/lock-screen-suspend-hibernate  false
/xfce4-power-manager/power-button-action            3
andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -lv | grep Lock
/general/LockCommand                         
/shutdown/LockScreen                         false
andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-screensaver -lv
/lock/sleep-activation  false
andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ ps -ef | grep -E 'saver|locker'
andre     262359  261400  0 13:22 pts/5    00:00:00 grep -E saver|locker
andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ xfce4-power-manager --dump
---------------------------------------------------
       Xfce power manager version 4.20.0
With policykit support
---------------------------------------------------
Can suspend: True
Can hibernate: False
Can hybrid sleep: False
Authorized to suspend: True
Authorized to hibernate: False
Authorized to hybrid sleep: False
Authorized to shutdown: True
Has battery: False
Has brightness panel: False
Has power button: True
Has hibernate button: True
Has sleep button: True
Has battery button: True
Has LID: False
andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ 
andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ xfce4-power-manager --quit
andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ xfce4-power-manager --debug
TRACE[xfpm-main.c:178] xfpm_start(): Starting the power manager
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for general-notification
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for critical-power-level
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for show-brightness-popup
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for handle-brightness-keys
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-step-count
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-exponential
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for show-tray-icon
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for critical-power-action
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for hibernate-button-action
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for sleep-button-action
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for battery-button-action
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for lid-action-on-ac
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for lid-action-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-level-on-ac
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-level-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-slider-min-level
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-on-battery-sleep
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-on-battery-off
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-sleep-mode
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-on-ac
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-sleep-mode-on-ac
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-sleep-mode-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-on-ac
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for logind-handle-power-key
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for logind-handle-suspend-key
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for logind-handle-hibernate-key
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for logind-handle-lid-switch
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for heartbeat-command
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for profile-on-ac
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for profile-on-battery
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for show-panel-label
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:151] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for show-presentation-indicator
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:840] xfpm_power_get_power_devices(): Power device detected at : /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_hidpp_battery_0
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:805] xfpm_power_add_device(): 'keyboard' device added
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:814] xfpm_power_add_device(): Battery device type 'keyboard' detected at: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_hidpp_battery_0
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 124 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_POWER_OFF)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:173] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): could not map keysym 1008ffa8 to keycode

TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 213 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_HIBERNATE)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 150 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_SLEEP)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 244 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_BATTERY)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 238 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_KBD_BRIGHTNESS_UP)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 237 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_KBD_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 236 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_KBD_BRIGHTNESS_CYCLE)
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:840] xfpm_power_get_power_devices(): Power device detected at : /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_hidpp_battery_1
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:805] xfpm_power_add_device(): 'keyboard' device added
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:814] xfpm_power_add_device(): Battery device type 'keyboard' detected at: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_hidpp_battery_1
TRACE[xfpm-brightness-x11.c:148] xfpm_brightness_x11_setup(): No outputs have backlight property
TRACE[xfpm-brightness-polkit.c:85] helper_get_value(): Executing command: /usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper --get-max-brightness
TRACE[xfpm-brightness-polkit.c:89] helper_get_value(): Failed to get value: Child process exited with code 4
TRACE[xfpm-brightness-polkit.c:119] xfpm_brightness_polkit_setup(): get-max-brightness returned -1
TRACE[xfpm-brightness.c:106] xfpm_brightness_new(): No brightness controls available
TRACE[xfpm-kbd-backlight.c:93] xfpm_kbd_backlight_init_max_level(): Failed to get keyboard max brightness level : GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.UnknownMethod: Object does not exist at path “/org/freedesktop/UPower/KbdBacklight”
TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:550] xfpm_manager_inhibit_sleep_systemd(): Inhibiting systemd sleep: handle-power-key:handle-suspend-key:handle-hibernate-key:handle-lid-switch
TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:438] xfpm_manager_set_idle_alarm_on_ac(): setting inactivity sleep timeout on ac to never
TRACE[xfpm-idle.c:178] xfpm_idle_alarm_remove(): Alarm id 8 already removed
TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:459] xfpm_manager_set_idle_alarm_on_battery(): setting inactivity sleep timeout on battery to never
TRACE[xfpm-idle.c:178] xfpm_idle_alarm_remove(): Alarm id 16 already removed
TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:618] name_appeared(): org.xfce.SessionManager started up, owned by :1.14
# screensaver comes in after 15 minutes, no trace line from the power manager.

Last edited by papaathome (2026-03-14 19:20:25)

---

---
Kind regards, Andre.

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,506

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ ps -ef | grep -E 'saver|locker'
andre     262359  261400  0 13:22 pts/5    00:00:00 grep -E saver|locker

If you have no screensaver running, what screensaver is coming on?

Do you have some other non-standard screensaver running?

Or do you mean your screen is just blanking from inactivity?

# screensaver comes in after 15 minutes, no trace line from the power manager.

It doesn't appear to be initiated by the power manager. On a fresh login, can you share:

ps -ef | grep $USER

...and we'll see if we can identify a process that is acting as a screen blanker/saver.

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papaathome

Member

Registered: 2026-03-12

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ ps -ef | grep -E 'saver|locker'
andre     262359  261400  0 13:22 pts/5    00:00:00 grep -E saver|locker

If you have no screensaver running, what screensaver is coming on?
...

# screensaver comes in after 15 minutes, no trace line from the power manager.

It doesn't appear to be initiated by the power manager. On a fresh login, can you share:

ps -ef | grep $USER

...and we'll see if we can identify a process that is acting as a screen blanker/saver.

Hi ToZ, thanks for your time.

I'm not sure on what exactly is running (or not) and under which disguise. Searching the internet I came across 'xdg-screensaver' and have been playing with that a bit.

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ xdg-screensaver status
enabled

I checked Xfce Power manager settings.
- tab [Display]
  Display power management is set to off.
  Put to sleep after: is set to Never.
  Switch off after: is set to Never.

There is no process for xdg-screensaver.

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ ps -eaf | grep xdg
andre     169915  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal
andre     169929  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/xdg-permission-store
andre     169938  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/xdg-document-portal
andre     169953  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal-gtk
andre     484268  437754  0 17:42 pts/6    00:00:00 grep xdg

xdg-screensaver does not have a 'stop' command. (as suggested in some old internet pages).

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ xdg-screensaver stop
xdg-screensaver: unknown command 'stop'
Try 'xdg-screensaver --help' for more information.

and the data you are asking for is quite long, I still have a fair bit of junk open at the moment after closing a lot.
And the power manager is still running in debug mode.

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ ps -ef | grep $USER
andre     169744       1  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/systemd/systemd --user
andre     169746  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 (sd-pam)
andre     169766  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/mpris-proxy
andre     169767  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:03:20 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --daemonize=no --log-target=journal
andre     169769  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --foreground --components=pkcs11,secrets --control-directory=/run/user/1000/keyring
andre     169770  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/dbus-daemon --session --address=systemd: --nofork --nopidfile --systemd-activation --syslog-only
andre     169776  169687  0 11:32 ?        00:00:05 xfce4-session
andre     169833  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/im-launch startxfce4
andre     169850       1  0 11:32 ?        00:00:45 /usr/bin/ibus-daemon --daemonize --xim
andre     169861  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfsd
andre     169865  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/at-spi-bus-launcher
andre     169875  169850  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/ibus-dconf
andre     169876  169850  0 11:32 ?        00:00:03 /usr/libexec/ibus-ui-gtk3
andre     169881  169850  0 11:32 ?        00:00:04 /usr/libexec/ibus-extension-gtk3
andre     169886       1  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/ibus-x11 --kill-daemon
andre     169890  169865  0 11:32 ?        00:00:01 /usr/bin/dbus-daemon --config-file=/usr/share/defaults/at-spi2/accessibility.conf --nofork --print-address 11 --address=unix:path=/run/user/1000/at-spi/bus_0
andre     169891  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/ibus-portal
andre     169915  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal
andre     169917  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:03 /usr/libexec/at-spi2-registryd --use-gnome-session
andre     169929  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/xdg-permission-store
andre     169938  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/xdg-document-portal
andre     169952  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/gpg-agent --supervised
andre     169953  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal-gtk
andre     169956  169776  1 11:32 ?        00:04:39 xfwm4 --display :0.0 --sm-client-id 2c5ae0b2d-10c5-461e-8b0d-47744e157146
andre     169957  169850  0 11:32 ?        00:00:05 /usr/libexec/ibus-engine-simple
andre     169981  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:02 xfsettingsd --display :0.0 --sm-client-id 2db341795-760c-4046-b994-393bf5e9c84c
andre     169986  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/dconf-service
andre     169991  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:40 xfce4-panel --display :0.0 --sm-client-id 25026ba95-d2e0-4966-a925-9f26b920ffc0
andre     169996  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:38 Thunar --sm-client-id 2df518665-9530-4dd6-b4f9-4c2774fbdd5e --daemon
andre     170002  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:13 xfdesktop --display :0.0 --sm-client-id 2cf0aeeea-5ec5-4be5-b347-8c5612e1a211
andre     170007  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 xclock -xtsessionID 29df1141c-023a-4be0-bc79-f481ed93798b
andre     170009  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:01:19 xfce4-terminal --geometry=64x50 --display :0.0 --role=xfce4-terminal-1773386479-295398860 --workspace 1 --show-menubar --show-borders --hide-toolbar --active-tab -e watch -d -n 1 sensors --title sensors --working-directory /home/andre --window --geometry=64x50 --display :0.0 --role=xfce4-terminal-1773307046-2526296677 --workspace 1 --show-menubar --show-borders --hide-toolbar --active-tab -e watch -d -n 1 sensors --title sensors --working-directory /home/andre --sm-client-id 2a0c4afdf-fb1a-4bfc-b86c-55ba32d4036f
andre     170010  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:02:12 xfce4-terminal --geometry=64x50 --display :0.0 --role=xfce4-terminal-1773301939-3319071857 --workspace 1 --show-menubar --show-borders --hide-toolbar --active-tab -e watch -d -n 1 sensors --title sensors --working-directory /home/andre --window --geometry=64x50 --display :0.0 --role=xfce4-terminal-1773301784-4257404367 --workspace 1 --show-menubar --show-borders --hide-toolbar --active-tab -e watch -d -n 1 sensors --title sensors --working-directory /home/andre --sm-client-id 2b200b4a1-2eeb-48e2-8a0f-0c4cb36ec28f
andre     170011  169776  3 11:32 ?        00:14:28 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr --sm-client-id 2a3edcb0d-30de-409d-98bf-0a6da3f5c611
andre     170022       1  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/crashhelper 170011 9 /tmp/ 11
andre     170028  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/notifyd/xfce4-notifyd
andre     170037  169991  0 11:32 ?        00:00:34 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/panel/wrapper-2.0 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/panel/plugins/libsystray.so 6 25165836 systray Status Tray Plugin Provides status notifier items (application indicators) and legacy systray items
andre     170038  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfs-udisks2-volume-monitor
andre     170043  169991  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/panel/wrapper-2.0 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/panel/plugins/libactions.so 10 25165837 actions Action Buttons Log out, lock or other system actions
andre     170045  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfs-mtp-volume-monitor
andre     170046  169991  0 11:32 ?        00:00:04 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/panel/wrapper-2.0 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/panel/plugins/libpulseaudio-plugin.so 4 25165838 pulseaudio PulseAudio Plugin Adjust the audio volume of the PulseAudio sound system
andre     170051  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfs-goa-volume-monitor
andre     170056  169991  0 11:32 ?        00:00:22 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/panel/wrapper-2.0 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/panel/plugins/libcpugraph.so 22 25165839 cpugraph CPU Graph Graphical representation of the CPU load
andre     170066  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfs-gphoto2-volume-monitor
andre     170069  169991  0 11:32 ?        00:00:01 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/panel/wrapper-2.0 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/panel/plugins/libxfce4-sensors-plugin.so 23 25165840 xfce4-sensors-plugin Sensor plugin Show sensor values.
andre     170087  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfs-afc-volume-monitor
andre     170205  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:32 xeyes
andre     170206  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfsd-metadata
andre     170207  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:03 devilspie2
andre     170216  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:17 /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/solaar --window=hide
andre     170218  169861  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfsd-trash --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/0
andre     170220  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/blueman-applet
andre     170228  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:01:30 nm-applet
andre     170232  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 xiccd
andre     170238  169776  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/polkit-mate-authentication-agent-1
andre     170288  170010  0 11:32 pts/0    00:00:31 watch -d -n 1 sensors
andre     170289  170009  0 11:32 pts/1    00:00:34 watch -d -n 1 sensors
andre     170317  170009  0 11:32 pts/2    00:00:31 watch -d -n 1 sensors
andre     170318  170010  0 11:32 pts/3    00:00:31 watch -d -n 1 sensors
andre     170343  170010  0 11:32 pts/4    00:00:31 watch -d -n 1 sensors
andre     170390  170011  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -prefsHandle 0:34851 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -sandboxReporter 2 -chrootClient 3 -ipcHandle 4 -initialChannelId {a4efcd70-d986-4b0f-b2a5-b3b0c91470ec} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 5 -crashHelper 6 -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 1 socket
andre     170407       1  0 11:32 ?        00:00:17 /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/blueman-tray
andre     170410  169744  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/bluetooth/obexd
andre     170479  170011  0 11:32 ?        00:00:05 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:34992 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {cc15acbf-f32d-410d-818d-72e26be4c102} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 2 tab
andre     170486  170011  0 11:32 ?        00:00:09 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -prefsHandle 0:34992 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -sandboxReporter 2 -chrootClient 3 -ipcHandle 4 -initialChannelId {21c8c27f-41db-4b44-9787-003a740ba414} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 5 -crashHelper 6 -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 3 rdd
andre     170603  170011  0 11:32 ?        00:00:05 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:40809 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {3bd0e1c1-079b-4cfa-9a6b-95fb2ba6db71} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 5 tab
andre     170710  170011  0 11:32 ?        00:00:02 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:43810 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {34f947e9-286c-4ce2-8680-6f6aabbfcf74} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 8 tab
andre     170886  170011  0 11:32 ?        00:00:02 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxingKind 0 -prefsHandle 0:43810 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -sandboxReporter 2 -chrootClient 3 -ipcHandle 4 -initialChannelId {25215e0e-dc10-4814-a3c5-14f35f45a78c} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 5 -crashHelper 6 -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 11 utility
andre     171233  169996  1 11:32 ?        00:06:34 vlc
andre     171638  169861  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfsd-computer --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/1
andre     171645  169861  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfsd-recent --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/2
andre     171652  169861  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfsd-network --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/3
andre     171658  169861  0 11:32 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gvfsd-dnssd --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/4
andre     172155  170011  0 11:33 ?        00:00:20 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:41008 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {8ffbdc76-d071-4e30-b172-bb308a1e9e9d} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 15 tab
andre     172162  170011  0 11:33 ?        00:00:06 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:41008 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {64468771-d592-47e1-bb78-33ce0548e7c8} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 17 tab
andre     173411  169996  0 11:34 ?        00:02:09 /usr/lib/virtualbox/VirtualBox
andre     173438       1  0 11:34 ?        00:02:43 /usr/lib/virtualbox/VBoxSVC --auto-shutdown --inherit-startup-pipe 21
andre     177216  169996  0 11:39 ?        00:00:08 dclock
andre     184519  170011  0 11:48 ?        00:02:13 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:41008 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {6213eb5d-70fb-4a55-ba68-9570db7cd0c4} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 18 tab
andre     233636  170011  0 12:47 ?        00:01:08 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:41008 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {46faf754-b26d-4bc8-b282-fe99fe3f3faa} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 19 tab
andre     254999  170011  0 13:13 ?        00:00:05 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:41008 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {ff67e6cc-1bab-49fa-ac05-a70151d60fe9} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 21 tab
andre     261400  170010  0 13:21 pts/5    00:00:00 bash
andre     265030  261400  0 13:25 pts/5    00:00:00 xfce4-power-manager --debug
andre     361476  169744  0 15:20 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/speech-dispatcher -s -t 0
andre     361488  361476  0 15:20 ?        00:00:00 [sd_espeak-ng-mb] <defunct>
andre     361489  361476  0 15:20 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_espeak-ng /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/espeak-ng.conf
andre     361500  361476  0 15:20 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_dummy /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/dummy.conf
andre     361509  361476  0 15:20 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/speech-dispatcher-modules/sd_espeak-ng /etc/speech-dispatcher/modules/
andre     437754  170010  0 16:47 pts/6    00:00:00 bash
andre     503792  169744  0 18:06 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/tumbler-1/tumblerd
andre     504233  169744  0 18:07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xfce4/xfconf/xfconfd
andre     504846  170011  0 18:07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:41196 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {9ce432b3-9ecb-4d4a-814f-844affe05b07} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 175 tab
andre     504934  170011  0 18:07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:41196 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {9a51e78d-da2d-48cf-8d97-a71024a0dc3b} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 176 tab
andre     504989  170011  0 18:07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr -contentproc -isForBrowser -prefsHandle 0:41196 -prefMapHandle 1:272116 -jsInitHandle 2:242716 -parentBuildID 20260217105505 -sandboxReporter 3 -chrootClient 4 -ipcHandle 5 -initialChannelId {46f15027-c4bc-49e1-9d33-c4ca12b427cc} -parentPid 170011 -crashReporter 6 -crashHelper 7 -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/omni.ja -appomni /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja -appDir /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser 177 tab
andre     506085  170288  0 18:08 pts/0    00:00:00 watch -d -n 1 sensors
andre     506086  506085  0 18:08 pts/0    00:00:00 sh -c -- sensors
andre     506087  170317  0 18:08 pts/2    00:00:00 watch -d -n 1 sensors
andre     506088  506087  0 18:08 pts/2    00:00:00 sh -c -- sensors
andre     506089  506086  0 18:08 pts/0    00:00:00 sensors
andre     506090  170318  0 18:08 pts/3    00:00:00 watch -d -n 1 sensors
andre     506091  506090  0 18:08 pts/3    00:00:00 sh -c -- sensors
andre     506092  506088  0 18:08 pts/2    00:00:00 sensors
andre     506093  506091  0 18:08 pts/3    00:00:00 sensors
andre     506094  437754  0 18:08 pts/6    00:00:00 ps -ef
andre     506095  437754  0 18:08 pts/6    00:00:00 grep andre
andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$

edit: just noticed that there are more than one 'doubles' where I only want one. Such as monitoring my sensors. Have to look into that later.

Added later 1 h 56 min 39 s:
Just noticed that the power manager in debug mode has reported a few extra lines about enabling the screensaver.
Checking the configuration once again!  This time including (in read only mode) the xml files in '~/.config/xfce4/'

TRACE[xfpm-idle.c:178] xfpm_idle_alarm_remove(): Alarm id 16 already removed
TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:618] name_appeared(): org.xfce.SessionManager started up, owned by :1.14
TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:191] xfpm_xfconf_property_changed_cb(): Property modified: /xfce4-power-manager/show-tray-icon

TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:191] xfpm_xfconf_property_changed_cb(): Property modified: /xfce4-power-manager/show-panel-label

TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=firefox-esr reason=video-playing sender=:1.33
TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:89] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit added
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:865] xfpm_power_inhibit_changed_cb(): inhibited TRUE, presentation_mode FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1323] xfpm_power_toggle_screensaver(): Disabling screensaver, timeout stored: 600
TRACE[xfpm-dpms.c:193] xfpm_dpms_set_inhibited(): DPMS inhibited: TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:405] xfpm_inhibit_un_inhibit(): Uninhibit message received
TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:865] xfpm_power_inhibit_changed_cb(): inhibited FALSE, presentation_mode FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1329] xfpm_power_toggle_screensaver(): Enabling screensaver, timeout restored: 600
TRACE[xfpm-dpms.c:193] xfpm_dpms_set_inhibited(): DPMS inhibited: FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=firefox-esr reason=video-playing sender=:1.33
TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:89] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit added
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:865] xfpm_power_inhibit_changed_cb(): inhibited TRUE, presentation_mode FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1323] xfpm_power_toggle_screensaver(): Disabling screensaver, timeout stored: 600
TRACE[xfpm-dpms.c:193] xfpm_dpms_set_inhibited(): DPMS inhibited: TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:405] xfpm_inhibit_un_inhibit(): Uninhibit message received
TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:865] xfpm_power_inhibit_changed_cb(): inhibited FALSE, presentation_mode FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1329] xfpm_power_toggle_screensaver(): Enabling screensaver, timeout restored: 600
TRACE[xfpm-dpms.c:193] xfpm_dpms_set_inhibited(): DPMS inhibited: FALSE

Added later 2 h 35 min 21 s:
Checked the configurations once again. Noticed two things.

checking Power manager configuration.
Tab: System, subsection System power saving.
field: System sleem mode: 'Suspend'
The list contains one option and I can not change it.
field: When inactive for: set to Never.

checking Session and Startup
Tab: Application Autostart.
[v] Power manager.   on login
[ ] Screen locker    on login

I'm thinking about disabling Power manager, just to see if that makes a difference.
If it does then it proves that the Power manager is behaving strange.

Added later 3 h 29 min 53 s:
===

Disabled 'xfce4-power-manager', checked with ps that it was gone.
15 minutes later the screensaver is activated.

Well, that proves it is not the 'xfce4-power-manager' process causing it. 

I dont think it will add new information but this is what journalctl has to say with the following evens:
- 21:23 stop power manager, wait for 15 minutes.
- 21:38 screensaver activated.
- 21:28 restarted power manager.

mrt 13 20:45:02 lucifer systemd[169744]: Started tumblerd.service - Thumbnailing service.
mrt 13 21:22:53 lucifer dbus-daemon[169770]: [session uid=1000 pid=169770 pidfd=5] Activating via systemd: service name='org.freedesktop.thumbnails.Cache1' unit='tumblerd.service' requested by ':1.30' (uid=1000 pid=169996 comm="Thunar --sm-client-id 2df518665-9530-4dd6-b4f9-4c2")
mrt 13 21:22:53 lucifer systemd[169744]: Starting tumblerd.service - Thumbnailing service...
mrt 13 21:22:53 lucifer dbus-daemon[169770]: [session uid=1000 pid=169770 pidfd=5] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.thumbnails.Cache1'
mrt 13 21:22:53 lucifer systemd[169744]: Started tumblerd.service - Thumbnailing service.
mrt 13 21:38:15 lucifer dbus-daemon[169770]: [session uid=1000 pid=169770 pidfd=5] Activating via systemd: service name='org.xfce.Xfconf' unit='xfconfd.service' requested by ':1.213' (uid=1000 pid=675897 comm="xfce4-power-manager --debug")
mrt 13 21:38:15 lucifer systemd[169744]: Starting xfconfd.service - Xfce configuration service...
mrt 13 21:38:15 lucifer dbus-daemon[169770]: [session uid=1000 pid=169770 pidfd=5] Successfully activated service 'org.xfce.Xfconf'
mrt 13 21:38:15 lucifer systemd[169744]: Started xfconfd.service - Xfce configuration service.
mrt 13 21:50:32 lucifer dbus-daemon[169770]: [session uid=1000 pid=169770 pidfd=5] Activating via systemd: service name='org.freedesktop.thumbnails.Cache1' unit='tumblerd.service' requested by ':1.30' (uid=1000 pid=169996 comm="Thunar --sm-client-id 2df518665-9530-4dd6-b4f9-4c2")
mrt 13 21:50:32 lucifer systemd[169744]: Starting tumblerd.service - Thumbnailing service...
mrt 13 21:50:32 lucifer dbus-daemon[169770]: [session uid=1000 pid=169770 pidfd=5] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.thumbnails.Cache1'
mrt 13 21:50:32 lucifer systemd[169744]: Started tumblerd.service - Thumbnailing service.

Last edited by papaathome (2026-03-13 20:59:08)

---

---
Kind regards, Andre.

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,506

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

xdg-screensaver must be starting a screensaver when needed via dbus. One way to deal with this would be uninstall any screensaver/locker programs you have installed. If there isn't one to start, it won't start one.

Since I don't think there is a native way to tell xdg-screensaver not to start a screensaver, here is a a second way - a script that you can use, create an entry for it in Application Autostart - it's a workaround way to tell xdg-screensaver to inhibit starting the screensaver while the desktop is active:

activ_win_id=`DISPLAY=:0.${display} xprop -root _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW`
activ_win_id=${activ_win_id:40:9}
xdg-screensaver suspend $activ_win_id

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papaathome

Member

Registered: 2026-03-12

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

===

xdg-screensaver is a script and for argument 'status' is uses `xset q`.

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ xset q
Keyboard Control:
  auto repeat:  on    key click percent:  0    LED mask:  00000000
  XKB indicators:
    00: Caps Lock:   off    01: Num Lock:    off    02: Scroll Lock: off
    03: Compose:     off    04: Kana:        off    05: Sleep:       off
    06: Suspend:     off    07: Mute:        off    08: Misc:        off
    09: Mail:        off    10: Charging:    off    11: Shift Lock:  off
    12: Group 2:     off    13: Mouse Keys:  off
  auto repeat delay:  500    repeat rate:  20
  auto repeating keys:  00ffffffdffffbbf
                        fadfffefffedffff
                        9fffffffffffffff
                        fff7ffffffffffff
  bell percent:  50    bell pitch:  400    bell duration:  100
Pointer Control:
  acceleration:  2/1    threshold:  4
Screen Saver:
  prefer blanking:  yes    allow exposures:  yes
  timeout:  600    cycle:  600
Colors:
  default colormap:  0x20    BlackPixel:  0x0    WhitePixel:  0xffffff
Font Path:
  /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi,built-ins
DPMS (Display Power Management Signaling):
  Standby: 0    Suspend: 0    Off: 0
  DPMS is Disabled

timeout: 600 (10 minutes ??) I expected to see 900 (15 minutes)

Next thing to do: find out if I can change the 'Screen Saver' section values, where do these values come from?

Added later 04 min 09 s:

xdg-screensaver must be starting a screensaver when needed via dbus. One way to deal with this would be uninstall any screensaver/locker programs you have installed. If there isn't one to start, it won't start one.

I tried the last hour to find any other screensaver installed and could not find/recognise anyone. Do you have an advise on how to proceed with this?

Since I don't think there is a native way to tell xdg-screensaver not to start a screensaver, here is a a second way - a script that you can use, create an entry for it in Application Autostart - it's a workaround way to tell xdg-screensaver to inhibit starting the screensaver while the desktop is active:

activ_win_id=`DISPLAY=:0.${display} xprop -root _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW`
activ_win_id=${activ_win_id:40:9}
xdg-screensaver suspend $activ_win_id

I will give it a try and report the results.

Added later 55 min 27 s:
===

tried the script and got problems due to lack of experience I guess.

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ activ_win_id=`DISPLAY=:0.${display} xprop -root _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW`
xprop:  unable to open display ':0.'
andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ 

Created a script ' suspend_screensaver'

#!/bin/bash
activ_win_id=`DISPLAY=:0.${display} xprop -root _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW`
activ_win_id=${activ_win_id:40:9}
xdg-screensaver suspend $activ_win_id

executed it.

andre@lucifer:~/doc/xfce$ ./suspend_screensaver 
xprop:  unable to open display ':0.'
./suspend_screensaver: 4: Bad substitution
andre@lucifer:~/doc/xfce$

It is the first line that is failing. Sorry, lack of experience is playing up here. Don’t know what to do with this.

Last edited by papaathome (2026-03-13 23:46:59)

---

---
Kind regards, Andre.

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,506

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

You're not running the script as root are you? You also need to run it within an X session.

Try running each command individually in a terminal window and see what happens.

Edit: Have you tried uninstalling and screensaver and/or locking apps?

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papaathome

Member

Registered: 2026-03-12

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

You're not running the script as root are you? You also need to run it within an X session.

Try running each command individually in a terminal window and see what happens.

No, running it on my own account. I also assume that the Startup Commands are also running under the logon account.

As a matter of facts, I first tried running it from the command line, which failed. Then created the script which also fails. Running the script with `sudo` give the same results.

andre@lucifer:~/doc/xfce$ sudo ./suspend_screensaver 
xprop:  unable to open display ':0.'
./suspend_screensaver: 4: Bad substitution

Edit: Have you tried uninstalling and screensaver and/or locking apps?

No, will do that first thing tomorrow for all screensavers and locking apps that I know of, including Xfce versions.  It's way after bed time for me here. 

---

---
Kind regards, Andre.

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,506

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

Maybe post back the output of:

env

...when you have a chance. I'm curious why you don't have DISPLAY=:0 set. Is this a local computer?

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papaathome

Member

Registered: 2026-03-12

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

===

I can stop the screensaver from activating. For that I can use `xset s off` or `xset s 0`
This setting is not persistent, a logout and login sequence will enable the screensaver again.
For Xfce a startup action `xset s off` is needed (and is now in place).

Before I mark this thread as SOLVED I would like to see a review on what I have done.

This is the model I have in my mind on how it all works. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
There are a number of different subsystems cooperating here.
1 - X-server, responsible for timing events.
2 - Display Power Management (DPM), responsible for switching on or off of displays.
3 - Screensaver, responsible for putting on a nice show.
4 - Configuration manager, responsible for setting up and configuring details at logon (and other moments).

The X-server is responsible for signalling DPM and the screensaver. Whatever is done with the signals is of no concern to the X-server.
Then disabling the screensaver signal is enough for stopping the screensaver.

There is no need to know which screensaver is active. It will never get a signal to start the show.
From a resources point of view I still like to know which one is active so I can remove it completely.

There is one thing not clear to me. Where is the configuration manager subsystem for this located? It should be in Xfce but I can not find any setting active for a screen saver.

And there is still one problem. The actual timeout is 900 sec but `xset q` shows a configured timeout of 600 sec. What is accounting for the difference?

Added later 39 min 33 s:

Maybe post back the output of:

env

...when you have a chance. I'm curious why you don't have DISPLAY=:0 set. Is this a local computer?

This is a local machine and I'm sitting in front of it (no remote connection) but is is not configured as a 'standard' computer.
Also, this is new hardware and I started to use it about 6 to 8 weeks ago.
At this moment it is dual boot with debian trixie and windows 11, I will remove windows at some time in the future.
It has a wired keyboard, mouse and an 11" VGA monitor on the mainboard video output. This was the initial setup for booting the hardware.
And is has a wireless logitec mouse and keyboard and two 24" monitors on an NVidea GForce card. This hardware was added after completing the dual boot configuration.
Using Devilspie2 to map mouse buttons to audio volume control. The Devilspie2 service breaks down when the screensaver comes in.
VirtualBox is installed on it, all actual work on this hardware is done in virtual machines.

Having three screens attached and two different video controllers active might be the reason why there are problems with DISPLAY=:0
For 'normal' daily work it is not causing problems.
I'm still in the process of optimising and fine tuning this system and at some time may remove the wired keyboard/mouse and disable the mainboard video.
It's not a priority for me at the moment.

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ env
SHELL=/bin/bash
SESSION_MANAGER=local/lucifer:@/tmp/.ICE-unix/4770,unix/lucifer:/tmp/.ICE-unix/4770
WINDOWID=48234880
QT_ACCESSIBILITY=1
COLORTERM=truecolor
XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=/etc/xdg
XDG_SESSION_PATH=/org/freedesktop/DisplayManager/Session1
XDG_MENU_PREFIX=xfce-
GTK_IM_MODULE=ibus
LC_ADDRESS=nl_NL.UTF-8
LC_NAME=nl_NL.UTF-8
SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/tmp/ssh-cYG4Ke3ZjxWr/agent.4770
XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/home/andre/.config
XMODIFIERS=@im=ibus
DESKTOP_SESSION=xfce
LC_MONETARY=nl_NL.UTF-8
SSH_AGENT_PID=4827
XDG_SEAT=seat0
PWD=/home/andre/Desktop
LOGNAME=andre
XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=xfce
XDG_SESSION_TYPE=x11
XAUTHORITY=/home/andre/.Xauthority
XDG_GREETER_DATA_DIR=/var/lib/lightdm/data/andre
HOME=/home/andre
LC_PAPER=nl_NL.UTF-8
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
LS_COLORS=rs=0:di=01;34:ln=01;36:mh=00:pi=40;33:so=01;35:do=01;35:bd=40;33;01:cd=40;33;01:or=40;31;01:mi=00:su=37;41:sg=30;43:ca=00:tw=30;42:ow=34;42:st=37;44:ex=01;32:*.7z=01;31:*.ace=01;31:*.alz=01;31:*.apk=01;31:*.arc=01;31:*.arj=01;31:*.bz=01;31:*.bz2=01;31:*.cab=01;31:*.cpio=01;31:*.crate=01;31:*.deb=01;31:*.drpm=01;31:*.dwm=01;31:*.dz=01;31:*.ear=01;31:*.egg=01;31:*.esd=01;31:*.gz=01;31:*.jar=01;31:*.lha=01;31:*.lrz=01;31:*.lz=01;31:*.lz4=01;31:*.lzh=01;31:*.lzma=01;31:*.lzo=01;31:*.pyz=01;31:*.rar=01;31:*.rpm=01;31:*.rz=01;31:*.sar=01;31:*.swm=01;31:*.t7z=01;31:*.tar=01;31:*.taz=01;31:*.tbz=01;31:*.tbz2=01;31:*.tgz=01;31:*.tlz=01;31:*.txz=01;31:*.tz=01;31:*.tzo=01;31:*.tzst=01;31:*.udeb=01;31:*.war=01;31:*.whl=01;31:*.wim=01;31:*.xz=01;31:*.z=01;31:*.zip=01;31:*.zoo=01;31:*.zst=01;31:*.avif=01;35:*.jpg=01;35:*.jpeg=01;35:*.jxl=01;35:*.mjpg=01;35:*.mjpeg=01;35:*.gif=01;35:*.bmp=01;35:*.pbm=01;35:*.pgm=01;35:*.ppm=01;35:*.tga=01;35:*.xbm=01;35:*.xpm=01;35:*.tif=01;35:*.tiff=01;35:*.png=01;35:*.svg=01;35:*.svgz=01;35:*.mng=01;35:*.pcx=01;35:*.mov=01;35:*.mpg=01;35:*.mpeg=01;35:*.m2v=01;35:*.mkv=01;35:*.webm=01;35:*.webp=01;35:*.ogm=01;35:*.mp4=01;35:*.m4v=01;35:*.mp4v=01;35:*.vob=01;35:*.qt=01;35:*.nuv=01;35:*.wmv=01;35:*.asf=01;35:*.rm=01;35:*.rmvb=01;35:*.flc=01;35:*.avi=01;35:*.fli=01;35:*.flv=01;35:*.gl=01;35:*.dl=01;35:*.xcf=01;35:*.xwd=01;35:*.yuv=01;35:*.cgm=01;35:*.emf=01;35:*.ogv=01;35:*.ogx=01;35:*.aac=00;36:*.au=00;36:*.flac=00;36:*.m4a=00;36:*.mid=00;36:*.midi=00;36:*.mka=00;36:*.mp3=00;36:*.mpc=00;36:*.ogg=00;36:*.ra=00;36:*.wav=00;36:*.oga=00;36:*.opus=00;36:*.spx=00;36:*.xspf=00;36:*~=00;90:*#=00;90:*.bak=00;90:*.crdownload=00;90:*.dpkg-dist=00;90:*.dpkg-new=00;90:*.dpkg-old=00;90:*.dpkg-tmp=00;90:*.old=00;90:*.orig=00;90:*.part=00;90:*.rej=00;90:*.rpmnew=00;90:*.rpmorig=00;90:*.rpmsave=00;90:*.swp=00;90:*.tmp=00;90:*.ucf-dist=00;90:*.ucf-new=00;90:*.ucf-old=00;90:
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=XFCE
VTE_VERSION=8001
XDG_SEAT_PATH=/org/freedesktop/DisplayManager/Seat0
CLUTTER_IM_MODULE=ibus
XDG_CACHE_HOME=/home/andre/.cache
XDG_SESSION_CLASS=user
TERM=xterm-256color
LC_IDENTIFICATION=nl_NL.UTF-8
USER=andre
DISPLAY=:0.0
SHLVL=1
LC_TELEPHONE=nl_NL.UTF-8
QT_IM_MODULE=ibus
LC_MEASUREMENT=nl_NL.UTF-8
XDG_VTNR=7
XDG_SESSION_ID=5
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/1000
LC_TIME=nl_NL.UTF-8
XDG_DATA_DIRS=/usr/share/xfce4:/usr/local/share/:/usr/share/:/usr/share
PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/games:/usr/games
GDMSESSION=xfce
DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS=unix:path=/run/user/1000/bus
LC_NUMERIC=nl_NL.UTF-8
_=/usr/bin/env

---

---
Kind regards, Andre.

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,506

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

There is one thing not clear to me. Where is the configuration manager subsystem for this located? It should be in Xfce but I can not find any setting active for a screen saver.

It looks like it relies on xset. You can view the xdg-screensaver file in mousepad, it's a shell script. If you're able to read shell scripts, you can see where it queries xset to get the timeoue value:

xset_screensaver_timeout()
{
  xset q | sed '/^Screen Saver:/,/^[^ ]/ { s/.*timeout: *\([0-9]*\).*/\1/; t }; d'
}

And there is still one problem. The actual timeout is 900 sec but `xset q` shows a configured timeout of 600 sec. What is accounting for the difference?

This one is odd and I'm not sure why this is happening. Do you have light-locker installed?

---

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papaathome

Member

Registered: 2026-03-12

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

There is one thing not clear to me. Where is the configuration manager subsystem for this located? It should be in Xfce but I can not find any setting active for a screen saver.

It looks like it relies on xset. You can view the xdg-screensaver file in mousepad, it's a shell script. ...

I know, that is how I found out about xset.

But if Xfcde is relying on xset and I have set the screensaver time to 0 why is it then restored to 600? Where does the 600 come from?

And there is still one problem. The actual timeout is 900 sec but `xset q` shows a configured timeout of 600 sec. What is accounting for the difference?

This one is odd and I'm not sure why this is happening. Do you have light-locker installed?

I had to look up what a light-locker is. Checked the system and found one active. I don't remember installing one...

andre@lucifer:~/Desktop$ ps -ef | grep light
root        1735       1  0 09:52 ?        00:00:00 /usr/sbin/lightdm
root        4611    1735  3 09:59 tty7     00:05:27 /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg :0 -seat seat0 -auth /var/run/lightdm/root/:0 -nolisten tcp vt7 -novtswitch
root        4760    1735  0 09:59 ?        00:00:00 lightdm --session-child 12 24
andre      32649    5712  0 12:38 pts/1    00:00:00 grep light

Still looking into this to see what exactly it is doing.

Added later 13 min 15 s:

Still looking into this to see what exactly it is doing.

Light-locker is a simple screen locker designed to work with the lightdm display manager...
LightDM is a lightweight and customizable display manager used in Linux systems, including Debian Trixie, to manage user logins and sessions.

There is more to it than I first thought. It might be that there is no light-locker active. checking...

Added later 2 h 03 min 16 s:
===

Not getting anywhere. 

I can not find any configuration files for light-locker. Files to look for are:

/etc/xdg/autostart/light-locker.desktop
~/.config/autostart/light-locker.desktop
~/.config/autostart/screensaver-settings.desktop

I can not find/grasp any configuration for LightDM, it may be using light-locker (or not).

The light-locker source is Python. It has two default values for time out events, one is for 10 minutes and the other is for 15 minutes. There are references to `xset`.

It seems likely to me (by my system behaviour) that LightDM is using light-locker without any time out configured.
That will cause light-locker to use the hard coded default values and that can explain the 15 minutes timeout.
Also on logout/login a new session is started which will reinitialise settings.
But I can't prove it because I lack the knowledge on how this is done step for step and I'm not willing to experiment with configuration files at this level.

---

---
Kind regards, Andre.

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,506

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

You have a solution using xset. If you want, you can uninstall light-locker and it would no longer interfere. BTW, Xfce's default screensaver/locker program is xfce4-screensaver (its better integrated with xfce4-power-manager) - light-locker is something that debian installs and there are quite a few threads on this board about problems that it causes.

---

Mark solved threads as [SOLVED] to make it easier for others to find solutions.
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papaathome

Member

Registered: 2026-03-12

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

You have a solution using xset.

Yes, time to wrap this up.

If you want, you can uninstall light-locker and it would no longer interfere. BTW, Xfce's default screensaver/locker program is xfce4-screensaver (its better integrated with xfce4-power-manager) - light-locker is something that debian installs and there are quite a few threads on this board about problems that it causes.

True but...
It is true in my case, I will always select Xfce.

At a site were some users may select another windows manager... things are more complicated. This is the point where a decision is made, LightDM is at the focus of it. If other window managers can be used then light-locker may be not a bad choice at all.
Just wanted to add that to your advise for anybody reading this.

@ToZ: Thanks for the solid advise and support. I appreciated it a lot! Without your advise I would not have reached this point.

---

---
Kind regards, Andre.

cherradiyacyn

Member

From: Morocco

Registered: 2025-12-11

Posts: 3

Re: [SOLVED] - How to stop screensaver activation?

disable lock :

xfconf-query -c xfce4-screensaver -n -p "/lock/enabled" -t bool -s false

disable screensaver :

xfconf-query -c xfce4-screensaver -n -p "/saver/enabled" -t bool -s false

disable dpms :

xfconf-query -c xfce4-power-manager -n -p "/xfce4-power-manager/dpms-enabled" -t bool -s false

Last edited by cherradiyacyn (2026-03-15 19:17:54)