Xfce Forum

tmontney

Member

Registered: 2026-07-03

Posts: 4

SOLVED: "None of the screen lock tools ran successfully"

Solution:

I believe I've solved it.

1) /general/LockCommand was empty:

xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /general/LockCommand -n -t string -s 'xscreensaver-command -lock'

2) Power Manager AND xscreensaver were configured to handle display power management and lock the screen. Obviously, only one should be configured. (Originally, I set it in Power Manager then a while later decided to configure xscreensaver. I guess I'm still used to Windows, where there's just one of anything.)
3) After the first 2, I thought I was done. Unfortunately, the lock button started doing double logon again (even if I reverted #1). I believe how its supposed to work is it first tries "/general/LockCommand". If that fails, xflock4 is called (which is a script that may iterate through a bunch of common lockers). Running xflock4 returns "Error org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The name org.xfce.SessionManager was not provided by any .service files". So, not sure if this is expected for dbus or if how I'm handling it is the correct way...

dpkg-divert --local --rename --add /usr/bin/xflock4
sudo tee /usr/local/bin/xflock4 >/dev/null <<'EOF'
#!/bin/sh
exec /usr/bin/xscreensaver-command -lock
EOF

sudo chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/xflock4

Original:

Similar to this post: https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=14993

Granted, this is years later and I'm on Devuan 6. Lately, I've been ensuring I manually lock my system; however, locking and sleeping works intermittently.

Locks the screen.

xflock4

Does nothing.

dm-tool lock
xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /general/LockCommand -s"xflock4"
xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -p /general/LockCommand -s"dm-tool lock"

I have yet to trigger the dialog in question manually. It only comes up after I log in after a period of inactivity.

Tested it forcing the system to sleep after 1 minute, and also where the monitor sleeps after 1 minute and the system 2. In both cases, it locked and went to sleep; however, the dialog remains. The following...

xfce4-power-manager -q && xfce4-power-manager --debug

outputs this after resuming from successful lock and sleep, which doesn't seem to indicate anything useful:

TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:395] xfpm_manager_alarm_timeout_cb(): Alarm inactivity timeout id 8
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

Last edited by tmontney (2026-09-20 19:47:09)

eriefisher

Wanderer

From: ON, Canada

Registered: 2008-10-25

Posts: 1,029

Website

Re: SOLVED: "None of the screen lock tools ran successfully"

What version of xfce is Devuan 6 using? Does it have xfce4-screensaver? Is it installed? I will help to control the lock screen easier.

---

But it's all right, when you're all in pain and you feel the rain come down
It's alright, when you find your way, then you see it disappear
It's alright....
Chris Cornell

tmontney

Member

Registered: 2026-07-03

Posts: 4

Re: SOLVED: "None of the screen lock tools ran successfully"

What version of xfce is Devuan 6 using? Does it have xfce4-screensaver? Is it installed? I will help to control the lock screen easier.

• 4.20

• Turns out, no it wasn't installed. I've installed it now.

I'll monitor and see if I have any further issues.

Added later 3 h 05 min 15 s:
It seems now that my "Lock screen" button does nothing and "Switch user" signs me out. However, I think my initial issue has gone away.

Added later 3 h 43 min 15 s:
After suspending my machine, the lock screen looks different and the box to enter my password doesn't work. Even after removing xfce4-screensaver and rebooting, lock screen doesn't work.

eriefisher

Wanderer

From: ON, Canada

Registered: 2008-10-25

Posts: 1,029

Website

Re: SOLVED: "None of the screen lock tools ran successfully"

I know with Debian Trixie when it was released they kept light-locker which can be problematic. Did Devuan follow this as well? Best advice is to remove light-lock and install xfce4-screensaver.

---

But it's all right, when you're all in pain and you feel the rain come down
It's alright, when you find your way, then you see it disappear
It's alright....
Chris Cornell

tmontney

Member

Registered: 2026-07-03

Posts: 4

Re: SOLVED: "None of the screen lock tools ran successfully"

I know with Debian Trixie when it was released they kept light-locker which can be problematic. Did Devuan follow this as well? Best advice is to remove light-lock and install xfce4-screensaver.

light-locker is not installed.

tmontney

Member

Registered: 2026-07-03

Posts: 4

Re: SOLVED: "None of the screen lock tools ran successfully"

Believe I've solved it, check OP for solution.