[SOLVED] GNOME gdm-greeter suspends at login screen

zahreela_saanp · 2025-10-27 18:37:08

I have Arch running on a desktop which I also use to login in to remotely.
I am having trouble to prevent the system suspending.
Scenario:
1. System is powered on.
2. GNOME login screen is displayed.
3. I do NOT login using the GUI.
4. Login using SSH from a different system.
5. System suspends after 15 minutes.

Broadcast message from gdm-greeter@zahreela_saanp-arch (Mon 2025-10-27 23:52:52 IST):

The system will suspend now!

I have tried disabling all sleep power settings in gsettings

zahreela_saanp@zahreela_saanp-arch:~$ export $(dbus-launch)
zahreela_saanp@zahreela_saanp-arch:~$ gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.session idle-delay
uint32 300
zahreela_saanp@zahreela_saanp-arch:~$ gsettings get org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.power sleep-inactive-ac-type
'nothing'
zahreela_saanp@zahreela_saanp-arch:~$ gsettings get org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.power sleep-inactive-ac-timeout
0
zahreela_saanp@zahreela_saanp-arch:~$ su
Password: 
root@zahreela_saanp-arch:/home/zahreela_saanp# su - gdm -s /bin/bash
gdm@zahreela_saanp-arch:~$ export $(dbus-launch)
gdm@zahreela_saanp-arch:~$ gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.session idle-delay
uint32 300
gdm@zahreela_saanp-arch:~$ gsettings get org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.power sleep-inactive-ac-type
'nothing'
gdm@zahreela_saanp-arch:~$ gsettings get org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.power sleep-inactive-ac-timeout
0

I tried changing /etc/systemd/logind.conf as well but that didn't work either.

IdleAction=ignore

Yet, gdm-greeter always suspends the system after 15 minutes of booting up.

GNOME version:

$ gnome-shell --version
GNOME Shell 49.1
$ gdm --version
GDM 49.1

I really don't want to go the drastic route of masking sleep.target and suspend.target because I have an Ubuntu Desktop as well that 'Just Works' well as a server without any of the above changes.

Last edited by zahreela_saanp (2025-10-28 05:09:51)

seth · 2025-10-27 21:06:10

I have Arch running on a desktop which I also use to login in to remotely.
5. System suspends after 15 minutes.

Unrelated to the issue at hand (mostly) but have you considered https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Wake-on-LAN ?

If you only boot the multi-user.target (no GDM, see the 2nd link below) does the system also auto-suspend?
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GDM#GD … NOME_3.28) is dated since v49 dropped the static GDM user and settings aren't stable any longer.
See eg. https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=308479

zahreela_saanp · 2025-10-28 05:00:58

I have considered using Wireless Wake on LAN as all my machines are connected over Wi-Fi, just haven't got around to try it.
I have not tried booting to the multi-user.target instead of graphical.default.

I solved this following the instructions in this post https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/746767/733074

# Create following files and any directories if they don't exist.
$ cat /etc/dconf/profile/gdm 
user-db:user
system-db:gdm
file-db:/usr/share/gdm/greeter-dconf-defaults

$ cat /etc/dconf/db/gdm.d/00-disable-suspend 
[org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/power]
sleep-inactive-ac-type='nothing'
sleep-inactive-ac-timeout=0

sudo dconf update
sudo reboot

Is there a way I can help to update the dated GNOME Arch wiki power management section? I get `This page is protected` when I click on Edit.

Last edited by zahreela_saanp (2025-10-28 05:05:35)

seth · 2025-10-28 07:28:35

Is there a way I can help to update the dated GNOME Arch wiki power management section? I get `This page is protected` when I click on Edit.

This link?
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php?ti … section=36
Are you logged in?

zahreela_saanp · 2025-10-29 06:21:15

My email was not confirmed.
Anyway, did the changes to wiki - https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GDM#GD … ME_3.28%29
Do suggest any changes if required.

Arch Linux

#1 2025-10-27 18:37:08

[SOLVED] GNOME gdm-greeter suspends at login screen

#2 2025-10-27 21:06:10

Re: [SOLVED] GNOME gdm-greeter suspends at login screen

#3 2025-10-28 05:00:58

Re: [SOLVED] GNOME gdm-greeter suspends at login screen

#4 2025-10-28 07:28:35

Re: [SOLVED] GNOME gdm-greeter suspends at login screen

#5 2025-10-29 06:21:15

Re: [SOLVED] GNOME gdm-greeter suspends at login screen

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