Arch Linux

Webeule

Member

Registered: 2025-07-26

Posts: 6

i3wm session lock with only standard Arch packages

Dear all,

I searched a lot, but it seems there is not really a solution. What I want to do:

- use only standard Arch packages (no AUR)
- I am using i3wm
- lock screen after some time of inactivity with e.g. grey background or screensaver
- turn off display after some more time

Up to now I used dpms, xss-lock and i3lock like this (from my 13 config):

exec --no-startup-id xset +dpms
exec --no-startup-id xset dpms 300 300 300
exec --no-startup-id xset s 180
exec --no-startup-id xset s noblank
exec --no-startup-id xss-lock --transfer-sleep-lock -- i3lock -c  504945 --nofork

This almost works. The problem is in the moment that when I watch a video with firefox, it also locks the screen. Probably due to an error in firefox only sending a dbus signal and not to dpms:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1766064
With chromium I do not have this issue.

Alternatively I tried xscreensaver. It almost works (it shortly start dimming and then continues to show the video). But I really do not like the gui to unlock again...

It seems that xautolock would be a solution, but this is in AUR.

Thanks a lot for all you answers in advance!

Best regards
Oliver

mithrial

Member

Registered: 2017-03-05

Posts: 169

Re: i3wm session lock with only standard Arch packages

I remember using sd-inhibit-bridge that forwards inhibitor locks to systemd-logind. Maybe this also helps with Firefox?

Unfortunately, this is also an AUR package: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/sd-inhibit-bridge

topcat01

Member

Registered: 2019-09-17

Posts: 333

Re: i3wm session lock with only standard Arch packages

I have also seen this issue with Firefox (and not Chrome). sd-inhibit-bridge works with swayidle and Firefox, but I haven't tested in X. BTW, the PKGBUILD looks safe. I think DPMS poweroff will not be handled in X even using this tool.

One quirk with Arch (it's not a problem for me) is that many useful packages are not part of the standard repos. I never use AUR helpers, and won't run a PKGBUILD unless I've understood every line. It's slow but it teaches me, and it works for me, FWIW.

Last edited by topcat01 (2026-08-23 18:37:54)