Ultra-light screen lock alternatives

xscreensaver it may be a valid option. However, if you are a lover of Minimalism or do you use desktop environments ultra-light, you may be interested in exploring other options.

slock

Slock is very simple: when executed, it shows a black screen (yes, completely black, with nothing). To unlock the screen, you must enter the user password. That easy.

Installation

En Arch and derivatives: sudo pacman -S slock
En Ubuntu and derivatives: sudo apt-get install suckless-tools
En Fedora and derivatives: sudo yum install lock

Use

1.- Open a terminal and run: slock

2.- To unlock the screen, simply enter the corresponding password.

slim-lock

Slimlock is a bit more "fancy" than slock as it locks the screen by "borrowing" the SLiM interface. For those who use SLiM to log in, this tool may be the most suitable as it automatically reads the SLiM settings to lock the screen using the same SLiM theme.

Installation

En Arch and derivatives: yaourt -S slimlock-git

Use

1.- Open a terminal and run: slimlock

2.- To unlock the screen, simply enter the corresponding password.

i3lock

i3lock is part of the i3 window manager. It is based on slock and its functionality is practically the same, except that the screen it shows is white and allows the use of images.

Installation

En Arch and derivatives: sudo pacman -S i3lock
En Ubuntu and derivatives: sudo apt-get install i3lock
En Fedora and derivatives: sudo yum install i3lock

Use

1.- Open a terminal and run: i3lock

2.- To unlock the screen, simply enter the corresponding password.

In any case, don't forget to uninstall xscreensaver first! On the other hand, it goes without saying that they can (and I would say they should) associate these programs with a shortcut or an appropriate key combination.

8 comments, leave yours

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  1.   baejue said

    Thank you

    == ** How to disable screen lock completely ** ==

    So that the screen can never be locked (eg with the Control + Alt + L keys, the
    menu option, after user change or after computer suspension)
    we run gconf-editor and check the box
    / desktop / gnome / lockdown / disable_lock_screen.

    Thus, we will not be able to put the applet or lock button of
    screen (lock screen button), and if it was set, it will be inactive or
    disabled (will not work).

    And in the screensaver the option «Lock screen
    when the screensaver is active ”, and if it was activated, in addition,
    will deactivate.

    This is in classic GNOME. With MATE I think you have to run mateconf-editor and go to / desktop / mate / lockdown / disable_lock_screen.

    1.    koiasdi said

      At least in Linux Mint 15 MATE, the search is achieved with dconf-editor by checking the / org / mate / desktop / lockdown / disable_lock_screen box. Before you have to install dconf-tools (eg from Synaptic) to have and execute the command in question.

      Notes:
      - In dconf-editor the / org / gnome / desktop / lockdown / disable_lock_screen box is enabled by default but has no effect on the subject.
      - If gconf-editor is installed and we check the / desktop / gnome / lockdown / disable_lock_screen box, nothing is achieved either.
      - mateconf-editor is not available in Synaptic on Linux Mint 15 MATE.

  2.   Andrew Ratakruel said

    estem… and xtrlock?

  3.   Ivan Escobares said

    How about Pablo? Great article, I only have two things to add .. Slimlock 'main' package is out of date. Slimlock-git would have to be installed .. Regarding Slock, and the previous one, it has no configuration parameters. Something that allows you to configure the time that must pass to block, and that. i3lock has not tested it yet.

  4.   Let's use Linux said

    It could be ... I didn't know him. 🙂

  5.   Let's use Linux said

    Corrected.
    Regarding the configurations, the truth is that I do not remember. Just try "man slock" or read the project's official website.
    Cheers! Paul.


    Let's use Linux
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  6.   Andrélo said

    i think i have slock installed on my pc i am going to try slim-lock thanks 😀

  7.   swift said

    I can't install slimlock-git, it conflicts with slim… .any ideas?