screen goes blank after X minutes

hedron · 12-28-2023, 02:32 AM

Not really sure how many exactly, but after maybe 10 minutes of watching a video the screen goes blank. It's quite annoying, and I have no idea what file or command to stop this behavior.

I assume it's some sort of screen saver or battery saver type program/setting. This is not my laptop, and I use xscreensaver manually when I'm going to be AFK.

So, what file/command do I need to edit to stop the screen from going blank?

giomat · 12-28-2023, 06:45 AM

try running this

Code:

xset -dpms

it will disable x11 automatic screen saving.
If you use some fancy desktop like xfce or kde, they will do this for you when you are watching a video or doing something

jayjwa · 12-28-2023, 12:02 PM

You might need 'xset s off' as well. Oddly enough, gamepad input from RPC3S isn't considered "input" for the sake of screen blanking. If I forget to turn it off, I'll be in a game, usually in an action spot, and the screen will turn off until I reach for the mouse and move it.

jmccue · 12-28-2023, 04:19 PM

You do not describe your setup. Some monitors will go dark to save power without what the consider "real activity". Maybe it is your monitor ? If so there may be a setup button you can mess with.

kgha · 12-29-2023, 09:03 AM

If you use a media player there might be a "Disable screensaver" option.
In vlc:
Tools > Preferences
choose "show settings: all" (bottom left corner)
choose Video in left hand column
tick the box "Disable screensaver"

In SMPlayer:
Options > Preferences
General (in left hand column), choose Video tab
tick the box "Disable screensaver"

chud1950 · 01-02-2024, 04:23 PM

On my display I can use this to start the screensaver and dpms:

Code:

xscreensaver -no-splash &
# Without the sleep dpms doesnt get enabled
sleep 5
xset +dpms

To stop the screeensaver and dpms:

Code:

xscreensaver-command -exit
xset -dpms

I use xsceensaver-settings to configure the screensaver and dpms behavior.

dchmelik · 01-03-2024, 03:02 AM

caffeine-ng-3.4.2-x86_64-2_SBo
caffeine-ng (Status bar application to stop the screensaver)
Caffeine is a little daemon that sits in your systray, and prevents the screensaver from showing up, or the system from going to sleep. It does so when an application is fullscreened (eg: youtube), or when you click on the systray icon (which you can do, when, eg: reading).