After latest update, XScreensaver no-longer inhibits blanking while playing videos

[robbie-hatley]

I notice that after the latest updates, Xscreensaver no longer inhibits blanking while playing videos. This is true for:

1. YouTube on Firefox, normal window.
2. YouTube on Firefox, full-screen.
3. VLC, normal window.
4. VLC, full-screen.

According to my research, the key cause for this is if XScreenSaver cannot connect to systemd, which would be evidenced by process “/usr/bin/xscreensaver/xscreensaver-systemd” not running. However, I’ve ascertained that that process is running, but none-the-less is failing to inhibit blanking when a video is playing.

So, how could I go about troubleshooting this?

For now, as a workaround, I increased blanking time from 13min to 200min, which is longer than any video I’d ever watch.

(System info for reference: running Manjaro Linux with all latest updates, Stable branch, KDE-Plasma desktop, X11 windowing system, on a machine using an AMD Ryzen 7 5600G APU with built-in Radeon graphics.)

Reverie: Hmmm… I wonder if this could be related to Kwin being split into X11 and Wayland versions two updates ago?

[Aragorn]

Why are you using xscreensaver in the first place? kscreenlocker can also be used as a screensaver, and it’s native to Plasma, while xscreensaver is not..

[scotty65]

Further to the above reply:

Strange problem with xscreensaver and Manjaro

You don’t need xscreensaver with Plasma Wayland. The lock screen can be used as a screensaver. First, open System Settings → Screen Locking. Set the amount of time before the screen will lock (i.e. display the screensaver), and whether your password is required for unlocking. You can also set a delay where the password is not required for a specific time after locking. Then, click on the Configure Appearance button at top right of the lock screen settings & select what you want to display whi…

Plasma will be fully Wayland from early 2027 (when Plasma 6.8 is released), so even if you do get xscreensaver working on your current Plasma X11 system, it won’t be working from early 2027 (unless it has a major code rewrite to make it Wayland-compatible).