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I am running Ubuntu from a live session in order to see if I can reproduce this bug. Since though I'm still supposed to get stuff done, I'm trying to also do that. As a result I have to log onto corporate resources, and lock my screen while I'm not at my desktop.

I set a password on the default ubuntu/999 user account, but Ctrl-Alt-L still does not lock the screen, it merely blacks out the monitor.

How can I have a proper screen lock? Maybe I should just install xscreensaver...

kos
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badp
  • 12,722

2 Answers2

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On Ubuntu 12.04 & above with Unity/GNOME, you can enable locking the screen with the following command:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.lockdown disable-lock-screen false

However without a password it may not even work or be able to login i would recommend adding a user as well first just in case.

DnrDevil
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1

Probably not optimal, but it worked.

  1. Set up a password from the terminal (the graphical interface didn't work for me, but ymmv).

    passwd

  2. Open Software & Updates and enable all repositories.

  3. Install xscreensaver.

    sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xscreensaver

  4. Launch the xscreensaver demon. This also opens up a window.

    xscreensaver

  5. Click on Settings and tick Lock Screen After. Set your timeout.

  6. Open System Settings → Keyboard → Shortcuts, and add this shortcut:

    xscreensaver-command -lock

    Assign to it the key combination of your choice; it's fine to override ctrl-alt-l.

badp
  • 12,722