Xscreensaver can't launch although its running

Support and Help
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Newest Ubuntu installed - I installed Xscreensaver but when I click on open nothing happens - it does display a window - only stating app is not sandboxed once - any advice? I do have Bingwall and Wonderwall installed but that is for desktop wallpaper - I think - it is set to auto start - any issue with that?

…Udate to issue – I walked away from computer - screensaver is now running - seems to cycle thru all available screensavers and then loop - bit I still can’t access the settings - if I double-click on the app - it dumps me on the desktop - looking at the wallpaper not a settings/config app - please advise.

I’m a newbie to Ubuntu - not sure how to check running tasks - Ubuntu version - startup apps, etc.

Thanks,

Milty

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The settings of xscreensaver are are accessed either by running the program xscreensaver-demo or by editing it’s configuration file ~/.xscreensaver in any text editor. The former is the more user friendly variant but the latter gives you the option to do some rather interesting things like for example using the video player mpv with some video file as your screensaver. Obviously xscreensaver should only work on systems running an X11 session, on Wayland it shouldn’t work since it works by creating a window and letting other programs — the so called “display hacks” — write to that window and this kind of access is counter to the Wayland security idea.

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@milty60 Welcome to Ubuntu Discourse :slight_smile:

I moved your post the the correct category as you had wandered into the Spanish speakers support area.

Thanks

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Yes, I’ve looked at this a while back.
What I noticed:
xscreensaver will partially work and setup if you have an .xscreensaver configuration file from a previous install, and the program is set to autostart. Copy the file to your home folder. I think this file normally is created if not present when the settings dialog is first run. But as you note, the settings utility does not run, so no file if you don’t already have one.

But even if you have that file, xscreensaver still does not work properly. It will activate some, but not all screensavers at the correct time delay, but it does not properly detect user activity, and may activate in the middle of you doing something. When it does activate, keyboard activity does not deactivate a screensaver that’s running. All this is annoying.

So for me it’s a Wayland no-go, even under XWayland. If it’s important to you, use Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

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