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Asked: 2024-09-25T18:37:07+05:30 In:

How can I lock my screen using a bash script or through the command line in Ubuntu?

I’ve been diving into the world of Bash scripts and command-line magic on Ubuntu lately, and I stumbled upon something that I can’t seem to wrap my head around. So, here’s the thing: I often find myself stepping away from my computer, and I want to make sure that my screen is locked as quickly and efficiently as possible. I know there are those graphical options to do this, but I’m trying to embrace the command line life!

So, I’m looking for a way to lock my screen via a Bash script or just the terminal itself. I’ve tried using some commands that I thought might do the trick, but nothing seems to work quite right for locking the screen. I want something straightforward, no complicated setups or dependencies, just a simple command or script that I can run to lock my screen instantly.

I did a bit of searching and came across various forums with tips, but they often say different things, like using `gnome-screensaver-command -l` or `xdg-screensaver lock`, and I can’t even tell if those are still valid for the latest version of Ubuntu. I honestly just want to hit “Enter” after typing in a single line and have my screen sink into the lock screen. Is there a specific command I should be looking for?

Also, if I decide to go the Bash script route, what’s the best way to create a simple script that I can run anytime I need it? I wouldn’t mind it being a multi-line script if it adds functionality, but I’m just trying to keep it simple for now. And should I make the script executable or does that not matter for it to run correctly?

I’m really eager to hear how you all handle this. Any tips, scripts, or even just command-line magic you can share would be super appreciated! Getting into Bash scripting has been a fun challenge, but sometimes it throws me for a loop, and I could use some collective wisdom here!

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    2 Answers



    1. Locking Your Screen with Bash on Ubuntu

      If you’re wanting to lock your screen quickly from the terminal on Ubuntu, you’re in luck! There are a couple of straightforward commands you can use. The classic command for GNOME desktop environments is:

      gnome-screensaver-command -l

      This works well if you have GNOME Screen Saver installed. If you don’t have it, you might want to check if it’s installed or just use:

      xdg-screensaver lock

      Both of these commands should lock your screen immediately when you press Enter.

      Bash Script Option

      If you want to create a simple Bash script to lock your screen, you can do that too! Here’s how:

      1. Open your terminal and create a new script file. You can name it whatever you like, for example, lockscreen.sh:
        2. touch lockscreen.sh
      2. Edit the file with your favorite text editor, like nano:
        3. nano lockscreen.sh
      3. Inside the file, put the following lines:
        4. #!/bin/bash
gnome-screensaver-command -l
      4. Save and close the editor (in nano, you can do this with CTRL + X, then Y to confirm, and hit Enter).

      Make Your Script Executable

      For your script to run, you’ll need to make it executable:

      chmod +x lockscreen.sh

      Now, whenever you want to lock your screen, just run:

      ./lockscreen.sh

      You could even move your script to a directory in your PATH (like /usr/local/bin/) to run it from anywhere.

      Final Note

      Feel free to explore and modify your script later on to add more functionality, like logging the time or notifying you when the screen is locked. Happy scripting!



    2. To lock your screen using the command line in Ubuntu, the most straightforward approach is to use the command gnome-screensaver-command -l if you’re using GNOME. This command locks your screen instantly. If you’re using a different desktop environment, you might want to try xdg-screensaver lock, but be aware that its availability may vary depending on your setup. You can simply open a terminal and type one of these commands, hitting “Enter” to execute it. For a more modern environment, if you have loginctl, you can use loginctl lock-session to achieve the same effect. Regardless of which command you choose, it’s a good practice to test it out in the terminal to ensure it works for your specific Ubuntu version.

      If you’d like to create a Bash script for locking your screen, you can start with a simple script. Open a text editor and create a file named lock_screen.sh with the following contents:

      #!/bin/bash
gnome-screensaver-command -l

      Make the script executable by running chmod +x lock_screen.sh. Now, whenever you need to lock your screen, navigate to the directory where your script is saved and simply type ./lock_screen.sh to execute it. You can even add additional functionality to your script later, but this basic setup will allow you to lock your screen quickly and efficiently right from the command line.


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