screensaver not starting

The xfce4-screensaver is running and enabled but the timer is not starting the screensaver. This behavior started recently. Sometimes I can temporarily fix this by changing a setting for the screensaver, sometimes it is also required to tinker with the power management and sometimes activating of the screensaver will fail at all (or I didn´t tinker enough ;-)).

Until recently the screensaver did it's Job. I don't know what to test and change any further and I would be glad to hear how I can trace this bug/fault setting somewhere.

Operating system: Arch Linux (and updated fully).

Specific information from bash:

$ps x | grep screensaver

1073 ? Sl 0:05 xfce4-screensaver

33175 pts/0 S+ 0:00 grep --color=auto screensaver

$ xdg-screensaver status

enabled

$ xfce4-screensaver --version

xfce4-screensaver 4.18.4

Specific other information: Because I use the suspend-then-hibernate (not available in Xfce4) option via systemd I disabled handling the handling of the laptop lid event. I did this by: xfconf-query -c xfce4-power-manager -p /xfce4-power-manager/logind-handle-lid-switch -n -t bool -s true so when I go to settings I get the warning: "Xfce Power Manager is not configured to handle laptop lid events". Until now this did not interfere with anything and I took care not to change it back.

changed the description

What is your version of xfce4-power-manager?

$ xfce4-power-manager --version

Xfce Power Manager 4.20.0

So xfce4-power-manager should not interfere here, unless you have presentation mode enabled? (it's set in the panel plugin)

I've settings for xfce4-screensaver and Power Manager, I am not sure what "panel plugin" you mean.

In xfce4-screensaver I've set "inhibit screensaver for fullscreen applications" and a timer for 5 minuts (and lock after 1 minut). In powermanager I've put to sleep after 5 min. and switch off after 6 min. on battery and 59/60 min. for those when plugged in.

If you tell me where I can find relevant configuration files I will upload them for more information.

What it the output of

xfconf-query -c xfce4-power-manager -p /xfce4-power-manager/presentation-mode

The output of executing the following in a terminal is: '$ xfconf-query -c xfce4-power-manager -p /xfce4-power-manager/presentation-mode'

'false'

By the way: when I try this today some how the screensaver just went on automatically. I will try it again if it refuses to function properly. It seems quit random.

when I try this today

When you tried what? Which command, which action precisely?

For more info, you can also kill xfce4-screensaver, run xfce4-screensaver --debug in a terminal, and wait to see what it displays when the screensaver is supposed to be triggered.

Thanks, so far, I tried to be more clear above and try the debug options.

I tried to be more clear above

This command is purely interrogative, and has no effect on your system.

Is there a way to set --debug (semi) permanent and log to a file? I think it can take a while before the problem will come up again and like to have the debug logging available then.

Only every second gives a line, so I need to think of a way to limit the logging only to the last 24 hours or so. Not figured out the scripting for that.

added 3. Need Info label

Don't know if it's relevant, I think it's not related. But anyhow: I am switching a lot between laptop only, laptop + one display, laptop off + 2 displays. Xfce4 find it hard to switch between those (sometimes a screen stays black, or is not working in xfce4 at all, but is working if I go to tty1). My total xfce4 user setup was broken, when I before tried to store pre settings (the screens get switching so now and then). So I had to wipe out my complete user settings in my home map and I don't use presettings anymore. Switching is still hard for xfce4. And the laptop goes often to sleep-then-hibernate (by closing the lid), it nearly never have to really hibernate and that's why I like that setting (better for the ssd if still a problem at all).