xfce-power-manager is persistently & incorrectly inhibiting screensaver/sleep/hibernate
The system tray power icon does NOT show what is causing the inhibit, in fact I never even knew it could, but systemd consistently reports the inhibit is caused by xfce-power-manager.
All power events are inhibited. I can't even manually suspend the computer, and no automated power events happen (screen saver, blank screen, suspend)
I ran it with debug and (when it goes wrong) what it reports is inhibit-on events with no corresponding Inhibit removed events, for multiple applications. The fact this is reported from multiple applications suggests to me the issue is in xfce-power-manager.
Killing xfce-power-manager and restarting it is the only way I can get power management working again. This inhibit bug hits me about every 3 or 4 days and started a couple of months ago. I run Xubuntu and even tried wiping the computer & reinstalling the latest version from download, but this didn't fix the issue.
For now I'm using xscreensaver instead, but it appears this can only power-down the monitors, not sleep the PC.
As I use this desktop 100% for work, I would be perfectly happy if I could COMPLETELY disable the inhibit feature. I never do long downloads or watch videos on this PC, so this inhibit feature does nothing but cause a pain. There should be the option to disable it. Users should be allowed to control their own desktops. Other people choosing to force my PC to stay on all night against my wishes is not acceptable.
It seems to me there is a fundamental flaw in the inhibit functionality - each inhibi request should have a limited time (say 10 mins) and have to be renewed. The ability to set infinite inhibits is just asking for trouble.
Here the debug log & a grep of just the on/off events.
2025-12-03T11:50:47.794582+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-03T11:50:52.120069+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-03T11:50:52.183712+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-03T11:50:52.257015+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-03T12:04:59.060670+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-03T12:04:59.194794+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Playing audio sender=:1.91
2025-12-03T12:05:03.398837+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-03T12:09:30.953979+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Download in progress sender=:1.91
2025-12-03T12:09:31.002567+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-03T12:16:14.937841+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=Parole reason=Video Playback sender=:1.1252
2025-12-03T12:16:19.207255+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-03T12:16:22.077530+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=Parole reason=Video Playback sender=:1.1252
2025-12-03T12:16:27.343183+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-03T14:34:24.142271+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Download in progress sender=:1.91
2025-12-03T18:43:07.773471+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Native desktop capture sender=:1.91
2025-12-03T20:29:51.476648+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-03T20:29:52.039825+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Playing audio sender=:1.91
2025-12-03T20:30:14.605368+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-04T12:00:06.525992+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Download in progress sender=:1.91
2025-12-04T12:00:33.670108+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-04T12:00:39.172598+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Download in progress sender=:1.91
2025-12-04T12:00:41.151116+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-04T15:12:03.976467+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Download in progress sender=:1.91
2025-12-04T15:12:04.031967+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-04T16:52:07.889751+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/snap/discord/261/usr/share/discord/Discord reason=Playing audio sender=:1.1475
2025-12-04T16:52:10.275973+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-04T16:55:41.856221+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/snap/discord/261/usr/share/discord/Discord reason=Playing audio sender=:1.1478
2025-12-04T16:55:44.255859+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:06.559144+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:08.808220+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:08.866073+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:13.195838+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:13.244648+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:17.574257+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:17.629077+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:21.963027+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:22.001407+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:26.340513+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:26.387354+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:30.723497+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:30.771269+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:33.888207+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:40.583860+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:44.907558+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:44.964028+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:49.289986+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:49.369751+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:53.673885+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:54.522126+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:45:58.106745+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:45:58.153147+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:46:02.490619+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:46:02.546123+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:46:06.899359+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:46:06.950071+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:46:11.274565+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:46:11.324885+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:46:15.661462+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T11:46:15.720372+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T11:46:16.590169+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T14:58:38.968481+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T14:58:39.011470+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Playing audio sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T14:58:44.017229+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T14:59:30.322569+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T14:59:30.379650+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Playing audio sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T14:59:34.986446+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:83] xfpm_inhibit_has_inhibit_changed(): Inhibit removed
2025-12-05T15:32:55.703583+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Download in progress sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T15:37:04.553489+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=Parole reason=Video Playback sender=:1.1541
2025-12-05T15:39:49.901701+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T15:39:50.042672+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Playing audio sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T15:40:11.200411+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T15:49:02.919752+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Download in progress sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T17:52:54.795207+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Download in progress sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T17:55:09.665463+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Video Wake Lock sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T17:55:09.677414+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Playing audio sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T18:02:53.190963+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Download in progress sender=:1.91
2025-12-05T18:11:25.047674+00:00 james-HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-USDT xfce4-power-manager: TRACE[xfpm-inhibit.c:390] xfpm_inhibit_inhibit(): Inhibit send application name=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable reason=Download in progress sender=:1.91