How to Change Screen Timeout in Ubuntu Linux

Screen timeout in Ubuntu controls how long the PC sits idle before the screen goes blank. Ubuntu sets this to 5 minutes by default to save power and keep your screen from being read by passers-by. You can change it in a few clicks.

The steps below are for Ubuntu 22.04 and newer, using the Settings app. Changing the timeout does not need a restart, and it takes effect as soon as you pick a value.

How to change when your computer screen goes blank in Ubuntu Linux

You change the timeout in the Settings app. Two panels control it: Privacy (Screen) and Power. Pick a longer delay if you read or watch videos and don’t want the display to go dark. Pick a shorter one to save battery on a laptop. Either panel works, and they are two ways to reach the same idle timer.

1. Click the system menu in the top-right corner of the top bar. It holds the network, volume and battery icons.
2. Click Settings in the menu that opens, as shown in the image.

The Settings entry on the system menu is highlighted in the image below. If you don’t see it, check that you are looking at the menu at the far right of the top bar and not at the Activities button on the left.

1. In the Settings⚙️ window, look at the sidebar on the left. Scroll down if the list is long.
2. Click Privacy. On Ubuntu 24.04 and newer this entry may be named Privacy & Security.

The right-hand pane now shows a list of privacy options.

1. In the Privacy pane, click Screen. On Ubuntu 22.04 this entry is labelled Screen Lock.

The panel opens with the blanking and lock options for your display.

1. Open Settings › Privacy › Screen if it is not already open.
2. Click the Blank Screen Delay drop-down menu.
3. Choose a new time. The list runs from 1 minute up to 15 minutes, and also includes Never.

The new value shows in the drop-down and applies immediately. There is no Apply or Save button. To undo the change, open the same menu and set it back to 5 minutes, which is the Ubuntu default.

Choose Never only on a desktop or on a laptop that is plugged in. A display that never blanks drains a laptop battery quickly.

1. In the Settings⚙️ sidebar, click Power.
2. Find the Power Saving Options section.
3. Click the Screen Blank drop-down list.
4. Pick the time you want, or choose Never to turn blanking off.

This is the same timer as Blank Screen Delay, so changing it here also changes it in the Privacy panel. If you can’t find the Power panel, check that you are on a standard Ubuntu desktop session. The panel is part of the stock GNOME Settings app.

The Blank Screen Delay is separate from Automatic Screen Lock. The first decides when the display goes dark. The second decides whether, and how soon after that, you must enter your password to get back in. You can blank the screen after 10 minutes and still lock it later, or lock it right away.

Close the Settings app when you are done. Your changes are already saved. To test, leave the PC idle for the time you chose and check that the screen blanks when you expect.

These settings are a trade-off. A short timeout protects your privacy and saves power. A long one is more comfortable when you are reading or watching something. Pick the balance that suits how you use the machine.

• Adjusting Blank Screen Delay and Automatic Screen Lock settings in Ubuntu Linux can enhance privacy and security, especially on shared or portable machines.
• Modifying the Blank Screen Delay can also help save energy and extend your device’s battery life.
• Changing the Blank Screen Delay in Ubuntu Linux involves opening Settings › Privacy › Screen or Settings › Power. The names vary slightly between Ubuntu versions.
• Ubuntu Linux keeps these options in one Settings app, which makes it easy to customize the system and to undo a change later.