By default, Ubuntu Linux behaves very much like a laptop operating system: if you step away from your keyboard for 5 minutes, the screen will automatically dim, eventually turn off, and the system will lock itself to save power and protect your privacy.
However, if you are running a graphical Ubuntu machine as a dashboard display, a media server, or a monitoring kiosk, this auto-suspend feature is highly disruptive. You need the screen to remain bright and active indefinitely, without requiring you to wiggle the mouse every few minutes.
How to Disable Auto-Suspend and Screen Lock
You can turn off these power-saving features directly within the GNOME Settings app.
- Click the system tray in the top-right corner of your screen (where the battery and network icons are located) and select the Settings (gear icon).
- In the left-hand sidebar, scroll down and click on Power.
- Look for the “Power Saving Options” section. Find the Screen Blank setting.
- Click the drop-down menu next to Screen Blank and change it to Never.
This stops the screen from turning off, but you also need to ensure the system doesn’t automatically lock itself or go to sleep.
- In the same Power menu, scroll down to the Automatic Suspend section and click it.
- A small pop-up window will appear. Toggle the switch to Off for both “On Battery Power” and “Plugged In.” Close the pop-up.
- Now, look back at the left-hand sidebar and click on Privacy.
- Click on Screen Lock.
- Toggle the Automatic Screen Lock switch to Off.
Your Ubuntu machine is now configured for continuous operation. The display will never dim, the computer will never enter sleep mode, and you will never be prompted to enter your password after a period of inactivity.