<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<page xmlns="http://projectmallard.org/1.0/"
      type="topic" style="task"
      id="privacy-screen-lock">

  <info>
    <link type="guide" xref="privacy"/>
    <link type="seealso" xref="session-screenlocks"/>
    <link type="seealso" xref="shell-exit#lock-screen"/>

    <revision pkgversion="3.8" date="2013-05-21" status="candidate"/>
    <revision pkgversion="3.12" date="2014-03-23" status="candidate"/>
    <revision pkgversion="3.14" date="2014-10-12" status="candidate"/>
    <revision pkgversion="3.18" date="2015-09-30" status="final"/>
    <revision pkgversion="3.33.3" date="2019-07-21" status="final"/>
    <revision pkgversion="3.38.1" date="2020-11-22" status="final"/>
    <revision pkgversion="3.38.4" date="2020-03-07" status="final"/>
    <revision version="gnome:46" status="final" date="2024-03-02"/>

    <credit type="author">
      <name>Shaun McCance</name>
      <email>[email protected]</email>
    </credit>
    <credit type="editor">
      <name>Michael Hill</name>
      <email>[email protected]</email>
    </credit>
    <credit>
      <name>Jim Campbell</name>
      <email>[email protected]</email>
      <years>2013</years>
    </credit>

    <include href="legal.xml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"/>

    <desc>Prevent other people from using your desktop when you
    go away from your computer.</desc>
  </info>

  <title>Automatically lock your screen</title>
  
  <p>When you leave your computer, you should
  <link xref="shell-exit#lock-screen">lock the screen</link> to prevent
  other people from using your desktop and accessing your files. If you
  sometimes forget to lock your screen, you may wish to have your computer’s
  screen lock automatically after a set period of time. This will help to
  secure your computer when you aren’t using it.</p>

  <note><p>When your screen is locked, your applications and system processes
  will continue to run, but you will need to enter your password to begin using
  them again.</p></note>
  
  <steps>
    <title>To set the length of time before your screen locks
    automatically:</title>
    <item>
      <p>Open the <gui xref="shell-introduction#activities">Activities</gui> overview and
      start typing <gui>Privacy &amp; Security</gui>.</p>
    </item>
    <item>
      <p>Select <guiseq><gui>Settings</gui><gui>Privacy &amp; Security</gui></guiseq> from the
      results. This will open the <gui>Privacy &amp; Security</gui> panel.</p>
    </item>
    <item>
      <p>Select <gui>Screen Lock</gui> to open the panel.</p>
    </item>
    <item>
      <p>Make sure <gui>Automatic Screen Lock</gui> is switched on, then select a
      length of time from the <gui>Automatic Screen Lock Delay</gui> drop-down list.</p>
    </item>
  </steps>

  <note style="tip">
    <p>Applications can present notifications to you that are still displayed
    on your lock screen. This is convenient, for example, to see if you have
    any email without unlocking your screen. If you’re concerned about other
    people seeing these notifications, switch <gui>Lock Screen Notifications</gui>
    to off. For further notification settings, refer to <link xref="shell-notifications" />.</p>
  </note>

  <p>When your screen is locked, and you want to unlock it, press
  <key>Esc</key>, or swipe up from the bottom of the screen with your mouse.
  Then enter your password, and press <key>Enter</key> or click
  <gui>Unlock</gui>. Alternatively, just start typing your password and the
  lock curtain will be automatically raised as you type.</p>

</page>