How to Disable The Screen Password Lock in Ubuntu

We recently received the following email from a groovyReader:

Hi groovy guys,

I just installed Ubuntu on one of my computers and I’m trying to learn how to use it.  But, every 5 minutes my screen will automatically lock up and require a password.  This is really annoying, how do you fix this?

-Austin J.

Thanks for the groovy question!  On a new Ubuntu installation the screensaver is set by default to display after 5 minutes of inactivity.  The system is also set to require a password once the screensaver is displaying.  Ready to change that?  This how-to is fairly straight-forward, so let’s jump right into it.

How to remove the password requirement from Ubuntu screensavers.

Step 1

On your Ubuntu Desktop, Click System > Preferences > Screensaver.

Step 2

In the Screensaver Preferences window, Uncheck the Lock Screen when screesaver is active box.

Done!

Now if go you inactive on your Ubuntu you won’t have to worry about the screensaver making a password prompt appear.  Albeit, this will reduce your system security if you work around other people.

Alternatively, you could also adjust the timer to make the password show up after a longer period of inactivity.

But, what makes an even better option is to disable the screensaver entirely, and then just use the Power Management setting to tell the display to sleep after x amount of minutes.  You can get to Power Management from the screensaver menu, or from System > Preferences > Power Management.