Linux Mint is preparing a new native screensaver and lock screen for its Cinnamon desktop environment, designed to support Wayland alongside Xorg. The redesign integrates screen locking directly into Cinnamon, offering improved functionality and visual consistency. This update aims to enhance user privacy and compatibility as the distribution considers future display server options.
Linux Mint has unveiled plans for a redesigned screensaver and lock screen in its Cinnamon desktop, marking a significant update to how screen locking is handled. Previously, the cinnamon-screensaver operated as a separate process designed for Xorg, which added complexity and limited Wayland compatibility. The new version integrates directly into Cinnamon, using the desktop's own UI toolkit and widgets to ensure seamless operation in both X11 and Wayland environments.
The updated lock screen will display practical information without requiring unlocking, including battery level, time and date, media player controls, and counts of unread notifications. Users will also be able to toggle an on-screen keyboard, use fingerprint authentication for unlocking, and access the user switcher. This revamp addresses visual inconsistencies, such as janky transitions between the desktop and lock screen, and simplifies a codebase inherited from the GNOME 2 era.
Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint's founder, emphasized the importance of screensavers in a blog post: “Screensavers are very important. They need to look good, they need to work well, and they cannot under any circumstance fail to protect the user’s privacy.” To ensure reliability, the new screensaver will undergo thorough testing in both Xorg and Wayland sessions, focusing on edge cases that could compromise screen contents.
The upcoming Cinnamon release will retain existing configuration options, introduce the new screensaver, and maintain the older version as a fallback for compatibility. A subsequent release will fully adopt the native implementation. Linux Mint 23, based on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and expected later in 2026, will include this feature, as will other distributions packaging the next Cinnamon version.
Linux Mint currently defaults to Xorg but is improving its Wayland session. Lefebvre has stated he “wants to have the option on the table” without rushing a switch. This development reflects ongoing efforts to modernize screen locking and power management, moving beyond legacy behaviors originally intended to prevent monitor burn-in.
