i3lock is a simple screen locker built specifically for the i3 window manager. It is designed to provide an easy and secure way to lock the screen and prevent unauthorized access to a user’s open windows and files. i3lock uses the PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) library to authenticate users, which means it can be configured to use various authentication methods such as password, fingerprint, or smart card.
One of the key features of i3lock is its ability to display an image or animation as the background while the screen is locked. This can be useful for personalizing the lock screen or providing visual cues to the user. i3lock also has the option to use a color for the background instead of an image, and also it has the ability to display the date and time on the screen, allowing users to quickly check the time without having to unlock the screen.
Additionally, i3lock can be configured to automatically lock the screen after a certain period of inactivity, providing an added layer of security to the system.
i3lock Command Examples
1. Lock the screen showing a white background:
# i3lock
2. Lock the screen with a simple color background (rrggbb format):
# i3lock --color 0000ff
3. Lock the screen to a PNG background:
# i3lock --image path/to/file.png
4. Lock the screen and disable the unlock indicator (removes feedback on keypress):
# i3lock --no-unlock-indicator
5. Lock the screen and don’t hide the mouse pointer:
# i3lock --pointer default
6. Lock the screen to a PNG background tiled over all monitors:
# i3lock --image path/to/file.png --tiling
7. Lock the screen and show the number of failed login attempts:
# i3lock --show-failed-attempts