Lock Screen

The lock screen uses the shared config file at ~/.config/glimpse/config.toml. It can reuse your wallpaper, use a separate lock image, show a clock, and show status buttons.

Enable Locking

Enable the user service:

systemctl --user enable --now glimpse-lock.service

Then test it:

loginctl lock-session

Use loginctl lock-session from compositor keybindings and idle rules. Keep the service running so locking happens immediately.

Use Your Wallpaper

Leave [lock.background].path unset to use the same image as [wallpaper]:

[wallpaper]
path = "/home/alex/Pictures/wallpapers/coast.jpg"
color = "#101010"
fit = "cover"

[lock]
css_path = "themes/lock.css"

[lock.background]
blur_radius = 0
dim = 0.35

This is the best starting point when you want the lock screen to match the desktop.

Use A Separate Lock Image

Set [lock.background].path when the lock screen needs its own image:

[lock.background]
path = "/home/alex/Pictures/wallpapers/lock.jpg"
fit = "cover"
blur_radius = 12
dim = 0.35

blur_radius softens the background. dim darkens it; 0.0 means no dimming and 1.0 means fully dimmed.

If fit is left out, a lock-specific image uses cover. When the lock screen inherits the wallpaper image, it also inherits the wallpaper fit mode.

Background Fallback

Config paths win over theme-pack images.

Source order	Used when
[lock.background].path	You set a lock-specific image.
[wallpaper].path	No lock-specific image is set.
Theme pack lock-light / lock-dark image	Config has no lock or wallpaper image.
Theme pack wallpaper-light / wallpaper-dark image	The theme has no lock-specific image.
[wallpaper].color	No image is available.

The current theme_mode decides whether light or dark theme-pack images are used.

Clock

[lock.clock]
enabled = true
time_format = "%H:%M"
date_format = "%A, %B %-d"

Set enabled = false if you want the lock screen to be image-first with no large clock.

Status Buttons

[lock.controls]
buttons = ["wifi", "input", "weather", "battery", "power"]

Button	What it shows
wifi	Network status.
input	Current keyboard layout.
weather	Weather icon and temperature.
battery	Battery status. Percent is shown when running on battery.
power	Suspend, restart, and shutdown menu.

Remove entries you do not want:

[lock.controls]
buttons = ["wifi", "battery", "power"]

CSS

The default lock CSS override path is:

~/.config/glimpse/themes/lock.css

Keep small lock-screen visual tweaks there. See Theming for lock CSS variables.

Practical Tips

Goal	Tip
Match desktop and lock screen	Leave [lock.background].path unset.
Make text easier to read	Increase dim or add a small blur_radius.
Use a busy wallpaper	Use a separate, calmer [lock.background].path.
Avoid accidental shutdown	Keep the power button only if you want power actions on the lock screen.

See Also

Document	Purpose
Wallpaper	Desktop wallpaper, backdrop, and fit modes.
Theming	Lock CSS variables and override file.