This also works on Ubuntu, Debian Bookworm and all Debian and Ubuntu based distros.
Linux Mint and Ubuntu both come with XScreensaver but it is 5.45 which is a very old version. Debian Bookworm which I also have comes with version 6.06 but it is better to have the latest version. Both for security reasons and to get the latest features that the new version has to offer. Which is a better lockscreen and different lockscreen themes that are not in the old version.
Version 5.45 is very old and is years out of date. Also you are missing out on some nice new features of the latest version if you are running the old version.
So here is a step by step tutorial on how to install the latest version of XScreensaver which is 6.08. For this we are going to install the version from Debian Trixie which has the updated version. As both Linux Mint and Ubuntu are both based on Debian this will work on those distros as well as on Debian 12 Bookworm and Debian 11.
So we need to go over to the Debian website and grab the installer files. these are Deb files which will be installed with GDebi package installer.
The files you need are both the Xscreensaver program and the screensaver files. Depending on if or not you want to install all of the screensavers or just some of them.
You also need one other file and that is libgle 3-1.2.1 because the one in Ubuntu and Debian bookworm is only version 3 so won't work unless we update it.
I will list the other files here so you know which ones to get which are all on the Debian website.
The files we need are as follows:
XScreensaver 6.08
Xscrensaver Data 6.08
XScreensaver Data Extra 6.08
XScreensaver GL 6.08
Xscreensaver GL Extra 6.08
Libgle 3-1.2.1
Once we have got the Deb Files we need to install the packages but first we need to remove the old version of X screensaver if you have it installed.
The best way to go this is to go to your terminal and type in the following:
sudo apt purge xscreensaver*-
Enter your password when asked. Once the program has been removed type in
sudo apt autoremove
This will remove any of the left over files from the old Xscreensaver. It is important that you uninstal the old version of XScreensaver first. Otherwise the new version of xscreensaver might not install or work. Once that is done you will need to restart your computer.
Now restart your computer.
We are now ready to install the latest version of the screensaver.
I installed the program in this order because when I tried to install XScreensaver first GDebi which is the package installer wanted to install the old screensavers from Ubuntu 5.42. But we must not do this because then the new version of Screensaver won't work it will conflict.
So we need to install the screensavers first then XScreensaver afterwards.
First open the XScrensaver GL Deb File using GDebi if you want the extra screensavers. If not then you can install the X Screensaver data file.
When you run the X Screensaver GL extra file GDebi will complain that the program cannot install because it needs Libgle 3.1.2.1. Which is Deb File from Debian Trixie.
Install the Libgle Deb file you have downloaded from the Debian website.
Once you have installed the screensaver then you install the XScreensaver program again using GDebi.
Restart your computer.
You should now have XScreensaver 6.08 which is the latest version running on Linux Mint and Ubuntu. As you can see from my images it is working on Linux Mint.
I am running Linux Mint 21.2 with the Kubuntu desktop and I now also have the latest version of XScreensaver 6.08 on Debian 12 Bookworm which is on my other laptops.
As I am running KDE, the desktop uses the KDE screen lock by default but you can create a custom command so that you can use the XScreensaver lock screen if you prefer that.
To create the command go to your menu editor and type in a name for your program.
I have called it "Lock Screen."
You can also choose an icon for your start menu item in the icon selection.
Then type in the following command under where it says "program" or "command:"
xscreensaver-command -lock
Save in the menu editor then close the editor.
We also want XScreensave to run at start up every time we log into our computer so you need to create a start up file. To do this go to your start up programs settings and type in following command:
xscreensaver -nosplash
Or if you are on KDE Plasma Desktop as I am you can create the start up file manually by copying and pasting the following text in your plain text editor. Which for me is KWrite but you can use any plain text editor.
Copy and paste the following command in your text editor:
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Exec=xscreensaver -nosplash
Hidden=false
X-KDE-Autostart-enabled=true
Name=xscreensaver.desktop
Name=Xscreensaver
Save the text file somewhere one your computer such as the desktop or documents folder and close the text editor.
If you are running a different desktop from KDE just replace where it says X-KDE with the name of your desktop. For example if you are running Gnome replace the text with X-GNOME.
In your file manager which in my case is Dolphin since I am using KDE go to "show hidden files and folders" in your settings to show the hidden files.
Then go to your home folder and go to home/config/autostart. Then drop the start up file you just created into the autostart folder.
Restart your computer again.
XScreensaver 6.08 is now running on my computer and you can also change the lockscreen to other themes that the new version has. You can also lock your computer with XScreensaver if that's what you want.
It would be easier for everybody if Linux distros just shipped with the latest packages or updated then when new ones are released. But as this is Linux there are ways round it to get the updated software or any software you want. In this case the updated Screensaver program.
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| This is XScreensaver 6.08 the latest version running on Linux Mint 21.2. |
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| The screenlock also works and you can also change the color of the lockscreen. |
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