Modifying Screensaver Themes

The screensaver application allows users to choose one or more screensaver themes. A screensaver theme is an application that displays images on the screen of the user when the screen is not in use. The available screensaver themes are listed in the Screensaver preference tool.

To add a new screensaver theme, copy the executable file for the screensaver theme engine to somewhere in your PATH or into the screensaver theme engine executable directory. The screensaver theme engine executable directory for your system can be determined using the following command: 

pkg-config --variable=privlibexecdir gnome-screensaver
Next, add a .desktop file for the theme into the screensaver themes directory. The screensaver themes directory for your system can be determined using the following command: 
pkg-config --variable=themesdir gnome-screensaver
In the Exec field of the .desktop file include any arguments that are required to run the screensaver theme on the whole screen, rather than in a window. For example, some legacy screensaver theme engines may require you to include the -root option to display the screensaver display on the whole screen.

The Screensaver infrastructure implements themes according to the XDG menu specification. By supporting this specification, GNOME allows you to:

  • Customize the themes easily. You can edit a small number of files to customize the available themes. You do not need to modify your applications or move files.
  • Install themes easily. You do not need to provide information about the system when you install the themes.
  • Configure the system so that users cannot modify the themes.

For more information, see Chapter 2 ― Customizing Menus.

Setting Screensaver PreferencesSession Management