swayidle not detecting idle...

[kiss81]

My pc: Ryzen 3700x / nvidia gtx1070
I am currently on ubuntu sway remix 25.04. (fully updated)

My config:

timeout 2 'echo 1'
timeout 30 '/usr/share/sway/scripts/kbd-backlight.sh off && swaymsg "output * power off"' resume '/usr/share/sway/scripts/kbd-backlight.sh on && swaymsg "output * power on"'

when I run swayidle -w -C config -d:

2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 750] Register idle timeout at 2000 ms
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 751] Setup idle
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 713] Command: echo 1
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 750] Register idle timeout at 30000 ms
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 751] Setup idle
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 713] Command: /usr/share/sway/scripts/kbd-backlight.sh off && swaymsg "output * power off"
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 756] Setup resume
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 713] Command: /usr/share/sway/scripts/kbd-backlight.sh on && swaymsg "output * power on"
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 1083] Loaded config at config
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 463] Using session: /org/freedesktop/login1/session/_31
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 621] Enable idle timeouts
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 596] Register with timeout: 30000
2025-09-09 09:37:17 - [Line 596] Register with timeout: 2000

I can wait forever, but never see something happening... looks like the idle trigger never comes?

edit: I also tried the latest source code and build it, but same issue.

[kennylevinsen]

swayidle does not itself detect idle, it asks the display server to report whenever the system has been idle for that duration.

If the timeout never runs, it means that your display server (sway in this case) never considered the session idle for that long. Maybe you have input devices that keep sending events? You can check all input event traffic with sudo libinput debug-events, which should be silent for 30 seconds for the monitor timeout to be hit.

[kiss81]

sudo libinput debug-events

I checked this: I don't see any events coming in when I don't touch the keytboard and mouse. Something else is preventing the session idle somehow...

[kennylevinsen]

You may have an active idle inhibitor then. Seat's debug log will mention these activating.

It could be e.g. an active video player.

[kiss81]

You may have an active idle inhibitor then. Seat's debug log will mention these activating.

It could be e.g. an active video player.

Where can I find these active idle inhibitor configuration?

This is with the latest build and debug enabled

kiss@machine:~$ export WAYLAND_DEBUG=1
kiss@machine:~$ cd swayidle/build/
kiss@machine:~/swayidle/build$ exec ./swayidle  -w  -d   timeout 10 'swaylock -f -c 000000'     timeout 15 'swaymsg "output * dpms off"'     resume 'swaymsg "output * dpms on"'     before-sleep 'swaylock -f -c 000000'
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 860] Got timeout
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 707] Register idle timeout at 10000 ms
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 708] Setup idle
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 670] Command: swaylock -f -c 000000
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 860] Got timeout
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 707] Register idle timeout at 15000 ms
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 708] Setup idle
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 670] Command: swaymsg "output * dpms off"
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 713] Setup resume
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 670] Command: swaymsg "output * dpms on"
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 863] Got before-sleep
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 670] Command: swaylock -f -c 000000
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 735] Setup sleep lock: swaylock -f -c 000000
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 707] Register idle timeout at 2000 ms
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 708] Setup idle
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 670] Command: echo 1
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 707] Register idle timeout at 30000 ms
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 708] Setup idle
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 670] Command: /usr/share/sway/scripts/kbd-backlight.sh off && swaymsg "output * power off"
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 713] Setup resume
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 670] Command: /usr/share/sway/scripts/kbd-backlight.sh on && swaymsg "output * power on"
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 1057] Loaded config at /home/sander/.config/swayidle/config
[ 283815.333] {Default Queue}  -> wl_display#1.get_registry(new id wl_registry#2)
[ 283815.342] {Default Queue}  -> wl_display#1.sync(new id wl_callback#3)
[ 283815.410] {Display Queue} wl_display#1.delete_id(3)
[ 283815.419] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(1, "wl_shm", 2)
[ 283815.423] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(2, "zwp_linux_dmabuf_v1", 4)
[ 283815.428] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(3, "wl_compositor", 6)
[ 283815.433] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(4, "wl_subcompositor", 1)
[ 283815.437] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(5, "wl_data_device_manager", 3)
[ 283815.441] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(6, "zwlr_gamma_control_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.446] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(7, "zxdg_output_manager_v1", 3)
[ 283815.449] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(8, "ext_idle_notifier_v1", 1)
[ 283815.455] {Default Queue}  -> wl_registry#2.bind(8, "ext_idle_notifier_v1", 1, new id [unknown]#4)
[ 283815.460] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(9, "zwp_idle_inhibit_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.464] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(10, "zwlr_layer_shell_v1", 4)
[ 283815.470] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(11, "xdg_wm_base", 5)
[ 283815.475] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(12, "zwp_tablet_manager_v2", 1)
[ 283815.479] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(13, "org_kde_kwin_server_decoration_manager", 1)
[ 283815.483] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(14, "zxdg_decoration_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.490] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(15, "zwp_relative_pointer_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.495] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(16, "zwp_pointer_constraints_v1", 1)
[ 283815.501] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(17, "wp_presentation", 1)
[ 283815.505] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(18, "wp_alpha_modifier_v1", 1)
[ 283815.510] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(19, "zwlr_output_manager_v1", 4)
[ 283815.514] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(20, "zwlr_output_power_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.519] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(21, "zwp_input_method_manager_v2", 1)
[ 283815.525] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(22, "zwp_text_input_manager_v3", 1)
[ 283815.530] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(23, "ext_foreign_toplevel_list_v1", 1)
[ 283815.534] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(24, "zwlr_foreign_toplevel_manager_v1", 3)
[ 283815.538] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(25, "ext_session_lock_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.543] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(26, "wp_drm_lease_device_v1", 1)
[ 283815.549] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(27, "zwlr_export_dmabuf_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.553] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(28, "zwlr_screencopy_manager_v1", 3)
[ 283815.557] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(29, "zwlr_data_control_manager_v1", 2)
[ 283815.562] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(30, "wp_security_context_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.566] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(31, "wp_viewporter", 1)
[ 283815.571] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(32, "wp_single_pixel_buffer_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.575] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(33, "wp_content_type_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.579] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(34, "wp_fractional_scale_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.583] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(35, "wp_tearing_control_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.588] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(36, "zxdg_exporter_v1", 1)
[ 283815.591] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(37, "zxdg_importer_v1", 1)
[ 283815.594] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(38, "zxdg_exporter_v2", 1)
[ 283815.599] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(39, "zxdg_importer_v2", 1)
[ 283815.602] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(40, "xdg_activation_v1", 1)
[ 283815.606] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(41, "wp_cursor_shape_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.610] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(42, "zwp_virtual_keyboard_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.613] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(43, "zwlr_virtual_pointer_manager_v1", 2)
[ 283815.618] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(44, "zwp_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibit_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.622] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(45, "zwp_pointer_gestures_v1", 3)
[ 283815.626] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(46, "ext_transient_seat_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.630] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(47, "wl_seat", 9)
[ 283815.634] {Default Queue}  -> wl_registry#2.bind(47, "wl_seat", 2, new id [unknown]#5)
[ 283815.638] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(49, "zwp_primary_selection_device_manager_v1", 1)
[ 283815.642] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(50, "wl_output", 4)
[ 283815.646] {Default Queue} wl_callback#3.done(6095)
[ 283815.650] {Default Queue}  -> wl_display#1.sync(new id wl_callback#3)
[ 283815.689] {Display Queue} wl_display#1.delete_id(3)
[ 283815.693] {Default Queue} wl_seat#5.name("seat0")
[ 283815.696] {Default Queue} wl_seat#5.capabilities(3)
[ 283815.700] {Default Queue} wl_callback#3.done(6095)
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 459] Using session: /org/freedesktop/login1/session/_31
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 219] Got sleep lock: 12
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 601] Enable idle timeouts
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 583] Register with timeout: 30000
[ 283820.089] {Default Queue}  -> ext_idle_notifier_v1#4.get_idle_notification(new id ext_idle_notification_v1#3, 30000, wl_seat#5)
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 583] Register with timeout: 2000
[ 283820.107] {Default Queue}  -> ext_idle_notifier_v1#4.get_idle_notification(new id ext_idle_notification_v1#6, 2000, wl_seat#5)
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 583] Register with timeout: 15000
[ 283820.124] {Default Queue}  -> ext_idle_notifier_v1#4.get_idle_notification(new id ext_idle_notification_v1#7, 15000, wl_seat#5)
2025-09-09 21:11:06 - [Line 583] Register with timeout: 10000
[ 283820.140] {Default Queue}  -> ext_idle_notifier_v1#4.get_idle_notification(new id ext_idle_notification_v1#8, 10000, wl_seat#5)
[ 283820.146] {Default Queue}  -> wl_display#1.sync(new id wl_callback#9)
[ 283820.197] {Display Queue} wl_display#1.delete_id(9)
[ 283820.201] {Default Queue} wl_callback#9.done(6095)

[kennylevinsen]

Inhibitors are not something you configure normally (although see man 5 sway, look for "inhibit", for manual inhibitors), but is something that an application sets on its windows. When set, idle will not trigger as long as the window is visible. This is meant for active video players where you're going to watch without using keyboard and mouse for example.

The sway debug log, not swayidle, would mention active inhibitors. swayidle has no part in this, as it's just waiting for sway to tell it when its idle timeouts expire.

[tramtrist]

I am also having this issue with swayidle 1.7.1 and sway 1.11
I have no inhibitors enabled and swayidle is reporting
[Line 1074] Display doesn't support idle protocol for every run

[kennylevinsen]

I am also having this issue with swayidle 1.7.1 and sway 1.11 I have no inhibitors enabled and swayidle is reporting [Line 1074] Display doesn't support idle protocol for every run

Your issue is unrelated. That error line is fatal, with swayidle immediately exiting. It is caused by running an outdated version of swayidle only supporting an old KDE idle protocol, together with a new version of sway that only supports the new standardized protocol.

[tramtrist]

Thank you Kenny. Apologize for the confusion 🙇‍♂️