> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.otter-shell.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# otter-idle

> Idle timeouts, DPMS control, and systemd-logind sleep hooks.

`otter-idle` watches for inactivity and runs configured commands, usually `loginctl lock-session` or display power-off. It hooks into systemd-logind for sleep and screen saver inhibition.

## Usage

```bash theme={null}
otter-idle
```

Autostart at login: see [Session setup](/desktop/session-setup).

## Configuration

Config file: `~/.config/otter-shell/otter-idle.conf`

```conf theme={null}
lock_cmd = pidof otter-lock || otter-lock
unlock_cmd =

before_sleep_cmd = loginctl lock-session
after_sleep_cmd = dpms:on

ignore_dbus_inhibit = false
ignore_systemd_inhibit = false

# Lock after 5 minutes idle
listener_1_timeout = 300
listener_1_on_timeout = loginctl lock-session
listener_1_on_resume =

# DPMS off after 6 minutes, on when active
listener_2_timeout = 360
listener_2_on_timeout = dpms:off
listener_2_on_resume = dpms:on
```

Up to 8 listeners (`listener_1` through `listener_8`). Each has:

| Field        | Description                                              |
| ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| `timeout`    | Idle seconds before firing (0 = disabled)                |
| `on_timeout` | Command when user becomes idle                           |
| `on_resume`  | Command when activity resumes (only if `on_timeout` ran) |

### Built-in DPMS commands

| Command        | Effect            |
| -------------- | ----------------- |
| `dpms:off`     | Turn displays off |
| `dpms:on`      | Turn displays on  |
| `dpms:standby` | Standby mode      |
| `dpms:suspend` | Suspend mode      |

Any other value runs as a shell command via `/bin/sh -c`.

DPMS backend selection:

1. `wlr-output-power-management-unstable-v1` (preferred)
2. Compositor IPC fallback (Hyprland, Sway, Niri detected from `$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP`)

## Inhibitor handling

Three layers can block idle actions:

1. **Wayland-native** (`zwp_idle_inhibit_manager_v1`): handled by compositor
2. **D-Bus** (`org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver`): tracked by otter-idle (video players, etc.)
3. **systemd** (`loginctl inhibit`): checked via logind ListInhibitors

Set `ignore_dbus_inhibit = true` or `ignore_systemd_inhibit = true` to skip those checks.

## Logind integration

Responds to logind `Lock`, `Unlock`, and `PrepareForSleep` signals. Default `lock_cmd` keeps [otter-lock](/desktop/otter-lock) available when a lock is requested.