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    A New Chapter for MagicMirror: The Community Takes the Lead
    Read the statement by Michael Teeuw here.

    My MagicMirror screen keeps turning off

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Solved Troubleshooting
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    • S Do not disturb
      sdetweil @evroom
      last edited by

      @evroom not for screen stuff yet

      Sam

      How to add modules

      learning how to use browser developers window for css changes

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      • E Offline
        EhsanMomeni81 @evroom
        last edited by

        @evroom
        Sorry, but Debian buster and Debian stretch?

        I have a cronjob to turn off the screen at 11 pm until 6 am, which works, but other than that I want the screen to be on. Is it possible to change 900 to 61 200 (17 h) instead?

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        • evroomE Offline
          evroom
          last edited by evroom

          @EhsanMomeni81 said in My MagicMirror screen keeps turning off:

          Sorry, but Debian buster and Debian stretch?

          I guess you downloaded and installed an image with Debian, like from
          https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/
          Debian Buster is the latest Debian version.

          With lsb_release -ayou can find out which version you have.

          If your cronjob works for turning on / off the screen, then I guess you do not need to use the @xset parameters to turn off the screen.

          This is what I currently have:

          For Debain Stretch (screen always on):

          $ cat /home/pi/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart
          @lxpanel --profile LXDE-pi
          @pcmanfm --desktop --profile LXDE-pi
          @xscreensaver -no-splash
          @point-rpi
          @unclutter -display :0 -idle 3 -root -noevents
          @xset s noblank
          @xset s off
          @xset -dpms
          

          For Debian Buster (screen off after 900 seconds):

          $ cat /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart
          @lxpanel --profile LXDE-pi
          @pcmanfm --desktop --profile LXDE-pi
          @xscreensaver -no-splash
          point-rpi
          @xset s 900
          @xset s blank
          @xset -dpms
          

          Not sure what the other entries do, I just appended the @xset lines to the existing entries.
          Will try what happens when I remove them a bit later.

          MagicMirror version: 2.33.0
          Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.5 (8 GB RAM)
          Raspbian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

          Test environment:
          MagicMirror version: v2.33.0
          Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Plus Rev 1.3 (1 GB RAM)
          Raspbian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

          evroomE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • evroomE Offline
            evroom @evroom
            last edited by evroom

            @evroom said in My MagicMirror screen keeps turning off:

            Not sure what the other entries do

            To answer myself.

            lxpanel        0.10.0-2+rpt4 armhf        LXDE panel
            pcmanfm        1.3.1-1+rpt7 armhf        extremely fast and lightweight file manager
            point-rpi      0.20160905   armhf        Locate the mouse pointer over the menu button
            xscreensaver - not installed
            

            Using Debian Buster and a RPI 7 inch display, these settings should work for ‘screen always on’:

            @point-rpi          # locate the mouse pointer over the menu button
            @xset s off         # don't activate screensaver
            @xset -dpms         # disable DPMS (Energy Star) features.
            @xset s noblank     # don't blank the video device
            

            I left @point-rpias it sounds useful somehow; for screensaver settings not needed though.
            Will test it now.

            MagicMirror version: 2.33.0
            Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.5 (8 GB RAM)
            Raspbian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

            Test environment:
            MagicMirror version: v2.33.0
            Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Plus Rev 1.3 (1 GB RAM)
            Raspbian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

            evroomE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • evroomE Offline
              evroom @evroom
              last edited by

              @evroom

              Talking to myself :-)

              The settings for Buster are not working.
              My display goes to sleep after 10 minutes.
              Perhaps because it isn’t a HDMI connected monitor.

              I found 2 interesting files though:

              pi@raspberrypi:~ $ ls -als /home/pi/.xsession-errors
              4 -rw------- 1 pi pi 2426 Aug  1 12:30 /home/pi/.xsession-errors
              pi@raspberrypi:~ $ ls -als /home/pi/.cache/lxsession/LXDE-pi/run.log
              20 -rw------- 1 pi pi 17988 Aug  1 12:30 /home/pi/.cache/lxsession/LXDE-pi/run.log
              

              Also see that this file is being used, so that seems right:

              /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart
              

              MagicMirror version: 2.33.0
              Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.5 (8 GB RAM)
              Raspbian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

              Test environment:
              MagicMirror version: v2.33.0
              Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Plus Rev 1.3 (1 GB RAM)
              Raspbian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

              evroomE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • evroomE Offline
                evroom @evroom
                last edited by

                @evroom

                This works (running for 100 minutes at the moment of posting):

                $ sudo nano /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart
                @touch /home/pi/.started_etc_xdg_lxsession_LXDE-pi_autostart
                @point-rpi
                @xset -dpms
                @xset s off
                @xset s noblank
                

                Note: the autostart file does not like comments.

                Reboot:

                $ sudo reboot
                

                After reboot is finished, check:

                $ ls -als /home/pi/.started_etc_xdg_lxsession_LXDE-pi_autostart
                

                That will tell if the autostart file was used (timestamp should match reboot time).
                Then check for set errors:

                $ grep xset /home/pi/.cache/lxsession/LXDE-pi/run.log
                

                It should say 3 times Launching xset, with 3 times exit 0 (for every set entry in the autostart file).

                Works for Raspberry Pi 7" Touchscreen Display.

                $ lsb_release -a
                No LSB modules are available.
                Distributor ID:	Raspbian
                Description:	Raspbian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
                Release:	10
                Codename:	buster
                

                MagicMirror version: 2.33.0
                Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.5 (8 GB RAM)
                Raspbian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

                Test environment:
                MagicMirror version: v2.33.0
                Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Plus Rev 1.3 (1 GB RAM)
                Raspbian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

                E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • E Offline
                  EhsanMomeni81
                  last edited by

                  @evroom said in My MagicMirror screen keeps turning off:

                  sleep after 10 minutes.
                  Perhaps because it isn’t a HDMI connected monitor.
                  I found 2 interesting files though:

                  Wow, that’s a lot to take in. Thank you so much for your help, I’m going to try this during the week.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • E Offline
                    EhsanMomeni81 @evroom
                    last edited by

                    @evroom said in My MagicMirror screen keeps turning off:

                    @evroom

                    This works (running for 100 minutes at the moment of posting):

                    $ sudo nano /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart
                    @touch /home/pi/.started_etc_xdg_lxsession_LXDE-pi_autostart
                    @point-rpi
                    @xset -dpms
                    @xset s off
                    @xset s noblank
                    

                    I tried the code above, and it works on stretch, I screen doesn’t turn off. But my cronjob acts funny. Last night when I look at it after it was supposed to be turned off, the backlight was on but everything else was dark. Don’t really know whats going on, but I’ll take a new look tonight.

                    E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • E Offline
                      EhsanMomeni81 @EhsanMomeni81
                      last edited by

                      @evroom I’m stuck :(
                      I tried the code above, and it works, the screen doesn’t turn off, but now I can’t see the desktop, it’s black when I minimize the MM-window, and I can’t connect to my MM via VNC which I could before and that’s how I changed in the first place.

                      evroomE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • evroomE Offline
                        evroom @EhsanMomeni81
                        last edited by evroom

                        @EhsanMomeni81

                        Is here something useful ?
                        https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/1801/get-back-to-desktop
                        https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/5619/how-to-find-and-use-key-commands-in-mm-for-absolute-beginners

                        I personally only use VNC to “look” at the screen remotely and never use the Pi for anything else then displaying MM.
                        Not interested in the desktop.
                        I always login to the Pi using a ssh client, like for example PuTTY, or on my Mac the iTerm2.

                        If you use Windows, then I would recommend PuTTY.
                        It is small and simple.

                        MagicMirror version: 2.33.0
                        Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.5 (8 GB RAM)
                        Raspbian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

                        Test environment:
                        MagicMirror version: v2.33.0
                        Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Plus Rev 1.3 (1 GB RAM)
                        Raspbian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

                        E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • E Offline
                          EhsanMomeni81 @evroom
                          last edited by

                          @evroom
                          Thanks ever so much. I googled and found something that worked. Now everything is running as it should. Still have problems with VNC, but I installed TeamViewer, but I’m going to give ssh a shot soon. Thank you again

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                          • T Offline
                            TvE
                            last edited by

                            So I have also been searching a lot for an answer to this question and been wondering why it have been so difficult to find a CLI based solution to this task.

                            I am using the “Raspberry Pi Imager” tool (on Window$) to prepare a USB stick (or SD card) and hereafter configure everything via SSH.

                            I know I could just use RDP or VNC to access and thus make this change via a GUI. But that’s to annoying, hence my need for a CLI based solution

                            Finally I found it in this thread (thank you @evroom !)

                            So this is just to help others with the same search that this [1] still works on the current latest RPI OS bullseye:

                            pi@magicmirror:~ $ lsb_release -a
                            No LSB modules are available.
                            Distributor ID: Raspbian
                            Description:    Raspbian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)
                            Release:        11
                            Codename:       bullseye
                            

                            Without this [1] change the screen goes black after 600s (10m)
                            Which can also be identified by the “timeout value” returned by this command.

                            pi@magicmirror:~ $ DISPLAY=:0 xset q
                            ...
                            Screen Saver:
                              prefer blanking:  yes    allow exposures:  yes
                              timeout:  600    cycle:  600
                            ...
                            

                            After fixing it the value gets set to ‘0’
                            Right now I still see the screen after 16m (and counting…)

                            How to
                            The config change can be applied in many ways (vi, nano etc) but I prefer this method (as it can be copy-pasted or be made part of a config-script).

                            [1] I “just” add the three required lines to the config file:

                            printf "@xset -dpms\n@xset s off\n@xset s noblank" | sudo tee -a /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart
                            

                            PS.: Before I found this I also tried these solutions (which all failed to solve the problem

                            A. in /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf:
                            xserver-command=X -s 0 dpms
                            
                            B. Enable VNC as a workaround for mutter
                            

                            I found (but did not try)

                            C. install xscreensaver and configure it to not kick in
                            

                            HTH (my first post here :-)

                            S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • S Do not disturb
                              sdetweil @TvE
                              last edited by

                              @tve I wonder if my screensaver-off script would have done it.

                              see
                              https://github.com/sdetweil/MagicMirror_scripts

                              down at the bottom of the page

                              this is part of the install too, but the script is added in case u change your mind or need help. it checks 4 or 5 ways screensaver is done

                              Sam

                              How to add modules

                              learning how to use browser developers window for css changes

                              T 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • T Offline
                                TvE @sdetweil
                                last edited by TvE

                                @sdetweil It most likely would!

                                My one -file-only-edit solution have the added bonus that I know exactly what needed to be changed thus not relying on a 100+ line script.

                                I see that you are so kind to log what the script is doing, so you don’t leave the user in the dark (pun intended :-) ) I like that design!

                                I should have read your script earlier though (I read through the looong ticket regarding making the installer scripts external to MM2 and remember many of your posts!)

                                Actually, while browsing the MM repo I also stumbled across the exact same solution
                                https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/wiki/Configuring-the-Raspberry-Pi#disabling-the-screensaver

                                Why either of those were never returned to my by google-foo I can only wonder about

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