Customize KDE Lock Screen: Themes, Layout & More

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

You can customize the KDE Plasma lock screen by changing its wallpaper, clock format, font, and the overall theme, all through the System Settings app. The lock screen uses the same Plasma theme as the desktop, but its wallpaper and some layout options are configured separately. Below is a complete guide to every customization option, where to find it, and how to troubleshoot common issues.

Where the Lock Screen Settings Live

In KDE Plasma 5 and Plasma 6, all lock screen settings are in System Settings. Open the application launcher (usually the “Kickoff” menu) and type “Lock Screen” or navigate to System Settings → Workspace Behavior → Lock Screen. This page has three main sections: Wallpaper, Layout, and Actions. The wallpaper section lets you pick an image, a slideshow, or a color. The layout section controls what appears on the screen (clock, date, battery status) and how it is arranged. The actions section sets what happens when you close the lid or after a period of inactivity.

Changing the Lock Screen Wallpaper

The lock screen wallpaper is independent from the desktop wallpaper. To change it:

Go to System Settings → Workspace Behavior → Lock Screen.
Click the Wallpaper tab (or the preview image).
Choose a source: Image, Slideshow, or Color.
For an image, click Open and select a file from your computer. You can also drag and drop an image onto the preview.
For a slideshow, add multiple images and set the interval (e.g., every 10 minutes).
For a solid color, use the color picker or type a hex code.

Note: if you want the lock screen to match your desktop wallpaper, you can check the box that says “Use the same wallpaper as the desktop” (this option appears in some Plasma versions). Otherwise, the lock screen uses its own wallpaper setting.

Adjusting the Clock and Date Format

The lock screen shows a large clock and date by default. You can change its format (12-hour vs 24-hour) and whether it shows seconds. This is controlled by the system-wide clock settings, not the lock screen itself:

Go to System Settings → Clock (or Date & Time in Plasma 6).
Under Time format, choose between 12-hour and 24-hour.
Toggle Show seconds if you want the lock screen clock to include seconds.
You can also set the date format (e.g., “Mon 1 Jan 2025”) and the first day of the week.

The lock screen font size is not directly adjustable, but it follows the system font. To change the system font, go to System Settings → Fonts and adjust the General font size. This will affect the lock screen clock as well.

Choosing the Lock Screen Layout (Plasma 5 vs Plasma 6)

In Plasma 5, the lock screen layout is fixed: a clock at the top center, a password field at the bottom center, and a small user avatar. You cannot move these elements. In Plasma 6, the layout is also fixed, but you can toggle which elements are visible:

Show user avatar – displays the user’s profile picture.
Show clock – displays the time and date.
Show battery status – displays a battery icon if on a laptop.
Show virtual keyboard – shows an on-screen keyboard icon for touchscreens.

These toggles are in the Layout tab of the Lock Screen settings. If you want a completely different layout (e.g., a clock at the bottom), you would need to install a third-party lock screen theme, which is not officially supported but is possible by editing configuration files.

Customizing the Theme and Fonts

The lock screen uses the same Plasma theme as the desktop (the widget style, window decorations, and colors). To change the overall look:

Go to System Settings → Global Theme.
Choose a global theme (e.g., Breeze, Breeze Dark, or a community theme).
Click Apply. This changes the lock screen’s background, button style, and text colors.

If you only want to change the lock screen’s color scheme (e.g., dark text on light background), you can override the theme’s colors under System Settings → Colors. However, this affects the entire desktop, not just the lock screen. There is no per-lock-screen color scheme setting.

What to Do If the Lock Screen Doesn’t Change

Sometimes the lock screen wallpaper or theme doesn’t update immediately. Try these fixes:

Lock and unlock – press Super+L (Windows key + L) to lock, then unlock to see the change.
Restart plasmashell – open a terminal and run plasmashell --replace (this restarts the desktop shell, which also restarts the lock screen).
Check for multiple screens – if you have multiple monitors, each may have its own wallpaper. The lock screen wallpaper is set per-screen, so you may need to set it on each monitor.
Clear the cache – delete ~/.cache/plasma-svgelements-* and ~/.cache/plasmashell (log out first).
Update Plasma – some bugs are fixed in newer versions. Check your distribution’s update manager.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Many users think the lock screen and the login screen (SDDM) are the same. They are not. The login screen appears when you first boot the computer and shows the user list. The lock screen appears when you lock the session (after inactivity or manual lock). They are configured separately. To customize the login screen, you need to edit SDDM settings (usually in /etc/sddm.conf or via System Settings → Startup and Shutdown → Login Screen in some distributions). Another common mistake is expecting the lock screen wallpaper to follow the desktop wallpaper automatically – that only happens if you explicitly enable the option mentioned earlier. Also, changing the wallpaper in the lock screen settings does not affect the desktop wallpaper, and vice versa.

Advanced: Editing Configuration Files

If you want finer control, you can edit the lock screen configuration file directly. The main configuration is stored in ~/.config/kscreenlockerrc. You can open it in a text editor and change values like WallpaperPlugin or ClockVisible. For example:

 [General]
 WallpaperPlugin=org.kde.image
 ClockVisible=true
 BatteryVisible=true

After editing, save the file and restart plasmashell. Be careful – a syntax error can break the lock screen. It’s safer to use the GUI for most changes. For more advanced customization (like moving the clock), you would need to create a custom QML theme, which is beyond the scope of this article.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make the lock screen use the same wallpaper as my desktop?

In the Lock Screen settings, under the Wallpaper tab, check the option “Use the same wallpaper as the desktop”. If you don’t see that option, your Plasma version may not support it; you can manually set the same image on both the desktop and the lock screen.

Can I change the lock screen clock to a 12-hour format?

Yes. Go to System Settings → Clock and choose the 12-hour format. This affects the lock screen clock as well as the system tray clock. If you want only the lock screen to use 12-hour, there is no per-screen setting; you would need to edit the QML theme.

Why is my lock screen showing the wrong time?

The lock screen uses the system time zone. Check System Settings → Date & Time and ensure the time zone and automatic time sync are correct. If the time is still wrong, the system clock may be out of sync; run sudo systemctl restart systemd-timesyncd or update your time daemon.

Can I remove the password box from the lock screen?

No, the password field is required for security. You can set up automatic login, but then the lock screen won’t appear after boot. For locking the screen, you must enter your password (or use a fingerprint if configured).

Does changing the lock screen theme affect the login screen?

No. The lock screen and the login screen (SDDM) are separate. To change the login screen theme, you need to modify SDDM settings, which is a different process.

How do I make the lock screen appear after a certain time of inactivity?

Go to System Settings → Power Management (or Energy Saving) and set the Screen Energy Saving time. You can also set the lock screen to appear when the screen blanks. In the Lock Screen settings, under Actions, check “Lock screen automatically” and choose a delay.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.