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Questions tagged [lightdm]

LightDM (Lightweight Display Manager) is a Display Manager for the X.org X server. It is the default X display manager of Ubuntu. LightDM starts an X session and presents the user with a graphical login screen, so the user does not have to issue commands such as `startx` to start the X server

LightDM is the default X display manager of Ubuntu. It starts the X server, user sessions and greeter (graphical login screen).

Key Features of LightDM:

  • Cross-desktop - supports different desktop technologies.
  • Supports different display technologies (X, Mir, ...).
  • Lightweight - low memory usage and fast performance.
  • Low code complexity
  • Supports remote login (incoming - XDMCP, VNC, outgoing - XDMCP, pluggable).
  • Easily themeable
  • Support for 3D
  • Offers guest sessions.

To understand more about LightDM and its role in the Ubuntu login process you may refer to this answer.

For more information on LightDM visit:

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Ubuntu gets stuck in a login loop

My Ubuntu is stuck in a login loop when trying to enter my desktop. When I login, the screen gets black and soon after that the login screen comes back. I've read that the problem might be caused by an error depending on the graphics, here's my…
Calvin Wahlers
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How to fix "The system is running in low-graphics mode" error?

Note: This is an attempt to create a canonical question that covers all instances of "low-graphics mode" error that occurs to a user, including but not limited to installation of wrong drivers, incorrect or invalid lightdm greeters, low disk space,…
jokerdino
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How do I disable the guest session?

How do I disable the guest session in Ubuntu 11.10 or higher? I don't want people to be able to use my computer without using a password to log in!
Jeremy Bicha
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How do I hide a particular user from the login screen?

How do I hide a particular user from the login screen on a default install of 11.10 and higher? (ie. using Unity Greeter)?
detly
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How do I disable the drum beat sound on the login screen?

I would have expected System ▸ Administration ▸ Login Screen ▸ Play login sound to control this, but unchecking it does not prevent the drum beat sound from playing.
ændrük
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What's the difference between GDM and LightDM?

What is the difference between GDM and LightDM? How can one switch between them. I mean if I have selected LightDM during installation process, will I be able switch to GDM?
user7044
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How do I enable auto-login in LightDM?

I want user foo to auto-login using LightDM (which has been used by Ubuntu since version 11.10). How would I do that?
htorque
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How do I change the default session for when using auto-logins?

When autologon is active, lightdm will start the Unity 3D session, not the 2D (or any other shell that I want to auto-login to). Is there a way to start the shell I want automatically (autologon)? Anyway, if autologon is disabled, the last used…
c0de
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What is the relationship between Unity, Gnome, Gnome 3, Compiz, Metacity, and LightDM?

I am learning about Graphical User Interfaces in Ubuntu and constantly come across different terms, which cause a lot of confusion for me. I have tried reading easy-to-understand tutorials about the relationship between the named packages, but I…
jII
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How do I switch from LightDM to GDM?

How do I switch from the default display manager (Lightdm) to the older display manager (GDM)?
Ron Belcher
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How can I make xrandr customization permanent?

I used to edit the startup script for the GDM (/etc/gdm/Init/Default) to permanently change my display resolution. How can I do this with LigthDM in Ubuntu Oneiric?
Edocastillo
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How to change the LightDM theme/greeter?

I downloaded a couple greeters for LightDM, but I have not figured out how to enable them. Is there a way to switch greeter, either by graphical or command-line method?. I do not intend to change display manager, nor the background, but to change…
Tigull
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How does one exit the X server?

The command sudo service gdm stop would successfully disable the X server in Ubuntu 11.04 temporarily. However, this same command no longer works in Ubuntu 11.10, because "gdm" is an "unrecognized service" according to Terminal. How, then, do I…
user26945
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What happens under the covers to log me in and start up Unity or another Graphical User Interface?

When there's trouble, it might be good to understand what happens under the covers to sign a user into a GUI session and get a Unity (or other window manager) to bring up a desktop.
John S Gruber
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Is gdm3 preferred to lightdm?

I have hard a hard time finding good information on the performance difference between display managers on Ubuntu (specifically between lightdm and gdm3). With Ubuntu switching to Gnome, I would assume that it would also be recommended to switch…
Startec
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