Hyprland Getting-Started: Configure Screen Lock, Brightness, Volume, Authentication and More

You can find the bash scripts and configurations at https://github.com/FlareXes/dotfiles. New scripts are regularly added, and existing ones are kept up to date. Feel free to explore the repository. If you have any questions, I'm here to help!

Screen Lock

Install hyprlock

sudo pacman -S hyprlock

Edit hyprland.conf under ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf, to lock screen on super + l.

# Mute and lock the system
bind = $mainMod, L, exec, pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ 1 && hyprlock

You can learn more about hyprlock configuration at Hyprland Wiki.

Screen Lock on Timeout

Install hypridle

sudo pacman -S hypridle

Create hypridle.conf under ~/.config/hypr/hypridle.conf, to configure idle state.

general {
    lock_cmd = pidof hyprlock || hyprlock
    before_sleep_cmd = loginctl lock-session    # lock before suspend
    after_sleep_cmd = hyprctl dispatch dpms on
}

# Lock the screen (10 min)
listener {
    timeout = 600
    on-timeout = loginctl lock-session
}

# Turn off screen (15 min)
listener {
    timeout = 900
    on-timeout = hyprctl dispatch dpms off
    on-resume = hyprctl dispatch dpms on
}

# Suspend the system (30 min)
listener {
    timeout = 1800
    on-timeout = systemctl suspend
}

• lock_cmd: only execute hyprlock if not running, to avoid multiple instance of hyprlock.

• Lock screen after 10 minutes without turning off the screen.

• Turn off the screen after 15 minutes and turn on when activity is detected.

• Suspend the system after 30 minutes to save power.

Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf to autostart hypridle once user login.

exec-once = hypridle

You can learn more about hypridle configuration at Hyprland Wiki.

Brightness Adjustment

Install

• brightnessctl for brightness adjustments, required.

sudo pacman -S bc brightnessctl

Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf to control brightness via keyboard function keys.

bind = , code:232, exec, brightnessctl set 5%-
bind = , code:233, exec, brightnessctl set +5%

Volume Adjustment

Install

• playerctl media player controller for wide range of application. Here, required to pause audio/video.

Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf to control volume levels via keyboard function keys.

bindl = , XF86AudioPlay, exec, playerctl play-pause                                         # Pause audio/video
bindl = , XF86AudioMute, exec, wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ toggle                   # Mute audio
bindel = , XF86AudioLowerVolume, exec, wpctl set-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 10%-           # Decrease volume
bindel = , XF86AudioRaiseVolume, exec, wpctl set-volume -l 1.5 @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 10%+    # Increase volume upto 150

Take Screenshots

For screenshots I use my own script Hyprshot available on GitHub.

Install

• slurp to select a region for screenshot.

• grim a screenshot utility for Wayland.

• satty to edit/annotate screenshots.

• wl-clipboard to copy to clipboard.

sudo pacman -S slurp grim satty wl-clipboard

Create hyprshot.sh script under ~/.local/bin/hyprshot.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail
#
# Notes:
#   - Press Esc to cancel selection.
#   - Output directory is fixed at: ~/Pictures/Screenshots 

SCREENSHOT_DIR="$HOME/Pictures/Screenshots"
DATE_FMT="%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S"
FILE_PREFIX="screenshot"
OUTFILE="\(SCREENSHOT_DIR/\){FILE_PREFIX}-\((date +"\)DATE_FMT").png"

# Checking and installing dependencies
dependencies=("slurp" "grim" "satty" "wl-copy")
for dep in "${dependencies[@]}"; do
    command -v "\(dep" &> /dev/null || { echo "\)dep not found, please install it."; exit 1; }
done

# Ensure screenshot directory exists
mkdir -p "$SCREENSHOT_DIR"

# Kill slurp if already running
pkill -x slurp && exit 0

# Capture screenshot
screenshot="$(slurp || true)"

# Cancel if user esc
[ -z "$screenshot" ] && exit 0

# Take screenshot -> open in satty -> save file + copy to clipboard
grim -g "$screenshot" - | satty --filename - \
    --output-filename "$OUTFILE" \
    --early-exit \
    --actions-on-enter save-to-clipboard \
    --copy-command 'wl-copy'

Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf to add keybinding to take screenshot on super + s.

bind = $mainMod, S, exec, ~/.local/bin/hyprshot.sh

You can also visit my GitHub to get the up-to date copy of hyprshot.

Change Wallpaper from Command-line

Install

• swww to change wallpaper.

sudo pacman -S swww

Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf to autostart swww-daemon once user login.

exec-once = swww-daemon

To change wallpaper run:

swww img <wallpaper_file.png>

To change wallpaper with smooth transition run:

swww img --transition-type random --transition-fps 60 <wallpaper_file.png>

Color Picker

Install

• hyprpicker, color picker

• wl-clipboard to copy hex code to clipboard.

Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf to add keybinding to launch color picker on super + p.

bind = $mainMod, P, exec, hyprpicker --autocopy

That’s it.

Script to color picker in hex, rgb, hsl, hsv, cmyk format with selection/dmenu mode.

Save it under ~/.local/bin/ as hyprpicker.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash

# Available formats
FORMATS="hex\nrgb\nhsl\nhsv\ncmyk"

# Show wofi menu
FORMAT=\((echo -e "\)FORMATS" | rofi -dmenu -p "Format")

# Exit if nothing selected
[ -z "$FORMAT" ] && exit 0

# Run hyprpicker with selected format
hyprpicker -a -f "$FORMAT"

Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf to add keybinding to launch color picker on super + shift + p.

bind = $mainMod SHIFT, P, exec, bash ~/.local/bin/hyprpicker.sh

Quick and Easy

Screen Sharing

sudo pacman -S xdg-desktop-portal-hyprland

Turn Off Laptop Display on Lid Close

Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf.

bindl = , switch:on:Lid Switch, exec, hyprctl dispatch dpms off
bindl = , switch:off:Lid Switch, exec, hyprctl dispatch dpms on

GUI Authentication

polkit-gnome is a polkit authentication daemon. It is required for GUI applications to request elevated privileges.

sudo pacman -S polkit-gnome

Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf to autostart polkit-gnome once user login.

exec-once = /usr/lib/polkit-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1

Further Reading

• Fix Missing Directories & External Drives in Thunar File Manager on Hyprland