#1110705 debian-live: No password set for live user but screen lock requires one

Package:
debian-live
Source:
debian-live
Submitter:
Mikko Parviainen
Date:
2025-08-10 14:27:02 UTC
Severity:
normal
Tags:
#1110705#5
Date:
2025-08-10 09:19:44 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Maintainer,

I booted the debian bookworm live system from an USB disk. I did some things
with it, and left it alone for a while. When I came back some time later,
the screen had been locked and the system asked for the password to unlock it.

However, the live system does not set a password for the default user. There
was no way to unlock the screen that I could figure out. Virtual consoles
do not help as logging in them again requires the password.

I have at least two ways to get around this problem, but I think this should
be fixed. For these workarounds, they need to be done after starting the
live image but before the screen becomes locked.

The first workaround: use `passwd` to set a password for the default user.
In this way there is now a known password which can be used.

The second workaround: disable the screen lock from the configuration.
In this way the screen is never locked.

My expectation is that I can boot the live image and then use it without
worrying if it becomes permamently locked.

*** Reporter, please consider answering these questions, where appropriate ***

   * What led up to the situation?
   * What exactly did you do (or not do) that was effective (or
     ineffective)?
   * What was the outcome of this action?
   * What outcome did you expect instead?

*** End of the template - remove these template lines ***

#1110705#10
Date:
2025-08-10 13:28:35 UTC
From:
To:
The default password is 'live' and it's documented.
#1110705#15
Date:
2025-08-10 13:50:40 UTC
From:
To:
See also #1028369, #1080202, #995364

During DebConf another possible solution was presented:
https://lists.debian.org/debian-live/2025/07/msg00005.html
-> systemd-inhibit might help in preventing this issue.

With kind regards,
Roland Clobus

#1110705#18
Date:
2025-08-10 13:50:40 UTC
From:
To:
See also #1028369, #1080202, #995364

During DebConf another possible solution was presented:
https://lists.debian.org/debian-live/2025/07/msg00005.html
-> systemd-inhibit might help in preventing this issue.

With kind regards,
Roland Clobus

#1110705#23
Date:
2025-08-10 14:17:14 UTC
From:
To:
Related information:
https://wiki.debian.org/Root#Debian_Live_CD_root_password
https://wiki.debian.org/DebianLive/TODO

As of Debian 12 (bookworm) default user account is created with name
"user" and this with password "live".