# Ubuntu 21.04 (and up) VNC access to a locked session


> 
**The problem**: since Ubuntu 21.04 you can use VNC connection ONLY with an ongoing session (it is a pure screen sharing feature now) and you'll not be able to connect to a locked computer.

Ubuntu 21.04 uses Wayland instead of x11 by default, but there are still no completely compatible VNC servers.

There is only a way to connect to the currently active session with `gnome-remote-desktop` (installed by default now instead of vino), but not to a locked session.

Note that `Settings/Sharing` settings configure now `gnome-remote-desktop` instead of vino!

To be able to login to locked session you'll need to restore vino. First remove `gnome-remote-desktop` (because even if we install vino, the system would still use gnome-remote-desktop):

```
sudo apt remove gnome-remote-desktop
```

(after removing, screen sharing settings would disappear - that's normal!)

Install vino:

```
sudo apt install vino
```

But vino wouldn't start automatically so we need to manually add it to autostart:

```
cd ~/.config/autostart/
vim vino-server.desktop
```

autostart directory may not exist, in this case, create it first:

```
mkdir ~/.config/autostart/
```


With the following content:

```
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Exec=/usr/lib/vino/vino-server
Hidden=false
X-MATE-Autostart-enabled=true
Name[ru]=Vino Server
Name=Vino Server
Comment[ru]=
Comment=
```

NOTE: the same configuration could be performed through UI: run `Startup applications` tool and add a new record there.

With this entry, vino server would start on the first login, so when you lock the session you would still be able to connect. But you'll **not** be able to connect after the computer restart (first manual login is required).


After that configure vino:

```
gsettings set org.gnome.Vino prompt-enabled false 
gsettings set org.gnome.Vino vnc-password $(echo -n "mypassword"|base64)
``` 

This should be enough, but make sure that you have all the following:

```
dconf dump /org/gnome/desktop/remote-access/
[/]
authentication-methods=['vnc']
lock-screen-on-disconnect=true
prompt-enabled=false
require-encryption=false
vnc-password='yourpasswordhex'
```

Note that `lock-screen-on-disconnect` is optional: without it, you'll have to manually lock the computer before disconnection (otherwise it would remain unlocked).

To simplify configuration you can use `dconf-editor`: install it from `Ubuntu software`. Open dconf-editor and go to `org/gnome/desktop/remote-access/`. 


![Screenshot from 2021-12-24 16-55-09.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1640339748030/rWq55pUr0.png)

NOTE: To change password value you'll need to click on `vnc-password` (last option) and make sure `use-default-value` is disabled. The `custom value` must contain the hex form of your password. To verify password hex use:

```
echo -n "yourpassword"|base64
```

Now restart, **but don't log in**!

Vino can't work with wayland and so you'll need to switch session back to x11: on the login screen at the bottom right corner, there is a switcher to use x11 instead of Wayland. Set "Ubuntu on xorg" and log in (the setting should be remembered so next time you'll log in again with x11 - no need to switch every time). 

Now lock (not log out!) computer and try connecting with a vnc client (for example, using [remmina](https://remmina.org/) on linux and [mobaXterm](https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/) on windows).