loginctl

Overview

loginctl manages systemd-logind seats, sessions, and users: who is logged in, idle hints, kill sessions, and lingering (keep user services running after logout). Essential for systemd user instances and multi-seat systems.

Syntax

loginctl [options] command [args...]

Common Commands

Command	Description
list-sessions	Active sessions
session-status ID	Detail
user-status USER	User’s sessions / linger
list-users	Users with sessions
enable-linger / disable-linger	User services without login
terminate-session / kill-session	End session
lock-session	Lock session (where a lock agent exists)
show-session	Low-level properties

Examples with Explanations

Who is logged in

loginctl list-sessions
loginctl list-users
who

Session details

loginctl session-status
loginctl show-session "$XDG_SESSION_ID" -p Remote -p Type -p State

Enable lingering for user services

loginctl enable-linger "$USER"
# or for another account:
sudo loginctl enable-linger deploy
systemctl --user status

Required for rootless Podman/user timers to survive logout.

Terminate a stale session

loginctl list-sessions
sudo loginctl terminate-session 42

Notes & Pitfalls

• Killing sessions drops that session’s processes (including SSH shells attached to it).
  
• Linger creates /var/lib/systemd/linger/USER.
  
• In containers, logind may be absent.

Related Commands

• systemctl --user
  
• who / w / last
  
• machinectl

Additional Resources

• man loginctl
  
• man logind.conf