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Troubleshoot

Last Update преди година

Linux Screenshot Issue: Switch from Wayland to Xorg

Linux Screenshot Issue: Switch from Wayland to Xorg

Trackpilots

Last Update преди година

Issue: On some Linux systems, Trackpilots may fail to capture screenshots due to limitations of the Wayland display server. This issue is especially common in modern distributions like Ubuntu 22.04+ and Fedora.

Why Does This Happen?

Wayland enhances security by restricting access to system resources, including screen capturing. Unfortunately, this affects how Trackpilots functions—especially its automatic screenshot tracking.


Switching to Xorg (also known as X11), the older but more compatible display server, resolves the issue by allowing unrestricted screen capture for background apps like Trackpilots.

✅ Permanent Fix: Make Xorg the Default Display Server

Follow these steps to switch your system from Wayland to Xorg permanently.

🧰 Step-by-Step Instructions

🔧 Step 1: Edit the GDM Configuration File

You can use either nano or vim based on your preference.
📄 Option 1: Using nano (Beginner-Friendly)

1. Open the terminal:

2. Look for this line:

3. Remove the # to uncomment it:

4. If it doesn't exist, add it manually under the [daemon] section:

5. Save and exit:

  • Press Ctrl + O to save.
  • Press Enter to confirm.
  • Press Ctrl + X to exit.
📄 Option 2: Using vim (Advanced Users)

1. Open the terminal:

2.Press i to enter Insert mode.

3. Locate this line:

Remove the # so it becomes:
4. If the line doesn't exist, add it under the [daemon] section:

5. Press Esc, then type :wq and press Enter to save and quit.

🔁 Step 2: Reboot Your System

Apply the changes with a reboot:

✅ Step 3: Confirm the Session Type

After reboot, check if you're running on Xorg:

Expected output:

If it still shows wayland, double-check the changes in your config file.
🔄 Optional: Temporary Switch (One-Time Session)

To switch to Xorg without permanent changes:

  1. Log out of your session.

  2. On the login screen:

    • Click your username.

    • Click the gear icon (⚙️) at the bottom right.

    • Choose "GNOME on Xorg" or "Ubuntu on Xorg".

    • Log in normally.

This runs Xorg for just this session.

🧠 Why Trackpilots Needs Xorg

Trackpilots takes automatic screenshots every minute as part of its employee monitoring features.

On Wayland:

  • Background apps can't capture the screen reliably.

  • Screenshot attempts may fail or be blocked silently.

Switching to Xorg ensures:

  • ✅ Reliable screenshot tracking.

  • ✅ Full functionality of Trackpilots.

  • ✅ Better compatibility on Linux systems.

 

📞 Need More Help?

Still facing issues? Reach out to our support team at team@trackpilots.com or connect with us via the in-app chat.

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