How to Switch from Wayland to X11 on Ubuntu

Wayland is the default display server in modern Ubuntu (21.04+), but some applications require X11 for compatibility. This guide covers switching between Wayland and X11.

Quick Method: Login Screen Toggle

Step 1: Log Out

• Click the system menu (top-right)
• Click your username
• Select “Log Out”

Step 2: Select X11 at Login Screen

• At the login screen, click your username
• Look for the gear/cog icon (⚙) in the bottom-right
• Select “Ubuntu on Xorg” from the menu
• Enter your password and log in

Check Current Display Server

Verify whether you’re on Wayland or X11:

echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

Output: wayland or x11

Alternative method:

loginctl show-session $(loginctl | grep $(whoami) | awk '{print $1}') -p Type

Permanent Method: Disable Wayland

Step 1: Edit GDM Config

sudo nano /etc/gdm3/custom.conf

Step 2: Uncomment the X11 Line

Find this line:

#WaylandEnable=false

Uncomment it (remove the #):

WaylandEnable=false

Step 3: Save and Reboot

sudo reboot

Alternative: Systemd Override

For custom desktop environments or per-user settings:

sudo systemctl edit gdm3

Add:

[Service]
Environment=XDG_SESSION_TYPE=x11

sudo systemctl daemon-reload && sudo systemctl restart gdm3

Change Back to Wayland

If Using Login Screen Method

• Log out
• At login screen, click the gear icon
• Select “Ubuntu” (or “Ubuntu on Wayland”)

If Using Permanent Method

sudo nano /etc/gdm3/custom.conf

Re-comment the line:

#WaylandEnable=false

sudo reboot

Why Switch to X11?

• Screen recording/sharing works (Zoom, Discord, OBS)
• NVIDIA proprietary driver compatibility
• Remote desktop (TeamViewer, AnyDesk, VNC)
• Legacy application support
• Global hotkeys and key remapping

Troubleshooting

No Gear Icon at Login

Ensure GDM is the display manager:

cat /etc/X11/default-display-manager

Xorg Not Installed

Install X11/Xorg packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y xorg xserver-xorg

Custom Desktop Environment

Different DEs have different settings:

• GNOME: Edit /etc/gdm3/custom.conf
• KDE Plasma: Edit /etc/sddm.conf.d/sddm.conf
• Budgie: Edit /etc/gdm3/custom.conf

NVIDIA + Wayland Issues

NVIDIA proprietary drivers may require X11:

sudo apt install -y nvidia-driver-595
WaylandEnable=false

Wayland vs X11

• Wayland – Newer, better security, smoother graphics, but some apps incompatible
• X11 – Legacy, widely compatible, required for screen sharing and NVIDIA

Conclusion

Switching from Wayland to X11 is straightforward:

• Quick: Pick “Ubuntu on Xorg” at login screen
• Permanent: Set WaylandEnable=false in /etc/gdm3/custom.conf