How to Fix Linux Discord Screen Share Black Screen Issue

Oh dear, it seems like some folks are having trouble with that Discord screen share on Linux. I’m tellin’ ya, this thing just don’t wanna work right sometimes, especially when you’re tryin’ to share your screen and all you see is a big ol’ black screen. Happens more often than you think, but don’t you worry, we’ll try and figure this out together.

So, let’s start at the top. First thing you gotta know is that if you’re usin’ Linux, there’s a good chance you’re using something called Wayland. Wayland is just a different way of handling the graphics on your computer, instead of the usual Xorg thing. Now, if you’re using Wayland, it can cause all sorts of problems when you try to share your screen on Discord. That black screen? Yep, that’s probably because of Wayland messing things up.

Step 1: Check What You’re Using

First thing’s first, you need to figure out what version of Linux you’re using. If you’re on something like Ubuntu, Fedora, or another version of Linux, you might be on Wayland. You can usually check this by goin’ into your system settings and looking up your display manager. If you’re on Wayland, that’s probably your culprit.

Step 2: Switch to Xorg

If you’re on Wayland and it’s giving you trouble, one of the easiest ways to fix that black screen issue is to switch over to Xorg. Xorg is the old-school graphics system that’s been around forever and is usually much more compatible with things like Discord. To switch to Xorg, when you log in, click on the settings icon in the top-right corner and look for the option to switch from Wayland to Xorg. It’s usually in the login screen or somewhere in your session settings.

Step 3: Update Your Discord

If you’ve tried switching to Xorg and you’re still having issues, it’s time to check your Discord version. Sometimes, Discord just needs an update to fix bugs like this one. Go ahead and make sure you’ve got the latest version of Discord installed. If you’re using a flatpak version of Discord, like I know some folks do, it might not be updating on its own, so you might need to update it manually. You can do this through your software center or through the terminal.

Step 4: Disable Hardware Acceleration

Now, I know some of you folks might’ve heard about this thing called hardware acceleration, and let me tell ya, sometimes it’s more trouble than it’s worth. In Discord, there’s a setting called hardware acceleration that can cause all sorts of problems with screen sharing. You’ll want to go into Discord’s settings and turn off hardware acceleration. This is usually found under the “Advanced” settings, and once you turn it off, restart Discord and see if that helps your black screen issue.

Step 5: Use XWayland (For Wayland Users)

Now, if you’re stuck on Wayland and can’t switch to Xorg for whatever reason, there’s still hope. You might need to use XWayland—that’s a special compatibility layer that allows older programs to run on Wayland. Sometimes it needs to be installed separately, but it usually comes with your distro. If you’ve got XWayland installed, make sure it’s running properly. You can check this by looking for a little icon in your tray or running the command in your terminal to see if it’s active. If it’s not running, try starting it up and see if that fixes your issue.

Step 6: Reinstall Discord

If none of this works, sometimes the best option is to just reinstall the whole darn app. I know it’s a hassle, but sometimes Discord gets into a weird state, and a fresh install can clear up all sorts of problems. Just make sure to uninstall it completely first, and then grab the latest version from the official website or your software store.

In the end, it all comes down to making sure everything is up to date and compatible. I know it’s a pain when things don’t work right, but if you try these steps, you should be able to get that screen share workin’ again in no time. And remember, sometimes computers just get a little grumpy, but with a little patience, you can fix just about anything!

Tags：[Linux, Discord, Screen Share, Black Screen, Wayland, Xorg, XWayland, Discord Troubleshooting, Screen Sharing Issue, Linux Discord Issues]