How to Disable Wayland and Fall Back to X11 in Ubuntu Desktop

Modern versions of Ubuntu Desktop use Wayland as the default display server protocol, replacing the decades-old X11 system. Wayland is generally faster, more secure, and provides smoother animations for everyday tasks.

However, Wayland is not perfectly compatible with everything. If you are using older screen recording software, running specific proprietary Nvidia drivers, or attempting to use advanced remote desktop tools, you may experience black screens, severe lag, or apps that simply refuse to launch. In these scenarios, the easiest solution is to temporarily disable Wayland and force Ubuntu to fall back to the legacy X11 (Xorg) display server.

How to Switch to X11 at the Login Screen

You do not need to uninstall Wayland; Ubuntu keeps X11 installed specifically as a fallback option. You can switch between them right before you log in.

1. Log out of your current Ubuntu session, or restart your computer.
2. When you arrive at the login screen, click on your username.
3. Before typing your password, look at the bottom-right corner of the screen. You will see a small Gear icon.
4. Click the Gear icon. A small menu will appear.
5. Select Ubuntu on Xorg from the list.
6. Type your password and press Enter to log in.

Your desktop will look exactly the same, but it is now running on the X11 display server. Your screen recording apps or legacy tools should now function perfectly. Ubuntu will remember this preference; it will continue to log you into X11 on future reboots until you click the gear icon again and switch back to standard “Ubuntu.”

How to Permanently Disable Wayland via Terminal (Optional)

If you manage a server or workstation and want to ensure Wayland is never used, you can disable it entirely at the system level.

1. Open your Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).
2. Edit the display manager configuration file by typing: sudo nano /etc/gdm3/custom.conf
3. Look for the line that says #WaylandEnable=false.
4. Remove the # symbol to uncomment the line. It should now read: WaylandEnable=false
5. Save the file (Ctrl + O, Enter) and exit (Ctrl + X).
6. Restart your computer. The system will now exclusively use X11, and the gear icon option will disappear from the login screen.