Screencast only captures the first frame

[Dummyc0m]

When screencasting to discord or firefox (google meet), only the first frame is captured and a static image is shown consistently throughout the capture.

I've tried 25.02 and the build below from April. Not sure what I'm doing wrong here.

Logs from niri:

Apr 07 02:51:41 systemd[2195]: Starting A scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor...
░░ Subject: A start job for unit UNIT has begun execution
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel
░░ 
░░ A start job for unit UNIT has begun execution.
░░ 
░░ The job identifier is 38.
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.086481Z  INFO niri: starting version unstable 2025-04-01 (commit 60034a57efd9c8130b05797b37cbc187a8c13145)
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.119314Z DEBUG niri_config: loaded config from "/home/alice/.config/niri/config.kdl"
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.240136Z  INFO niri::backend::tty: using as the render node: "/dev/dri/renderD128"
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.296961Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device added: 57857 "/dev/dri/card1"
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.388700Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: this is the primary node
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.388713Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: this is the primary render node
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.463540Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device changed: 57857
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.498315Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: new connector: DP-2 "Lenovo Group Limited LEN P32p-20 VNA55M15"
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.498342Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: connecting connector: DP-2
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.498376Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: picking mode: Mode { name: "3840x2160", clock: 533250, size: (3840, 2160), hsync: (3888, 3920, 4000), vsync: (2163, 2168, 2222), hskew: 0, vscan: 0, vrefresh: 60, mode_type: ModeTypeFlags(PREFERRED) }
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.498432Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: error setting max bpc: couldn't find max bpc property
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.503558Z DEBUG niri::niri: putting output DP-2 at x=0 y=0
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.503741Z  INFO niri: listening on Wayland socket: wayland-1
Apr 07 02:51:41 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:51:41.503752Z  INFO niri: IPC listening on: /run/user/1000/niri.wayland-1.2248.sock
Apr 07 02:51:41 systemd[2195]: Started A scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor.
░░ Subject: A start job for unit UNIT has finished successfully
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel
░░ 
░░ A start job for unit UNIT has finished successfully.
░░ 
░░ The job identifier is 38.
Apr 07 02:52:10 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:10.818460Z DEBUG niri::dbus::mutter_screen_cast: record_window properties=RecordWindowProperties { window_id: 4, cursor_mode: Some(Metadata), _is_recording: None }
Apr 07 02:52:10 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:10.819353Z DEBUG niri::dbus::mutter_screen_cast: start
Apr 07 02:52:10 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:10.819390Z DEBUG niri::niri: StartCast session_id=0 stream_id=0
Apr 07 02:52:10 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:10.827869Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: state changed: Unconnected -> Connecting
Apr 07 02:52:10 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:10.862780Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: state changed: Connecting -> Paused
Apr 07 02:52:10 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:10.862791Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: sending signal with 95
Apr 07 02:52:11 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:11.381406Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: got format = VideoInfoRaw { format: VideoFormat::BGRA, flags: VideoFlags(0xc), modifier: 0, size: spa_rectangle { width: 1865, height: 2120 }, framerate: spa_fraction { num: 0, denom: 1 }, max_framerate: spa_fraction { num: 59997, denom: 1000 }, views: 0, interlace_mode: 0, pixel_aspect_ratio: spa_fraction { num: 0, denom: 0 }, multiview_mode: 0, multiview_flags: 0, chroma_site: 0, color_range: 0, color_matrix: 0, transfer_function: 0, color_primaries: 0 }
Apr 07 02:52:11 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:11.381496Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: fixating the modifier
Apr 07 02:52:11 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:11.381503Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: find_preferred_modifier: size=Size<smithay::utils::geometry::Physical> { w: 1865, h: 2120 }, fourcc=AR24, modifiers=[216172782120099856, 216172782120099857, 216172782120099858, 216172782120099859, 216172782120099860, 216172782120099861, 216172782128496656, 216172782128496657, 216172782128496658, 216172782128496659, 216172782128496660, 216172782128496661, 72057594037927935]
Apr 07 02:52:11 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:11.381664Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: allocation successful (modifier=Unrecognized(216172782128496660), plane_count=1), moving to confirmation pending
Apr 07 02:52:11 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:11.381859Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: got format = VideoInfoRaw { format: VideoFormat::BGRA, flags: VideoFlags(0x4), modifier: 216172782128496660, size: spa_rectangle { width: 1865, height: 2120 }, framerate: spa_fraction { num: 0, denom: 1 }, max_framerate: spa_fraction { num: 59997, denom: 1000 }, views: 0, interlace_mode: 0, pixel_aspect_ratio: spa_fraction { num: 0, denom: 0 }, multiview_mode: 0, multiview_flags: 0, chroma_site: 0, color_range: 0, color_matrix: 0, transfer_function: 0, color_primaries: 0 }
Apr 07 02:52:11 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:11.381871Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: moving to ready state
Apr 07 02:52:11 niri[2248]: 2025-04-07T09:52:11.383157Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: state changed: Paused -> Streaming

Logs from xdp-gnome:

Apr 07 02:51:41 systemd[2195]: Starting Portal service (GNOME implementation)...
░░ Subject: A start job for unit UNIT has begun execution
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel
░░ 
░░ A start job for unit UNIT has begun execution.
░░ 
░░ The job identifier is 119.
Apr 07 02:51:41 systemd[2195]: Started Portal service (GNOME implementation).
░░ Subject: A start job for unit UNIT has finished successfully
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel
░░ 
░░ A start job for unit UNIT has finished successfully.
░░ 
░░ The job identifier is 119.
Apr 07 02:52:07 .xdg-desktop-po[2334]: Failed to associate portal window with parent window 
Apr 07 02:52:08 .xdg-desktop-po[2334]: vkAcquireNextImageKHR(): A swapchain no longer matches the surface properties exactly, but can still be used to present to the surface successfully. (VK_SUBOPTIMAL_KHR) (1000001003)

logs from pipewire:

Apr 07 02:51:42 systemd[2195]: Started PipeWire Multimedia Service.
░░ Subject: A start job for unit UNIT has finished successfully
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel
░░ 
░░ A start job for unit UNIT has finished successfully.
░░ 
░░ The job identifier is 144.
Apr 07 02:51:54 pipewire[2380]: pw.node: (alsa_output.usb-MONOPRICE_MONOLITH_HPA-00.iec958-stereo-55) graph xrun not-triggered (0 suppressed)
Apr 07 02:51:54 pipewire[2380]: pw.node: (alsa_output.usb-MONOPRICE_MONOLITH_HPA-00.iec958-stereo-55) xrun state:0x7f9b0400c008 pending:1/3 s:29644611962 a:29644646972 f:29644651102 waiting:35010 process:4130 status:triggered
Apr 07 02:54:28 pipewire[2380]: spa.alsa: iec958:0c: snd_pcm_drop: No such device
Apr 07 02:54:28 pipewire[2380]: spa.alsa: iec958:0c: close failed: No such device
Apr 07 02:54:28 pipewire[2380]: pw.node: (alsa_output.usb-MONOPRICE_MONOLITH_HPA-00.iec958-stereo-55) graph xrun not-triggered (0 suppressed)
Apr 07 02:54:28 pipewire[2380]: pw.node: (alsa_output.usb-MONOPRICE_MONOLITH_HPA-00.iec958-stereo-55) xrun state:0x7f9b0400c008 pending:1/2 s:183276909663 a:183276939874 f:183276945694 waiting:30211 process:5820 status:triggered

config:
https://gist.github.com/Dummyc0m/6836dfcbbcf2eb97e3f084ca2336167b

System Information

• niri version:
  niri unstable 2025-04-01 (commit 60034a5)

• Distro:
  NixOS 24.11

• GPU:
  nvidia 3090 Ti

• CPU:
  AMD EPYC 7V73X

[YaLTeR]

Not sure, doesn't seem like anything is wrong. Could you try https://github.com/YaLTeR/niri/wiki/Configuration:-Debug-Options#wait-for-frame-completion-in-pipewire?

[Dummyc0m]

Thanks for taking a look. I added it to my config and did a logout/login. Same problem persists. I have tried both open (not nouveau) and proprietary nvidia drivers.

[Dummyc0m]

I'll probably get around to debugging during the weekend. Probably will start building niri and adding some logging in pw_utils.rs or trying to find the streaming part. Unsure which part of the stack is having issues though. I've never used wayland gnome myself.

[YaLTeR]

It's probably a good idea to try if it works on GNOME, since the screencast handling should be somewhat similar.

You could also try using xdg-desktop-portal-wlr for screencasting (override in niri-portals.conf) since that uses different code paths.

[Dummyc0m]

I just tried both.

GNOME on wayland worked, also verified discord was running wayland with xeyes.

xdg-desktop-portal-wlr had the same problem of only showing a static image.

[YaLTeR]

Huh

[maxverbeek]

I am getting the same issue.

Apr 14 08:01:39 thinkpad .xdg-desktop-po[2385]: Failed to associate portal window with parent window 
Apr 14 08:01:39 thinkpad xdg-desktop-portal-gnome[2385]: MESA-INTEL: warning: ../src/intel/vulkan/anv_formats.c:763: FINISHME: support YUV colorspace with DRM format modifiers
Apr 14 08:01:39 thinkpad xdg-desktop-portal-gnome[2385]: MESA-INTEL: warning: ../src/intel/vulkan/anv_formats.c:794: FINISHME: support more multi-planar formats with DRM modifiers
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.668150Z DEBUG niri::dbus::mutter_screen_cast: record_monitor connector="DP-1" properties=RecordMonitorProperties { cursor_mode: Some(Metadata), _is_recording: None }
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.670231Z DEBUG niri::dbus::mutter_screen_cast: start
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.670259Z DEBUG niri::niri: StartCast session_id=0
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.682808Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: state changed: Unconnected -> Connecting
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.724339Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: state changed: Connecting -> Paused
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.724354Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: sending signal with 86
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad .firefox-wrapped[2681]: mod.protocol-native: 0x7f8b313ea100: could not find proxy 2
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad .firefox-wrapped[2681]: mod.protocol-native: 0x7f8b313ea100: could not find proxy 2
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.757246Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: got format = VideoInfoRaw { format: VideoFormat::BGRx, flags: VideoFlags(0xc), modifier: 0, size: spa_rectangle { width: 3440, height: 1440 }, framerate: spa_fraction { num: 0, denom: 1 }, max_framerate: spa_fraction { num: 49987, denom: 100>
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.757274Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: fixating the modifier
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.757280Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: find_preferred_modifier: size=Size<smithay::utils::geometry::Physical> { w: 3440, h: 1440 }, fourcc=XR24, modifiers=[0, 72057594037927937, 72057594037927945, 72057594037927949, 72057594037927951, 72057594037927935]
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.761427Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: allocation successful (modifier=Unrecognized(72057594037927951), plane_count=3), moving to confirmation pending
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.761782Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: got format = VideoInfoRaw { format: VideoFormat::BGRx, flags: VideoFlags(0x4), modifier: 72057594037927951, size: spa_rectangle { width: 3440, height: 1440 }, framerate: spa_fraction { num: 0, denom: 1 }, max_framerate: spa_fraction { num: 4>
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.761797Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: moving to ready state
Apr 14 08:01:40 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:40.800601Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: state changed: Paused -> Streaming
Apr 14 08:01:44 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:44.076074Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: state changed: Streaming -> Paused
Apr 14 08:01:44 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:44.076963Z DEBUG niri::dbus::mutter_screen_cast: stop
Apr 14 08:01:44 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:44.077031Z DEBUG niri::niri: StopCast session_id=0
Apr 14 08:01:44 thinkpad niri[2213]: 2025-04-14T06:01:44.077082Z DEBUG niri::pw_utils: pw stream: state changed: Paused -> Unconnected

niri --version: niri 25.02 (unknown commit) (should be installed from the v25.02 tag)

GPU: Intel Arc

Distro: NixOS 24.11

[maxverbeek]

Trying it on an older build, with Niri 25.01, and here it works fine. I can do more in-depth testing later where I try this older niri version on the newer build

[Dummyc0m]

LOL I didn't have time during the weekend. Thanks @maxverbeek for the additional report valuable insight to know that I'm not insane.

[maxverbeek]

I'm sad to report that is probably an error on my end, but I suspect it could be causing your issue as well:

For a while I was using an unstable version of niri because I wanted that sweet floating window support. To achieve this I put this in my config:

  modules.niri.package = pkgs.unstable.niri.overrideAttrs (old: {
    buildInputs = ((builtins.filter (p: p != pkgs.unstable.libgbm) old.buildInputs) ++ [ pkgs.mesa ]);
  });

When not doing this, and just using the Niri from the nixpkgs of my distro, everything works fine. Note: the Niri version from nixos-unstable and nixos-24.11 are the same atm (same hashes, both v25.02).

I suspect the problem could lie in the buildInputs and after briefly looking at it I do see that pipewire is a derivation dependency.

I haven't tried it myself, but it might be worth trying a

.override { pipewire = pkgs.pipewire; }

Edit: to be clear, not doing overrides fixes this issue for me, no more screensharing issues :)

[Dummyc0m]

Makes sense, I've been using a mix of 24.11 and unstable packages, my graphics drivers were coming from 24.11 and niri was overlayed on top of unstable. I switched the overlay to 24.11 and things are ok now.

I'll close this issue because:

1. it's unlikely to be a niri issue
2. there's a workaround.

[YaLTeR]

Thanks for looking into it