It's a fact: Wayland gets more and more prominent as a display server protocol. Most Linux distributions are adopting Wayland as the default display server.
TeamViewer's Wayland support continues to evolve as Linux compositors expand their remote‑desktop capabilities. Because Wayland implementations differ widely, TeamViewer uses different integration methods depending on the compositor.
Note: Before getting started, make sure you are using the latest version of TeamViewer. You can update your TeamViewer client by following the instructions in the article below:
Update TeamViewer on Linux via repository
General Approaches to Wayland Support
Portal‑based compatibility mode (xdg-desktop-portal)
TeamViewer uses the capabilities provided by xdg-desktop-portal for screen sharing and remote input. These features must be implemented by the compositor. Currently, GNOME and KDE Plasma support the required portals for attended sessions. Many other compositors have their implementation on the roadmap.
Limitations of portal‑based integration
The portal behavior is shaped by the Wayland security model. Common limitations include:
- Unattended access is not available→ Approval required on first connection→ No system-level or pre-login remote control
- Behavior varies between compositors
Permission setup
TeamViewer can offer semi‑unattended access depending on the compositor. You may store permissions so future sessions start without interaction. Otherwise, confirmation is required each time.
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wlroots‑based integration
Compositors built on wlroots can provide unattended access without prompting for confirmation. TeamViewer has tested this integration on Sway, labwc, and Wayfire. No additional setup is required.
Current Limitations
This integration is still experimental. Behavior may vary between wlroots compositors, and unexpected issues or crashes may occur. User feedback is appreciated.
Compositor‑Specific Notes
GNOME
GNOME supports portals and enables interactive remote sessions with confirmation prompts.
- Very limited unattended access
- Lock and login screens are not accessible
- Only single‑monitor setups are supported
- Permissions may become invalid after display layout changes
KDE Plasma
KDE provides more flexible portal behavior, as it does not require selecting monitors, but generally grants access.
- Limited unattended access
- Future sessions can start without interaction
- Remote control on the lock screen is possible
- Login screen access on Wayland is not supported
wlroots-based compositors
(e.g., Raspberry Pi OS 12+)
- Unattended access without additional configuration
- This integration is experimental
- Behavior may vary between compositors
- Crashes or unexpected behavior may occur
Feedback is welcome!
Known Issues & Troubleshooting
GNOME display configuration changes
Adjusting monitor layouts, such as adding, removing, or reordering displays, may break previously granted permissions. TeamViewer attempts to detect this and request new permissions.
If the remote side sees a black screen and no new prompt appears, reset the configuration. You can use the command line below. A built‑in reset mechanism is planned.
sudo teamviewer daemon stop && sudo sed -i.bak '/XDGRestoreTokens/d' "/etc/teamviewer/global.conf" && sudo teamviewer daemon start
KDE permission persistence
Some KDE systems always return a "restore token" permission, regardless of whether the user chose to store permissions. Since TeamViewer cannot distinguish the user's choice, it will not prompt again. This may be a KDE bug or an intentional design choice.
Experimental Status & Roadmap
TeamViewer's Wayland support is still considered experimental because the portals and compositors' behavior differ widely and are under constant development. Our current development focuses on improving portal‑based functionality, expanding unattended access in wlroots‑based environments, and pursuing full unattended support for GNOME and KDE.
For environments needing fully reliable, robust unattended access, Xorg remains the recommended display server.
