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[Wayland/GNOME] Window title bar decorations do not match system theme unless forced to X11 #27
Description
Description
When running ShellCanvas under a native Wayland session on GNOME, the window title bar does not inherit the system theme. It falls back to generic client-side decorations (CSD) with mismatched background color and extra minimize/maximize buttons.
When launched with GDK_BACKEND=x11, the application properly inherits the system's GNOME shell styling and window button configuration.
Expected Behavior
The window decorations under native Wayland should respect the active GNOME theme, color scheme, and title bar button settings.
Actual Behavior
- Default (Wayland): Renders fallback/unthemed title bar controls and colors.
- Forced X11 (
GDK_BACKEND=x11): Renders native GNOME decorations properly.
Attachments
- Unthemed (Default):
- Themed (GDK_BACKEND=x11):
Environment
- OS: Linux
- Desktop Environment: GNOME
Reacted by TechArtDev
Activity
techartdev commentedon Sep 26, 2026
@mohammadayn Thank you for the feedback! I will take a look on the problem and prepare a fix for the next release.
techartdev commentedon Sep 26, 2026
New release https://github.com/techartdev/ShellCanvas/releases/tag/v0.1.14 is now available. You can test. The issue was a known problem in the Tao version ShellCanvas uses. I've updated to a later version which contains the fix.
mohammadayn commentedon Sep 26, 2026
Hi @techartdev,
Thanks for looking into this! It’s definitely improved, but the top bar still doesn't look quite right.
current:
Expected:
Thanks again!
techartdev commentedon Sep 27, 2026
@mohammadayn You are welcome!
Ok can you provide me the results of these commands:
I suppose it inherits something of the system defined theme settings. On what distribution you are running the app? The version of GNOME could also be important.
mohammadayn commentedon Sep 27, 2026
Hi @techartdev,
Here are the requested settings and environment details:
OS: Fedora 44
GNOME: 50
For additional context, several other apps are working fine on this setup.
techartdev commentedon Sep 27, 2026
@mohammadayn Thanks, those settings look normal.
Could you try ShellCanvas’s Settings → Appearance → Follow system?
If it stays dark, please try Light too, then share a screenshot under Wayland. This will help separate the app’s toolbar colors from the outer window decoration, which follows a different rendering path.
mohammadayn commentedon Sep 27, 2026
Hi @techartdev,
Here is the result after testing the follow system appearance options under Wayland:
techartdev commentedon Sep 27, 2026
@mohammadayn Thanks!
I think I found the cause. The new release ships a potential fix for it along with more fixes and small features, so update and try it: https://github.com/techartdev/ShellCanvas/releases/tag/v0.1.15
mohammadayn commentedon Sep 28, 2026
Hi @techartdev,
Thanks for the quick turnaround! I updated to v0.1.15 and the issue is resolved.
techartdev commentedon Sep 30, 2026
Perfect! I'm closing the issue. Feel free to open another one if something else appears.