Glitches in GUI applications

[azegas]

Windows build number:

10.0.22631.0

Your Distribution version:

22.04

Your WSL versions:

WSL version: 2.0.9.0
Kernel version: 5.15.133.1-1
WSLg version: 1.0.59
MSRDC version: 1.2.4677
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows version: 10.0.22631.2715

Steps to reproduce:

1. activate wsl on windows
2. install ubuntu distro either from MS store or from terminal by wsl --install or wsl --install ubuntu
3. update ubuntu distro sudo apt update && upgrade
4. install emacs, vlc or nautilus
5. launch one of those, I get this behavior as described in the screenshots

WSL logs:

stderr.log
weston.log
pulseaudio.log

WSL dumps:

No response

Expected behavior:

WSL should run gui applications without the glitches.

Actual behavior:

I had wsl working just fine until yesterday! Everything I am about to eplain about was working fine yesterday.

Yesterday I have installed another ubuntu version on my wsl, alongside fully working wsl version(was testing out different emacs versions). So I had 2x ubuntu versions + the default docker wsl's.

This strange gui glitch started to happen when I launch emacs gui application. If I launch it in the terminal - all is good.
emacs gui with glitches:

emacs over terminal:

When I move the emacs gui screen - the glitch dissapears. When I stop moving it - it reappears.

I thought okay I can not work like this, I need to start fresh. I then unregistered both ubuntu distros and went to "add remove programs" to uninstall those ubuntu versions.

I installed ubuntu from terminal by wls --install ubuntu or wsl --install or from ms store, restarts...- same problem.

I then disabled WSL feature. Restarts... installed wsl again, did wsl --set-default-version 2 - same problem.

I then tried to install another GUI application - nautilus and VLC - same probelm with those:

I then thought thanks god its not related with emacs, its a gui bug in general with all linux applications over wsl. Nothing similar happens on my windows apps.

That helped me to narrow the problem down. Insead of googling "emacs gui glitches in wsl", I started to google for "wsl gui glitches".

I then found out about wslg and that it is responsible for launching gui applications over wsl.

I then installed mobaxterm since I guess it does not use wslg, but uses xserver. I then tried to launch emacs with it:

x server off - emacs launched in terminal mode:

x server on - emacs launched in gui mode:

Finally emacs has no glitches!!!

I dont really want to reset my windows to make wsl not glitch anymore, can you help me find a way what to update/remove/reinstall to make these glitches go away?

Thank you!

p.s. this is everything I have installed right now that I know regarding wsl, hope that helps:

[azegas]

Addition with some videos:

Sometimes it works:

all_good.mp4

Sometimes it does not work:

all_bad.mp4

[vielhuber]

I have exactly the same problem.

This is gedit:

[vielhuber]

Downgrading to 2.0.4 seems to be an option:

#1130

[azegas]

Downgrading to 2.0.4 seems to be an option:

#1130

Amazing @vielhuber, that sounds promsing. good detective work!

How would one go about with downgrading wsl? Did you succeed? Is the glitching gone for you?

[vielhuber]

I tried:

• Updated nvidia drivers (via "GeForce Experience")
• sudo apt update
• sudo apt upgrade
• wsl --shutdown via PowerShell (Admin)

Then it worked until a restart.

Identified that after boot I manually once always need to run wsl --shutdown, then reopen wsl and it works from then on until the next restart.

I can't downgrade at the moment and am waiting for an official fix (see #1130).

[azegas]

Will wait for an official fix then also.

Untl then I will run my wsl gui applications over https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/ . Give it a try, it's cool!

[salarmehr]

The exact issue here. @arvydasg could you try the downgrading suggestion?

[azegas]

Surprisingly the issue does not repeat anymore. Will try it if it happens again.

[nikosandreou]

Same issue here. Windows 11 with following WSL info

WSL version: 2.0.9.0
Kernel version: 5.15.133.1-1
WSLg version: 1.0.59
MSRDC version: 1.2.4677
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows version: 10.0.22631.2715

I did an update in Intel Drivers update and Windows Update simultaneously so not sure what broke it. However, I tried the following:

-In .wslgconfig I added

[system-distro-env]
;disable GPU in system-distro
LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1

-Restarted wsl. Worked.
-Restarted laptop, the fix still works.

Maybe other people try this and post their feedback.

[MarcosRguez]

¡Worked for me!

[bluejoyq]

Same issue here. Windows 11 with following WSL issue

WSL version: 2.0.9.0
Kernel version: 5.15.133.1-1
WSLg version: 1.0.59
MSRDC version: 1.2.4677
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows version: 10.0.22631.2715

I did an update in Intel Drivers update and Windows Update simultaneously so not sure what broke it. However, I tried the following:

-In .wslgconfig I added

[system-distro-env]
;disable GPU in system-distro
LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1

-Restarted wsl. Worked. -Restarted laptop, the fix still works.

Maybe other people try this and post their feedback.

Worked For Me! Thanks!

[joeyoropesa-dev]

Same issue unfortunatelly with latest installation in wsl 2 (Ubuntu)

And it's still not fixed..

[Benargee]

I had a similar problem. I installed Kali in WSL then I installed x11-apps just for a simple test.
When I launched xeyes and xcalc it was glitching out. All I had to do to fix it was restart Windows 11.

PS C:\Users\benargee>wsl -v
WSL version: 2.0.9.0
Kernel version: 5.15.133.1-1
WSLg version: 1.0.59
MSRDC version: 1.2.4677
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows version: 10.0.22631.2715