7.55 Screen security feature starts Signal with a completely black window on remote PC

[TheDutchJewel]

Using a supported version?

• I have searched searched open and closed issues for duplicates.
• I am using Signal-Desktop as provided by the Signal team, not a 3rd-party package.

Overall summary

After updating from 7.54 to 7.55 I get a complete black window when I start Signal on my remote PC.

But on my remote PC the Signal window looks fine.

I have been using Remote Utilities for years to establish a remote connection to another PC in the house. When I open Signal on that remote PC, since the latest version (7.55), I get to see a completely black Signal window.

If I uninstall Signal and install version 7.54, everything is fine again, but as soon as I update Signal to version 7.55 the Signal window on the remote PC is completely black again.

Steps to reproduce

1. Install latest version of Remote Utilities host (https://www.remoteutilities.com/download/) and Signal 7.54 on PC A
2. Install portable viewer of Remote Utilities on PC B.
3. Use portable viewer of Remote Utilities on PC B to connect with PC A
4. Remotely start Signal version 7.54 on PC A > Signal window is fine
5. Remotely update Signal on PC A to version 7.55 > Start Signal > Signal window opens complete black
6. Remotely uninstall Signal on PC A
7. Remotely install Signal 7.54 on PC A > Start Signal > Signal window opens fine again

Expected result

After updating to version 7.55 the Signal window should not be complete black when started from a remote PC.

Actual result

After updating to version 7.55 the Signal window is complete black when started from a remote PC.

Screenshots

No response

Signal version

7.55.0

Operating system

Windows 11 Pro 24H2

Version of Signal on your phone

No response

Link to debug log

No response

[TheDutchJewel]

The problem is caused by the new privacy feature: Screen security, which prevents screenshots of Signal on this computer for added privacy.

By disabling this feature, I can also use version 7.55 again remotely.

[TheDutchJewel]

Is it possible to add a command line argument to start Signal without the screen security feature?

[chairmantheboring]

Is it possible to add a command line argument to start Signal without the screen security feature?

It's in the 7.56 build. They just announced beta 7.57, so 7.56 should be published as stable later today if it isn't already. The flag you want is --disable-screen-security

[TheDutchJewel]

Thanks for the quick fix!

--disable-screen-security works fine in 7.56

[Khaos116]

"C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Programs\signal-desktop\Signal.exe" --disable-screen-security