In the world of remote work, Microsoft Teams has become a crucial tool for collaboration and communication. However, users on Ubuntu 21.04 who use the Wayland display server may encounter issues with screen sharing. This article explores the problem and provides potential solutions.
Unfortunately, there is no official fix for the screen sharing issue with Microsoft Teams and Wayland in Ubuntu 21.04. However, there are several workarounds that you can try, such as switching to Xorg, using Teams on Chrome or Edge Beta, installing the beta version of Microsoft Edge, or using a virtual camera like OBS Studio.
Understanding the Issue
Microsoft Teams is built on the Electron framework, which unfortunately has limited support for Wayland. This means that Teams is forced to use XWayland, an X Server compatibility layer, which restricts certain functionalities, including screen sharing.
Solutions
While there is no official fix yet, there are several workarounds that may help you get screen sharing working on Microsoft Teams with Wayland in Ubuntu 21.04.
1. Switch to Xorg
The simplest solution is to switch to Xorg from Wayland. Xorg is a more mature display server with better compatibility with Electron-based apps like Teams.
To switch to Xorg, log out of your session. On the login screen, click on your username, then click the gear icon and select “Ubuntu on Xorg”.
2. Use Teams on Chrome or Edge Beta
Another workaround is to use the Teams web app on Google Chrome or the beta version of Microsoft Edge, both of which have better Wayland support.
To enable screen sharing in Chrome, you need to enable the WebRTC Pipewire flag. To do this, type chrome://flags in the address bar, search for “WebRTC Pipewire”, and set it to “Enabled”.
3. Install Edge Beta
The beta version of Microsoft Edge for Linux has been reported to have better compatibility with Wayland. You can download it from the Microsoft Edge Insider site.
4. Use a Virtual Camera
You can also use a virtual camera compatible with Wayland, such as OBS Studio. This allows you to share your screen through the virtual camera, which can then be selected as the video source in Teams.
To install OBS Studio, use the following command:
sudo apt install obs-studioAfter installing OBS Studio, you can add your screen as a source and start the virtual camera.
Conclusion
While Microsoft Teams’ screen sharing feature on Wayland in Ubuntu 21.04 is currently limited, these workarounds can help you maintain functionality until an official fix is released. We recommend keeping an eye on updates from Microsoft and the Electron framework for any improvements or fixes.
Remember, each system is unique, so you may need to experiment with these solutions to find what works best for you.
Wayland is a display server protocol that aims to replace the X Window System, which has been the standard for Linux desktop environments. It provides a more modern and efficient way of handling graphics and input.
Microsoft Teams is built on the Electron framework, which has limited support for Wayland. It relies on XWayland, an X Server compatibility layer, which restricts certain functionalities, including screen sharing.
To switch to Xorg, log out of your session. On the login screen, click on your username, then click the gear icon and select "Ubuntu on Xorg".
Yes, you can use the Teams web app on Google Chrome or the beta version of Microsoft Edge. These browsers have better Wayland support, allowing you to use screen sharing.
To enable screen sharing in Chrome, you need to enable the WebRTC Pipewire flag. Type chrome://flags in the address bar, search for "WebRTC Pipewire", and set it to "Enabled".
Yes, the beta version of Microsoft Edge for Linux has been reported to have better compatibility with Wayland. You can download it from the Microsoft Edge Insider site.
Yes, you can use a virtual camera compatible with Wayland, such as OBS Studio. After installing OBS Studio, you can add your screen as a source and start the virtual camera, which can then be selected as the video source in Teams.
