This is my office. The very big screen in the middle is my main computer screen and the small one on the right is for tools etc.. I have been running Zorin for about a year. I have been updating as required and usually have no problems but ... Every time there is a desktop update or a major update to Zorin itself the Wayland thing comes along to make life a misery. I have an Nvidia card. Every time Zorin installs Wayland (without asking me) I lose my main screen and all of my work and desktop stuff is sent to the tiny tools screen on the right. I then spend a considerable amount of time trying to get things back. Even when I go back to Xorg my Nvidia card does not work and I have to start fooling around uninstalling and reinstalling drivers, restarting etc.. On the small screen this is not an easy task. Luckily the computer is dual boot with "you know what" and so I am able to get on with my work while Zorin cannot ! So I am uninstalling Zorin and going back to Mint. I may have another look when this Wayland fiasco is over, who knows ?
Hi, thank you for taking the time to share your Feedback. I'm moving your post to this category so that it gets picked up by the developers, and can help them address this type of issues in the future.
Welcome to the Forum!
So, You run Your System by default in Xorg, yes? And did You changed that over the Login Screen? If yes, it should stay on Xorg.
Did You tried it with disabling Wayland? Open the Terminal and type:
sudo nano /etc/gdm3/custom.conf
And in the opening Window look for the Line #WaylandEnable=false
and remove the #
at the Beginning of the Line. Then press ctrl+o to save the change, Enter to confirm and then ctrl+x to exit.
Not directly related to this specific user's situation, but considering Wayland gives many users with Nvidia graphics cards a poorer experience, is it possible for the devs to implement GPU brand detection, and in case of Nvidia default to X11 rather than Wayland as it is now? This move would be a similar one to them bundling Nvidia drivers into the .iso in terms of improving user experience.
When You install Zorin with the Nvidia Drivers, it should switch to X11. I saw that here a couple of Times. Then you see at the Login Screen when You switch the Options:
- Zorin Desktop
- Zorin Desktop on Wayland
instead of:
- Zorin Desktop
- Zorin Desktop on Xorg
Isn't that the default installation, or do you need to toggle something specific when installing?
I just checked, and on the login screen for me it says:
- Zorin Desktop
- Zorin Desktop on Xorg
My system graphics: NVD7 / Mesa Intel® HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2)
Even though the default seems to be Wayland, as far back as I can remember I think X11 was the default, because I always had Desktop visible in Files:
And later when I manually changed to Wayland, this shortcut disappeared. It then took me a while to figure out why.
My situation is strange, but if it does default to X11 for Nvidia users already then that's great!
No, when You start the Zorin Stick, you should get 3 Option:
- Try or install Zorin OS
- Try or install Zorin OS (modern Graphics)
- Try or install Zorin Os (safe Graphics)
So, the first one is without Nvidia Graphics, only with the Nouveau Drivers. The others come with Nvidia Drivers. At least is that my Point of Knowledge here.
Yes, with Zorin 17, Wayland came as the default Option. And the disappeared Desktop Bookmark Entry in Nautilus in Wayland is stupid! I had to manually add it.
To be honest, that doesn't seem very straightforward to me. 'Modern', 'Safe', or a lack of adjectives doesn't really tell me anything.

Yes, with Zorin 17, Wayland came as the default Option. And the disappeared Desktop Bookmark Entry in Nautilus in Wayland is stupid! I had to manually add it.
Yeah it is stupid! Whose decision was it to remove that? I know Gnome devs don't fancy using the Desktop for anything really, except to admire the wallpaper. I don't like mine cluttered either, so I keep it clean, but I still consider it a space where I can do some work - create and modify files, etc.
Great, seems like the first option was correct for me after all for both of my devices

No, when You start the Zorin Stick, you should get 3 Option:
- Try or install Zorin OS
- Try or install Zorin OS (modern Graphics)
- Try or install Zorin Os (safe Graphics)
As of 17.3, it's down to two options:
- Try Zorin OS
- Try Zorin OS (safe mode)
(In a reversal of fates, Zorin 17.3's live environment boots now, while I wait for Nobara to catch up with a new ISO that can handle a 5090...)
I agree the system should detect Nvidia GPU's, and default to Xorg only. Far too many posts on the board however, have stated a default to wayland on OS 17.
When it comes to less savvy computer users, you can't expect them to know this stuff, and the default choice to Wayland, sets them up for failure.
It is in the Zorin's best interest, to default to Xorg on the upcoming OS 18, to remove problems and confusion later.

Far too many posts on the board however, have stated a default to wayland on OS 17.
This is why I thought they don't automatically detect it. It may be something for the devs to look into again.