Niri will not launch from GDM or Greetd correctly

[Apollo-sudo767]

When launching Niri from gdm or greetd, it launches without monitors. Niri works perfectly from a tty.

config.kdl

System Information

• niri version:
  25.05.1 (Nixpkgs)

• Distro:
  Nixos

• GPU:
  Nvidia RTX 4070 ti

• CPU:
  AMD Ryzen 7 7800x3d

[armerpunkt]

I can launch Niri from GDM and Greetd with no problem.

[Arcterus]

I may have the same issue. Niri seems to launch fine without a display manager involved. GNOME launches fine with at least GDM. Note that Niri used to work a couple weeks ago, but I've been updating/modifying my system config (I'm using NixOS unstable), so I'm guessing there's some incompatibility somewhere. Might also want to note that I'm using Linux 6.16.0 on an Optimus laptop with an AMD CPU. It failed to launch both with the discrete and integrated GPUs.

[armerpunkt]

Can you check with journalctl --user-unit=niri -b to see if there are any error messages?

[Apollo-sudo767]

   ~  journalctl --user-unit=niri -b  ✔  56s   22:08:33 
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx systemd[2302]: Starting A scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor...
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.702787Z INFO niri: starting version 25.>
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.733001Z DEBUG niri_config: loaded config>
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.869221Z INFO niri::backend::tty: using >
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.939565Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.977200Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.977935Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.027095Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: this i>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.027100Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: this i>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.151129Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215685Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: new co>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215700Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: new co>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215710Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: connec>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215722Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: pickin>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215740Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: error >
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.223275Z DEBUG niri::niri: putting output>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.224154Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: connec>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.224169Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: pickin>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.224185Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: error >
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.228622Z DEBUG niri::niri: putting output>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.229782Z INFO niri: listening on Wayland>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.229786Z INFO niri: IPC listening on: /r>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx systemd[2302]: Started A scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor.
Aug 01 16:43:20 nyx fuzzel[4103]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:3: [main].h>
Aug 01 16:43:20 nyx fuzzel[4103]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:4: [main].v>
Aug 01 16:51:24 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:51:24.525593Z INFO niri::niri: locking session
Aug 01 16:51:41 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:51:41.536897Z INFO niri::niri: unlocking sess>
Aug 01 16:56:08 nyx fuzzel[7536]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:3: [main].h>
Aug 01 16:56:08 nyx fuzzel[7536]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:4: [main].v>
Aug 01 17:12:24 nyx fuzzel[10057]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:3: [main].>
Aug 01 17:12:24 nyx fuzzel[10057]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:4: [main].>
Aug 01 17:12:53 nyx fuzzel[11323]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:3: [main].>
Aug 01 17:12:53 nyx fuzzel[11323]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:4: [main].>
Aug 01 18:03:57 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T23:03:57.818800Z INFO niri::niri: locking session
Aug 01 18:04:01 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T23:04:01.568352Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: pausin>
Aug 01 18:04:01 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T23:04:01.599370Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 18:04:01 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T23:04:01.599384Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 22:06:45 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:45.741106Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: skippi>
Aug 01 22:06:45 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:45.741752Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: skippi>
Aug 01 22:06:45 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:45.752740Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 22:06:45 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:45.752755Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 22:06:46 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:46.740502Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 22:06:46 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:46.740522Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 22:06:46 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:46.770711Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: resumi>
Aug 01 22:06:46 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:46.877735Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device>
lines 1-45...skipping...
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx systemd[2302]: Starting A scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor...
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.702787Z INFO niri: starting version 25.05.1 (unknown commit)
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.733001Z DEBUG niri_config: loaded config from "/home/apollo/.config/niri/config.kdl"
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.869221Z INFO niri::backend::tty: using as the render node: "/dev/dri/renderD129"
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.939565Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device added: 57857 "/dev/dri/card1"
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.977200Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device changed: 57857
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.977935Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device added: 57858 "/dev/dri/card2"
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.027095Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: this is the primary node
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.027100Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: this is the primary render node
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.151129Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device changed: 57858
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215685Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: new connector: DP-4 "ASUSTek COMPUTER INC VG278 L6LMQS042882"
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215700Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: new connector: DP-5 "ASUSTek COMPUTER INC VG278 LBLMQS200546"
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215710Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: connecting connector: DP-4
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215722Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: picking mode: Mode { name: "1920x1080", clock: 148500, size: (1920, 1080), hsync: (2008, 2052, 2200), vs>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215740Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: error setting max bpc: couldn't find max bpc property
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.223275Z DEBUG niri::niri: putting output DP-4 at x=0 y=0
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.224154Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: connecting connector: DP-5
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.224169Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: picking mode: Mode { name: "1920x1080", clock: 148500, size: (1920, 1080), hsync: (2008, 2052, 2200), vs>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.224185Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: error setting max bpc: couldn't find max bpc property
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.228622Z DEBUG niri::niri: putting output DP-5 at x=1920 y=0
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.229782Z INFO niri: listening on Wayland socket: wayland-1
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.229786Z INFO niri: IPC listening on: /run/user/1000/niri.wayland-1.2395.sock
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx systemd[2302]: Started A scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor.
Aug 01 16:43:20 nyx fuzzel[4103]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:3: [main].hoAug 01 16:36:18 nyx systemd[2302]: Starting A scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor...
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.702787Z INFO niri: starting version 25.>
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.733001Z DEBUG niri_config: loaded config>
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.869221Z INFO niri::backend::tty: using >
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.939565Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.977200Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 16:36:18 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:18.977935Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.027095Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: this i>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.027100Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: this i>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.151129Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215685Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: new co>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215700Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: new co>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215710Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: connec>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215722Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: pickin>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.215740Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: error >
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.223275Z DEBUG niri::niri: putting output>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.224154Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: connec>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.224169Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: pickin>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.224185Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: error >
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.228622Z DEBUG niri::niri: putting output>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.229782Z INFO niri: listening on Wayland>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:36:19.229786Z INFO niri: IPC listening on: /r>
Aug 01 16:36:19 nyx systemd[2302]: Started A scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor.
Aug 01 16:43:20 nyx fuzzel[4103]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:3: [main].h>
Aug 01 16:43:20 nyx fuzzel[4103]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:4: [main].v>
Aug 01 16:51:24 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:51:24.525593Z INFO niri::niri: locking session
Aug 01 16:51:41 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T21:51:41.536897Z INFO niri::niri: unlocking sess>
Aug 01 16:56:08 nyx fuzzel[7536]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:3: [main].h>
Aug 01 16:56:08 nyx fuzzel[7536]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:4: [main].v>
Aug 01 17:12:24 nyx fuzzel[10057]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:3: [main].>
Aug 01 17:12:24 nyx fuzzel[10057]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:4: [main].>
Aug 01 17:12:53 nyx fuzzel[11323]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:3: [main].>
Aug 01 17:12:53 nyx fuzzel[11323]: config: /home/apollo/.config/fuzzel/fuzzel.ini:4: [main].>
Aug 01 18:03:57 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T23:03:57.818800Z INFO niri::niri: locking session
Aug 01 18:04:01 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T23:04:01.568352Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: pausin>
Aug 01 18:04:01 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T23:04:01.599370Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 18:04:01 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-01T23:04:01.599384Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 22:06:45 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:45.741106Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: skippi>
Aug 01 22:06:45 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:45.741752Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: skippi>
Aug 01 22:06:45 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:45.752740Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 22:06:45 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:45.752755Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 22:06:46 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:46.740502Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 22:06:46 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:46.740522Z WARN niri::backend::tty: device>
Aug 01 22:06:46 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:46.770711Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: resumi>
Aug 01 22:06:46 nyx niri[2395]: 2025-08-02T03:06:46.877735Z DEBUG niri::backend::tty: device>
lines 1-45

[Apollo-sudo767]

I can launch Niri from GDM and Greetd with no problem.

@armerpunkt How recently have you updated your system? I am on the latest nixpkgs unstable, and this issue started 3 days ago, and has persisted. Before this, niri worked with any login daemon.

[armerpunkt]

I don't run NixOS normally, but on my test install, Just to be sure, I updated right now, so everything is the latest from nixos-unstable as of like 5 minutes ago. And logging in to Niri from both GDM and Greetd worked fine.

[Apollo-sudo767]

I don't run NixOS normally, but on my test install, Just to be sure, I updated right now, so everything is the latest from nixos-unstable as of like 5 minutes ago. And logging in to Niri from both GDM and Greetd worked fine.

If it wouldn't be any trouble, could I see your niri config & nixos configuration?

[armerpunkt]

If it wouldn't be any trouble, could I see your niri config & nixos configuration?

It's just a test install, so they are just the default configs with whatever I'm currently testing added.

[Arcterus]

I'll see if I can get some logs or something later. However, I just installed Hyprland to see if it'd launch, and it did, so it seems likely there is actually something wrong.

[armerpunkt]

I'll see if I can get some logs or something later. However, I just installed Hyprland to see if it'd launch, and it did, so it seems likely there is actually something wrong.

This might seem like a redundant question, but I just wanted to check if you had tried using the default Niri config? Just to see if it’s something specifically in yours.

[Arcterus]

It basically is the default since I'm setting up a laptop. I'll double check later, but I've changed very little.

[rfaulhaber]

I'm experiencing a similar issue, running nixpkgs unstable with an AMD CPU and NVIDIA video card and GDM as my login manager. I log in from GDM and just a black screen when niri should boot. Been experiencing the issue for about a week. I just tried grabbing some logs from the faulty configuration and it looks like it didn't even generate logs. In fact it doesn't even look like my graphical-session.target isn't even getting hit.

[Arcterus]

I don't even get a black screen, GDM just breaks and I have to go kill it in a TTY.

@armerpunkt not that this is necessarily the issue, but what CPU/GPU combo do you have? I've noticed everyone with an issue has an AMD CPU + some form of Nvidia GPU (although AFAICT disabling the Nvidia GPU doesn't help in my case).

[armerpunkt]

not that this is necessarily the issue, but what CPU/GPU combo do you have? I've noticed everyone with an issue has an AMD CPU + some form of Nvidia GPU (although AFAICT disabling the Nvidia GPU doesn't help in my case).

A Ryzen 5600x and RTX 3060 Ti.