Applications behind transparent and full sceen mode not re-rendered

[pecorarista]

Windows Terminal version

1.14.2282.0

Windows build number

10.0.22000.0

Other Software

Google Chrome 105.0.5195.127
Firefox Browser 105.0

Steps to reproduce

Case 1

1. Open a terminal window and set Background opacity < 100%, for example, 80%.
2. Set full screen mode.
3. Play a video on the browser.

Case 2

1. Open a terminal window and set Background opacity < 100%, for example, 80%.
2. Set full screen mode.
3. Run a continuous build system on your web application code.
4. Make a change on the code and make the system re-render the window.

Expected Behavior

The contents behind the terminal are re-rendered.

Actual Behavior

Case 1
Google Chrome: The video soon becomes black screen while the sound is being still played.
Firefox: The video stops after a while, showing the shot at the point and playing the sound.

Case 2
Google Chrome: The content is not rendered. For example, if the background of a web page is white, the screen gets white.
Firefox: The window looks the same.

[pecorarista]

This is a screenshot of Case 1.

[DHowett]

Thanks for the report!

I believe these applications can detect that there is a window in front of them and will not waste resources when that is the case. I have successfully conducted a Zoom and Teams call behind a Terminal, which suggests that it is possible.

I don't know if there is anything we can do about this. Hmm.

[pecorarista]

@DHowett Thank you.
I started doubting that the problem is not a bug of Windows Terminal.
This is because I found a solution for Google Chrome:

Set chrome://flags/#calculate-native-win-occlusion Disabled.
https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/77201393/videos-turn-black-when-a-full-screen-window-is-on-top-of-the-window-playing-the-video?hl=en

I confirmed it worked.

[pecorarista]

I also found a solution for Firefox:
Open about:config, search for widget.windows.window_occlusion_tracking.enabled , and set it false.
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1759393

I'm sorry that I reported a problem not caused by Windows Terminal and solved it myself.
I hope this issue helps people having the same problem.

[DHowett]

I'm sorry that I reported a problem not caused by Windows Terminal and solved myself.

You do not need to apologize! This is great information we can share with other users! 😄

[ghost]

@DHowett Thank you. I started doubting that the problem is not a bug of Windows Terminal. This is because I found a solution for Google Chrome:

Set chrome://flags/#calculate-native-win-occlusion Disabled. https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/77201393/videos-turn-black-when-a-full-screen-window-is-on-top-of-the-window-playing-the-video?hl=en

I confirmed it worked.

I have verified this solution works for Firefox

[nanaya]

fwiw the option is gone on more recent chrome. Shouldn't the semi-transparent terminal cause it to not be considered an occlusion in the first place?

It's not a problem on at least two different transparent terminals (mintty and kitty (putty fork)) so I think it's something to do with windows terminal itself.