What is the Default Ubuntu Display Server?

This article provides a quick overview of the default display server protocol used in modern Ubuntu releases, tracing its transition from the legacy X11 system to the modern Wayland protocol. You will learn why Canonical made this shift, how it impacts daily performance and security, and how to verify or switch between these display servers on your own system.

The Shift to Wayland

For over a decade, Ubuntu and most other Linux distributions relied on the X Window System (commonly known as X11 or X) to handle graphics, window management, and input devices. However, X11 carries decades of legacy code and architectural limitations that make it less secure and harder to maintain by modern standards.

In recent LTS (Long Term Support) releases—starting standardly with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and continuing through Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and beyond—Canonical officially designated Wayland as the default display server protocol for the standard Ubuntu Desktop environment.

Why Ubuntu Uses Wayland by Default

Wayland was designed from the ground up to replace X11 by simplifying the graphics architecture. The transition brings several critical improvements to the desktop experience:

• Enhanced Security: Under X11, any open application can theoretically monitor inputs or capture screenshots from another window. Wayland isolates applications from one another, drastically improving user privacy and system security.
• Smoother Performance and Less Tearing: Wayland combines the display server and the compositor into a single entity (the Wayland compositor). This eliminates the rendering lag and screen tearing frequently seen when playing videos or gaming on X11.
• Modern Hardware Support: Wayland natively handles modern display configurations much better than X11, particularly fractional scaling for High-DPI (4K) monitors and multi-monitor setups with different refresh rates.

Compatibility and Backward Support: XWayland

A common concern during this transition was what would happen to older applications built specifically for X11. To bridge this gap, Wayland utilizes a compatibility layer called XWayland.

When you open a legacy application, XWayland acts as an X server running inside the Wayland session. This ensures that almost all older software continues to run seamlessly without requiring the user to manually change system settings.

How to Check Which Display Server You Are Using

If you want to verify whether your current Ubuntu session is running Wayland or X11, you can check it quickly via the terminal or the graphical settings.

Method 1: Using the Terminal

Open your terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and execute the following command:

echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

The output will explicitly say either wayland or x11.

Method 2: Using Settings

1. Open the Settings application.
2. Scroll down on the left sidebar and click on System, then select About.
3. Look for the Windowing System field in the system details, which will list either Wayland or X11.

How to Switch Back to X11 (If Needed)

While Wayland is highly stable, certain workflows—such as using specific legacy screen-sharing tools, complex remote desktop configurations, or older proprietary graphics drivers—might still perform better on X11. Switching back is straightforward and does not require uninstalling anything:

1. Log out of your current Ubuntu session to return to the GDM login screen.
2. Click on your username.
3. Before typing your password, look at the bottom-right corner of the screen for a small gear icon.
4. Click the gear icon and select Ubuntu on Xorg (Xorg is the implementation of X11).
5. Enter your password and log in.

To revert back to Wayland in the future, simply repeat the process and select Ubuntu from the gear menu.