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How to fix black screenshot issues on Linux?

WebWork takes screenshots differently depending on how your Linux desktop runs. Most current distributions, including recent Ubuntu releases, use Wayland. On Wayland, WebWork captures your screen through its own GNOME extension, which is installed together with the app. If your screenshots are black, white or missing, that extension is usually not running.

Check which session you use

  1. Open Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).
  2. Run this command. It only shows your session type and changes nothing:
echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE
  • wayland: follow the steps below.
  • x11: you are already on Xorg. Go to “Still having issues?” at the end.

Turn on GNOME Extensions

When GNOME Extensions are turned off, WebWork shows Extensions are turned off when you start tracking. Click Turn on.

If you clicked Not now, or the message didn’t appear:

  1. Open Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).
  2. Run this command. It turns GNOME Extensions back on and changes nothing else:
gsettings set org.gnome.shell disable-user-extensions false
  1. Start tracking again.

The same extension lets WebWork see which app you are using, so this also fixes app and website tracking.

Restart after installing WebWork

GNOME loads new extensions only when you sign in. After you install WebWork for the first time, restart your computer (or log out and back in) before you start tracking.

Check that the WebWork extension is running

  1. In Terminal, run this command. It only shows the extension’s status:
gnome-extensions info extension@webwork.com
  1. Look at the State line. ACTIVE or ENABLED means it is running.
  2. If it shows another state, such as OUT OF DATE or ERROR, start tracking once (WebWork repairs its extension automatically), then log out and back in.

Older Ubuntu releases and other desktops

Ubuntu 24.04 and earlier also offer an Xorg session on the login screen. WebWork takes screenshots there without the extension. Choose it if your desktop is not GNOME (for example KDE Plasma), or if you use Ubuntu 20.04, where the WebWork extension cannot run. Newer releases such as Ubuntu 26.04 no longer have an Xorg session; use the GNOME steps above.

  1. On the login screen, click your username.
  2. Click the gear icon ⚙️ (next to Sign In, or at the bottom right of the screen).
  3. Choose Ubuntu on Xorg.
  4. Enter your password and sign in. The login screen remembers your choice next time.
Ubuntu login screen gear menu with the Ubuntu (Wayland) and Ubuntu on Xorg sessions

Check that it works

  • Start tracking and work for a few minutes.
  • Open your WebWork dashboard and check that the new screenshots show your screen.

Still having issues?

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