If you’re using Ubuntu 24.04 with the AWS WorkSpaces Linux client and connecting through the DCV protocol on a dual-monitor setup, you might notice some strange display issues when using extended fullscreen mode. Specifically, on the main monitor, you’ll see a horizontal scrollbar overlapping the Windows taskbar, blocking part of the Start button and search box. Additionally, there’s a thin vertical line along the right edge of your screen. These artifacts shouldn’t be there—your remote desktop should fill the screen smoothly without any overlapping or borders.
Here’s what you need to know and how to fix these issues:
First, understand that these artifacts appear only when you connect to your WorkSpace in fullscreen mode across both monitors. If you switch to using just one monitor in fullscreen, the scrollbar disappears, although the thin border might still be visible. This confirms the problem is related to using multiple monitors in extended mode.
To analyze the problem, you can verify that the client is setting the window states properly. Using tools like xprop on the viewer windows shows they are correctly set to fullscreen and undecorated, and their geometry matches each monitor perfectly. This indicates the issues are not caused by your window manager or how the viewer windows are configured; instead, they seem to stem from within the DCV client itself.
Further testing reveals that the scrollbar and border are not caused by a background or display setting. Even with custom backgrounds disabled, the artifacts appear, and logs from the client show no errors related to resolution or rendering—all signs that the client software is generating these artifacts directly.
It’s worth noting that in single-monitor mode, the scrollbar issue resolves, but the thin border remains. Also, this thin border is only seen on the main display, not on secondary screens, which may be related to the same root cause.
For users relying on dual monitors for kiosk setups or shared desktops, these bugs reduce usability. The taskbar search box and Start button become partially blocked, making it harder to interact with the system as expected. The simple workaround is to disable extended mode and use only one monitor, but that’s not ideal since it decreases your workspace.
If you encounter this issue, the best step is to check if there are any updates available for your AWS WorkSpaces Linux client. Often, such bugs are identified and fixed in newer releases. You should also monitor official AWS support channels or forums to see if this problem is a known issue and whether a fix or patch is planned.
In summary, when using a dual-monitor setup with the current client version in extended fullscreen, expect these visual artifacts. The recommended approach is to either stick to single-monitor mode for now or keep an eye out for software updates that might resolve these problems in future releases.