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UI flickers on Linux Desktop when mouse hovers over icon buttons #172079

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UI flickers on Linux Desktop when mouse hovers over icon buttons#172079
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P2Important issues not at the top of the work lista: desktopRunning on desktopc: renderingUI glitches reported at the engine/skia or impeller rendering levelengineflutter/engine related. See also e: labels.platform-linuxBuilding on or for Linux specificallyteam-linuxOwned by the Linux platform teamtriaged-linuxTriaged by the Linux platform team

Description

@bochelie1000
bochelie1000
opened on Jul 13, 2025

Steps to reproduce

In the given sample just hover with the mouse over the blue icon buttons. You will see that the whole UI screen starts to flicker.

Expected results

When hovering my whole UI should not flicker.

Actual results

Whole UI screen starts to flicker.

This only happens on Linux desktop (I use Debian). This does not happen on my Windows10 machine.
This did not happen on my previous Flutter version 3.29.3.

Code sample

https://github.com/bochelie1000/fl_recreategrahicsflickering.git

Code sample 
[Paste your code here]

Screenshots or Video

Screenshots / Video demonstration

[Upload media here]

Logs

Logs 
[Paste your logs here]

Flutter Doctor output

Doctor output 
[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.32.6, on Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm) 6.1.0-31-amd64, locale en_US.UTF-8) [43ms]
    • Flutter version 3.32.6 on channel stable at /home/jch/Development/flutter
    • Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
    • Framework revision 077b4a4ce1 (5 days ago), 2025-07-08 13:31:08 -0700
    • Engine revision 72f2b18bb0
    • Dart version 3.8.1
    • DevTools version 2.45.1

[✗] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices [51ms]
    ✗ Unable to locate Android SDK.
      Install Android Studio from: https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html
      On first launch it will assist you in installing the Android SDK components.
      (or visit https://flutter.dev/to/linux-android-setup for detailed instructions).
      If the Android SDK has been installed to a custom location, please use
      `flutter config --android-sdk` to update to that location.


[✓] Chrome - develop for the web [15ms]
    • Chrome at google-chrome

[✓] Linux toolchain - develop for Linux desktop [184ms]
    • Debian clang version 14.0.6
    • cmake version 3.25.1
    • ninja version 1.11.1
    • pkg-config version 1.8.1
    ! Unable to access driver information using 'eglinfo'.
      It is likely available from your distribution (e.g.: apt install mesa-utils)

[!] Android Studio (not installed) [12ms]
    • Android Studio not found; download from https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html
      (or visit https://flutter.dev/to/linux-android-setup for detailed instructions).

[✓] VS Code (version unknown) [11ms]
    • VS Code at /usr/share/code
    • Flutter extension version 3.108.0
    ✗ Unable to determine VS Code version.

[✓] Connected device (2 available) [128ms]
    • Linux (desktop) • linux  • linux-x64      • Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm) 6.1.0-31-amd64
    • Chrome (web)    • chrome • web-javascript • Google Chrome 134.0.6998.35

[✓] Network resources [786ms]
    • All expected network resources are available.

Activity

  1. bochelie1000
    changed the title [-]UI flickers on Linux debian when hovering over iconbuttons[/-] [+]delte this please[/+] on Jul 13, 2025
  2. bochelie1000
    closed this as completedon Jul 13, 2025
  3. bochelie1000
    changed the title [-]delte this please[/-] [+]UI flickers when mouse hovers over icon buttons[/+] on Jul 13, 2025
  4. bochelie1000
    reopened this on Jul 13, 2025
  5. bochelie1000
    changed the title [-]UI flickers when mouse hovers over icon buttons[/-] [+]Linux Desktop UI flickers when mouse hovers over icon buttons[/+] on Jul 13, 2025
  6. bochelie1000
    changed the title [-]Linux Desktop UI flickers when mouse hovers over icon buttons[/-] [+]UI flickers on Linux Desktop when mouse hovers over icon buttons[/+] on Jul 13, 2025

  7. danagbemava-nc commented on Jul 14, 2025

    @danagbemava-nc
    danagbemava-nc
    on Jul 14, 2025
    Member

    Hi @bochelie1000, what windowing system are you using? What graphics card are you also using? I can't seem to reproduce this on ubuntu with stable 3.32.6

    Screencast.From.2025-07-14.09-25-40.webm 
    [!] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.32.6, on Ubuntu 25.04 6.14.0-15-generic, locale en_US.UTF-8) [453ms]
    • Flutter version 3.32.6 on channel stable at /home/daniel/fvm/versions/stable
    • Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
    • Framework revision 077b4a4ce1 (6 days ago), 2025-07-08 13:31:08 -0700
    • Engine revision 72f2b18bb0
    • Dart version 3.8.1
    • DevTools version 2.45.1
  8. danagbemava-nc
    added
    waiting for responseThe Flutter team cannot make further progress on this issue until the original reporter responds
    in triagePresently being triaged by the triage team
    on Jul 14, 2025

  9. bochelie1000 commented on Jul 14, 2025

    @bochelie1000
    bochelie1000
    on Jul 14, 2025
    Author

    Well to correctly reproduce you should hover over the iconbuttons and the purple labels an in and out a bit. I have reproduce this on a Linux desktop running Debian with GPU:

    00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Elkhart Lake [UHD Graphics Gen11 16EU] (rev 01)

    I have also reproduced this on a VM running on my Microsoft Surfcace Laptop 4.

    Next I will try this test app on my Ubuntu VM running on a Dell laptop, It will take a while because I need to install this.

  10. github-actions
    removed
    waiting for responseThe Flutter team cannot make further progress on this issue until the original reporter responds
    on Jul 14, 2025

  11. bochelie1000 commented on Jul 14, 2025

    @bochelie1000
    bochelie1000
    on Jul 14, 2025
    Author

    Ok here is what I did. On a Dell laptop I have a Debian and an Ubuntu VM. I tested the test app on both. Yet the issue happens on both systems. This does not happen if run on the windows10 host.

    By the way, this is the third physical machine I tried this on.

    2025-07-14.13-23-22.mp4

  12. danagbemava-nc commented on Jul 15, 2025

    @danagbemava-nc
    danagbemava-nc
    on Jul 15, 2025
    Member

    Hi @bochelie1000, I just tested again and I still do not see the issue. See the recording below https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9ee0603d-6e40-4fe3-9498-ff1af52115ad

    Are you by any chance forcing software rendering on your systems?

  13. danagbemava-nc
    added
    waiting for responseThe Flutter team cannot make further progress on this issue until the original reporter responds
    on Jul 15, 2025

  14. bochelie1000 commented on Jul 15, 2025

    @bochelie1000
    bochelie1000
    on Jul 15, 2025
    Author

    It turns out my VM is forcing software rendering. However, this can not be an issue because if I use flutter v3.27.3 the problem immediately disappears.

  15. 16 remaining items

  16. danagbemava-nc
    added
    waiting for responseThe Flutter team cannot make further progress on this issue until the original reporter responds
    on Jul 25, 2025

  17. tejainece commented on Jul 25, 2025

    @tejainece
    tejainece
    on Jul 25, 2025

    In my case, the rendering stops randomly. The rendering picks up again when i minimize the window and restore it again.

    When the rendering stops, the log messages don't stop. The keys press and mouse clicks in the app, seem to trigger events. When the rendering is working again, I could see that the key presses and mouse clicks I made had the expected impact. So, my guess is that only the rendering stops.

    I use impeller, by the way.

  18. bochelie1000 commented on Jul 25, 2025

    @bochelie1000
    bochelie1000
    on Jul 25, 2025
    Author

    @danagbemava-nc, I just tried again with the master branch, here are the results:

    unset FLUTTER_LINUX_RENDERER and unset LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE result:
    rendering stops randomly and does not restart.

    next FLUTTER_LINUX_RENDERER=gl and unset LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE result:
    rendering stops randomly and does not restart.

    next FLUTTER_LINUX_RENDERER=software and unset LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE result:
    rendering stops randomly and does not restart.

    next FLUTTER_LINUX_RENDERER=software and LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 result:
    rendering stops randomly and does not restart.

    next unset FLUTTER_LINUX_RENDERER and LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 result:
    rendering stops randomly and does not restart.

    next FLUTTER_LINUX_RENDERER=gl and LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 result:
    rendering stops randomly and does not restart.

    The only good thing is that the glitiching disapears.

  19. github-actions
    removed
    waiting for responseThe Flutter team cannot make further progress on this issue until the original reporter responds
    on Jul 25, 2025

  20. Victorq10 commented on Jul 26, 2025

    @Victorq10
    Victorq10
    on Jul 26, 2025

    I also have flickering when I run from Android Studio.

    If I create a build with a command
    flutter build linux --release
    and run my application than flickering is gone.

    Flutter 3.32.8 • channel stable • https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
    Framework • revision edada7c (32 hours ago) • 2025-07-25 14:08:03 +0000
    Engine • revision ef0cd00 (2 days ago) • 2025-07-24 12:23:50 -0700
    Tools • Dart 3.8.1 • DevTools 2.45.1

    Installed as snap in Kubuntu 24.04 on Lenovo T460 with integrated Intel video card.

    Operating System: Kubuntu 24.04
    KDE Plasma Version: 5.27.12
    KDE Frameworks Version: 5.115.0
    Qt Version: 5.15.13
    Kernel Version: 6.8.0-64-generic (64-bit)
    Graphics Platform: X11
    Processors: 4 × Intel® Core™ i5-6200U CPU @ 2.30GHz
    Memory: 22,9 GiB of RAM
    Graphics Processor: Mesa Intel® HD Graphics 520
    Manufacturer: LENOVO
    Product Name: 20FNS03L00
    System Version: ThinkPad T460

    CC: @danagbemava-nc

  21. danagbemava-nc commented on Jul 28, 2025

    @danagbemava-nc
    danagbemava-nc
    on Jul 28, 2025
    Member

    Thanks for the updates.

    Labeling this for further insight.

    cc @robert-ancell, this appears to be another manifestation of #169508, however, some reports (#172079 (comment)) indicate that using the flutter software rendering on master is leading to the UI freezing

  22. danagbemava-nc
    added
    engineflutter/engine related. See also e: labels.
    platform-linuxBuilding on or for Linux specifically
    c: renderingUI glitches reported at the engine/skia or impeller rendering level
    team-linuxOwned by the Linux platform team
    and removed
    in triagePresently being triaged by the triage team
    on Jul 28, 2025
  23. tirth-patel-nc
    added
    a: desktopRunning on desktop
    on Aug 13, 2025

  24. bochelie1000 commented on Oct 3, 2025

    @bochelie1000
    bochelie1000
    on Oct 3, 2025
    Author

    According to #169508 this problem is solved in 3.35 with LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 FLUTTER_LINUX_RENDERER=software.
    I just tried and it is true! The flickering disappear.

    One issue remaining is the high cpu usage with animations. Same app with animation has 16% higher cpu usage.

  25. robert-ancell
    added
    P2Important issues not at the top of the work list
    triaged-linuxTriaged by the Linux platform team
    on Nov 12, 2025
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    P2Important issues not at the top of the work lista: desktopRunning on desktopc: renderingUI glitches reported at the engine/skia or impeller rendering levelengineflutter/engine related. See also e: labels.platform-linuxBuilding on or for Linux specificallyteam-linuxOwned by the Linux platform teamtriaged-linuxTriaged by the Linux platform team

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