Public bug reported:
### Problem
Flameshot is unable to capture screenshots when launched from the GNOME
application launcher on Ubuntu 24.04 (Wayland session).
The same command works correctly when executed from a terminal:
flameshot gui
However, launching Flameshot via GNOME launcher results in:
"Unable to capture screen"
---
### Environment
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (fully up to date)
- GNOME 46
- Wayland session (XDG_SESSION_TYPE=wayland)
- Flameshot installed via apt (org.flameshot.Flameshot)
---
### Logs
From xdg-desktop-portal:
No permissions stored for: screenshot screenshot, app
org.flameshot.Flameshot
Failed to show access dialog:
GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.AccessDenied:
Only the focused app is allowed to show a system access dialog
---
### Analysis
The issue appears to be caused by an interaction between:
- GNOME Shell focus model (Wayland)
- xdg-desktop-portal permission flow
- application launch via GNOME launcher
Flow:
1. Flameshot requests screenshot access via portal
2. No permission is stored yet
3. Portal attempts to show permission dialog
4. GNOME rejects dialog because the app is not considered "focused"
5. Permission cannot be granted → screenshot fails
This creates a deadlock:
no permission → dialog required → dialog blocked → no permission
---
### Workaround
Manually pre-seeding permission resolves the issue completely:
dbus-send --session \
--dest=org.freedesktop.impl.portal.PermissionStore \
/org/freedesktop/impl/portal/PermissionStore \
org.freedesktop.impl.portal.PermissionStore.SetPermission \
string:'screenshot' boolean:true string:'screenshot' \
string:'org.flameshot.Flameshot' array:string:'yes'
After this, Flameshot works correctly from the GNOME launcher.
---
### Expected behavior
Flameshot launched from the GNOME launcher should be able to:
- show the permission dialog, or
- obtain focus in a way that allows the dialog to be shown
---
### Actual behavior
- Permission dialog is never shown
- Screenshot functionality fails permanently when launched from launcher
---
### Notes
This appears to be an integration issue rather than an application bug.
It may be related to how GNOME Shell determines "focused application"
for portal permission dialogs.
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 24.04
Package: xdg-desktop-portal-gnome 46.2-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.8.0-107.107-generic 6.8.12
Uname: Linux 6.8.0-107-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.28.1-0ubuntu3.8
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Sat Apr 11 11:46:09 2026
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-09-28 (1656 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 21.04 "Hirsute Hippo" - Release amd64 (20210420)
SourcePackage: xdg-desktop-portal-gnome
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to noble on 2026-02-08 (62 days ago)
** Affects: xdg-desktop-portal-gnome (Ubuntu)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Tags: amd64 apport-bug noble wayland-session
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Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2148068
Title:
Flameshot cannot capture screen when launched from GNOME launcher on
Wayland due to portal permission dialog being blocked by focus
restriction
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