How To Change Desktop Resolution From Terminal For KDE5 Running On Wayland?

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Introduction

As a user of KDE5 on Arch Linux with Wayland, you may have encountered issues with changing the desktop resolution from the GUI settings. When you try to apply a new resolution, you might see an "unsupported" message on your monitor. In this article, we will explore how to change the desktop resolution from the terminal for KDE5 running on Wayland.

Understanding Wayland and KDE5

Wayland is a display server protocol that provides a more secure and efficient alternative to the traditional X11 display server. KDE5 is a popular desktop environment that supports Wayland. While Wayland offers many benefits, it can also introduce some challenges when it comes to configuring the display settings.

The Problem with GUI Settings

When you try to change the desktop resolution from the GUI settings in KDE5, you might encounter issues with the "apply" button. This is because the GUI settings are not always able to communicate with the Wayland display server correctly. As a result, you might see an "unsupported" message on your monitor, even if the new resolution is actually supported by your graphics card.

Using the Terminal to Change Resolution

Fortunately, you can use the terminal to change the desktop resolution for KDE5 running on Wayland. This method allows you to bypass the GUI settings and communicate directly with the Wayland display server.

Step 1: Identify Your Graphics Card

To change the desktop resolution from the terminal, you need to identify your graphics card. You can use the lspci command to list all the PCI devices on your system, including your graphics card.

lspci | grep VGA

This command will output the name of your graphics card, which you can use to identify the correct driver to use.

Step 2: Install the Correct Driver

Once you have identified your graphics card, you need to install the correct driver. For example, if you have an AMD graphics card, you need to install the amdgpu driver.

sudo pacman -S amdgpu

Step 3: Set the Resolution

To set the resolution, you can use the xrandr command. This command allows you to set the resolution, refresh rate, and other display settings.

xrandr --output <output_name> --mode <resolution>

Replace <output_name> with the name of your output device (e.g. "eDP-1" or "HDMI-1"), and <resolution> with the desired resolution (e.g. "1920x1080").

Step 4: Save the Settings

To save the settings, you can use the xrandr command with the --set option.

xrandr --output <output_name> --mode <resolution> --set <setting>

Replace <setting> with the desired setting (e.g. "refresh rate" or "orientation").

Step 5: Reboot

Finally, you need to reboot your system to apply the changes.

sudo reboot

Example Use Cases

Here are some example use cases for changing the desktop resolution from the terminal:

  • Setting a new resolution: xrandr --output eDP-1 --mode 1920x1080
  • Setting a new refresh rate: xrandr --output eDP-1 --mode 1920x1080 --set refresh_rate 60
  • Setting a new orientation: xrandr --output eDP-1 --mode 1920x1080 --set orientation normal

Conclusion

Changing the desktop resolution from the terminal for KDE5 running on Wayland can be a bit more complicated than using the GUI settings. However, by following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily change the resolution and save the settings. Remember to identify your graphics card, install the correct driver, set the resolution, save the settings, and reboot your system to apply the changes.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while changing the desktop resolution from the terminal, here are some troubleshooting tips:

  • Check the output device name: Make sure you are using the correct output device name (e.g. "eDP-1" or "HDMI-1").
  • Check the resolution: Make sure you are using the correct resolution (e.g. "1920x1080").
  • Check the refresh rate: Make sure you are using the correct refresh rate (e.g. "60").
  • Check the orientation: Make sure you are using the correct orientation (e.g. "normal").

Additional Resources

For more information on changing the desktop resolution from the terminal, you can refer to the following resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about changing the desktop resolution from the terminal for KDE5 running on Wayland.

Q: What is the difference between Wayland and X11?

A: Wayland is a display server protocol that provides a more secure and efficient alternative to the traditional X11 display server. While X11 is a mature technology, Wayland offers many benefits, including improved security, better performance, and more flexibility.

Q: Why can't I change the desktop resolution from the GUI settings?

A: The GUI settings in KDE5 may not always be able to communicate with the Wayland display server correctly, which can cause issues with changing the desktop resolution. By using the terminal, you can bypass the GUI settings and communicate directly with the Wayland display server.

Q: How do I identify my graphics card?

A: You can use the lspci command to list all the PCI devices on your system, including your graphics card.

lspci | grep VGA

This command will output the name of your graphics card, which you can use to identify the correct driver to use.

Q: How do I install the correct driver?

A: Once you have identified your graphics card, you need to install the correct driver. For example, if you have an AMD graphics card, you need to install the amdgpu driver.

sudo pacman -S amdgpu

Q: How do I set the resolution?

A: To set the resolution, you can use the xrandr command.

xrandr --output <output_name> --mode <resolution>

Replace <output_name> with the name of your output device (e.g. "eDP-1" or "HDMI-1"), and <resolution> with the desired resolution (e.g. "1920x1080").

Q: How do I save the settings?

A: To save the settings, you can use the xrandr command with the --set option.

xrandr --output <output_name> --mode <resolution> --set <setting>

Replace <setting> with the desired setting (e.g. "refresh rate" or "orientation").

Q: Do I need to reboot my system after changing the desktop resolution?

A: Yes, you need to reboot your system after changing the desktop resolution to apply the changes.

sudo reboot

Q: What are some common issues I might encounter when changing the desktop resolution from the terminal?

A: Some common issues you might encounter when changing the desktop resolution from the terminal include:

  • Incorrect output device name: Make sure you are using the correct output device name (e.g. "eDP-1" or "HDMI-1").
  • Incorrect resolution: Make sure you are using the correct resolution (e.g. "1920x1080").
  • Incorrect refresh rate: Make sure you are using the correct refresh rate (e.g. "60").
  • Incorrect orientation: Make sure you are using the correct orientation (e.g. "normal").

Q: Where can I find more information about changing the desktop resolution from the terminal?

A: For more information about changing the desktop resolution from the terminal, you can refer to the following resources:

By following the steps outlined in this article and using the resources provided, you can easily change the desktop resolution from the terminal for KDE5 running on Wayland.