Question: How do I deal with the situation on an Ubuntu system where when I try to minimize a Wine window, the window becomes transparent?

ChatGPT answer:

This is a fairly common issue with Wine + Ubuntu’s compositor (Compiz / Mutter / KWin depending on your desktop). The transparent window usually happens because of a compositing, graphics driver, or Wine window manager interaction bug.

Here’s how to fix it step by step.

✅ 1. First: Identify Your Desktop Environment

On Ubuntu, this usually affects:

• GNOME (default Ubuntu)

• Compiz (older Ubuntu / Unity)

• KDE Plasma

Run:

echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP

🔧 Fixes (Try in Order)

🥇 Fix 1: Disable Wine Window Manager Control (Most Common Fix)

1. Run:

   winecfg

2. Go to Graphics

3. Try toggling:

   • ✅ “Allow the window manager to decorate the windows”

   • ✅ “Allow the window manager to control the windows”

If they’re enabled → disable them
If disabled → enable them

Test which combination fixes it.

🥈 Fix 2: Disable Desktop Effects (Compositor)

Transparent windows are usually a compositing issue.

On GNOME (Ubuntu default):

Temporarily disable compositor:

gsettings set org.gnome.mutter experimental-features "[]"

Or test by running Wine under:

env WINEDLLOVERRIDES="winemenubuilder.exe=d" wine yourapp.exe

If you're on X11, you can also try:

export MESA_GL_VERSION_OVERRIDE=4.5
wine yourapp.exe

🥉 Fix 3: Disable GPU Acceleration in Wine

Some NVIDIA/AMD drivers cause this.

Open:

winecfg

Under Graphics, try:

• Enable → “Emulate a virtual desktop”

• Set a resolution (e.g. 1280x720)

This bypasses compositor interaction completely.

🥇 Fix 4: If Using NVIDIA Drivers

If you’re using proprietary NVIDIA drivers:

Run:

nvidia-settings

Try disabling:

• Force Full Composition Pipeline

Or check which driver you’re using:

nvidia-smi

If you're on Wayland, switch to X11 at login screen (very common fix).

🥈 Fix 5: Switch from Wayland to X11

Wine works much more reliably on X11.

At login screen:

• Click gear icon

• Select Ubuntu on Xorg

Log in and test again.

🥉 Fix 6: Disable Desktop Animations

On GNOME:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface enable-animations false

Re-enable later with:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface enable-animations true

🧠 Why This Happens

Wine creates Windows-style windows.
Ubuntu’s compositor sometimes:

• Loses the texture buffer

• Fails to repaint after minimize

• Breaks transparency layer

Result: Invisible/transparent window until redraw.

🎯 Quickest Reliable Fix (Most Users)

If you just want it solved quickly:

1. Switch to Xorg

2. Enable “Emulate virtual desktop” in winecfg

That fixes it in ~90% of cases.

Related articles:

1. Wine window becoming transparent with an attempt to resize it