nRF Connect for Desktop - Update from 5.3.2 to 5.4.0 breaks UI on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

[Achim Kraus]

Updating nRF Connect for Desktop from 5.3.2 to 5.4.0 resulted in "flickering" UI effects.

The Docu still mentions support for Ubuntu 22.04, is that tested by simply starting it once? Or just build?

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi Achim,

Since the team doesn't expect a quick fix, I suggest downgrading to version 5.3.2—unless you'd like to try the latest Quick Start release v1.10.0.

Also, if feasible, a screen recording would be greatly appreciated so the team knows what to look for in case it's difficult to reproduce.

Regards,
Amanda H.

[Achim Kraus]

Hi Amanda,

Thanks a lot! I already downgraded it to 5.3.2

[Achim Kraus]

Let me add:

I updated the PC to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS - 5.4.0 still flickers

I installed it on an other PC Ubuntu 22.04 LTS - 5.4.0  doesn't flicker

I installed it on an third PC Ubuntu 24.04 LTS - 5.4.0  doesn't flicker

So it may also depend on the PC and luckily 5.3.2 still works. 

[Amanda Hsieh]

This might be related to the GPU used. Can you share the specs of your PC, such as CPU and GPU?

Also, try to run .AppImage from the Terminal with the flags below: ../filename.AppImage --no-sandbox --ozone-platform=x11 and see if it flickers. Then check if the GPU is enabled & all drivers are installed and up to date. I'll see if we can reproduce their spec.

[Achim Kraus]

Using 

./nrfconnect-5.4.0-x86_64.AppImage --no-sandbox --ozone-platform=x11

works without flicker.

------------------------------------------

 *-display                 
       Beschreibung: VGA compatible controller
       Produkt: Cedar [Radeon HD 5000/6000/7350/8350 Series]
       Hersteller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]
       Physische ID: 0
       Bus-Informationen: pci@0000:09:00.0
       Logischer Name: /dev/fb0
       Version: 00
       Breite: 64 bits
       Takt: 33MHz
       Fähigkeiten: pm pciexpress msi vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom fb
       Konfiguration: depth=32 driver=radeon latency=0 mode=1920x1080 resolution=1920,1080 visual=truecolor xres=1920 yres=1080
       Ressourcen: irq:99 memory:e0000000-efffffff memory:fe820000-fe83ffff ioport:d000(Größe=256) memory:c0000-dffff

# Systemdetailsbericht
---

## Berichtdetails
- **Erstellungsdatum:**                            2026-09-08 18:37:23

## Hardware-Informationen:
- **Hardware-Modell:**                             ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. PRIME X470-PRO
- **Speicher:**                                    32,0 GiB
- **Prozessor:**                                   AMD Ryzen 7 2700 × 16
- **Grafik:**                                      AMD CEDAR
- **Festplattenkapazität:**                        3,0 TB

## Software-Informationen:
- **Firmware-Version:**                            4011
- **Name des Betriebssystems:**                    Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS
- **Betriebssystem-Build:**                        (null)
- **Betriebssystem-Typ:**                          64-bit
- **GNOME-Version:**                               46
- **Fenstermanager:**                              Wayland
- **Kernel-Version:**                              Linux 6.8.0-139-generic

[Amanda Hsieh]

It seems adding --ozone-platform=x11 flag worked for you, so we suggest this as a current workaround. You may run an app this way from the CLI or add flags to the .desktop file for convenience.