wayvnc
A VNC server that shares a running wlroots-based Wayland session such as Sway.
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About wayvnc
wayvnc attaches to a running Wayland session on a wlroots-based compositor, creates virtual input devices and exposes the desktop over VNC, so any VNC client can view and control it. A companion command, wayvncctl, controls the running server.
It only works with wlroots-based compositors; GNOME, KDE and Weston are not supported. It is built from source with Meson or installed from a distribution's packages, and suits people running Sway or a similar compositor who need remote access.
Strengths
- Shares an existing Wayland session rather than a separate virtual desktop
- Works with any standard VNC client
- Control utility for scripting the running server
Limitations
- Does not support GNOME, KDE or Weston
- Configured from the command line with no graphical setup
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- ISC
- Developer
- The wayvnc contributors
- Platforms
- Linux, Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Sway and other wlroots compositor users who need remote access to their desktop
- Categories
- Remote desktop
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to wayvnc
Compare allSoftware that can replace wayvnc for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
GNOME Remote Desktop
A remote desktop server for GNOME that lets you connect to your Linux machine over RDP or VNC.
GNOME Remote Desktop serves GNOME sessions over RDP or VNC instead of wlroots compositors like Sway, and is configured within the GNOME desktop.
Krfb
A KDE desktop sharing server that lets another person view or control your session through VNC.
Krfb shares an existing desktop over VNC with any standard client and ships with KDE Gear, but it fits best on KDE Plasma rather than Sway.
TigerVNC
A fast, cross-platform VNC client and server built for real work, including 3D and video over the wire.
TigerVNC provides a VNC server with TLS encryption for Windows, macOS and Linux, but it is not built to share a running wlroots Wayland session.
TurboVNC
A VNC server and viewer tuned for image-heavy work, so 3D applications and video stay usable over a network.
TurboVNC is a GPL-2.0 VNC server tuned for 3D and image-heavy work, running as a general workstation server rather than sharing an existing Sway session.
xrdp
Open-source RDP server that gives standard Remote Desktop clients a graphical login to Linux machines.
xrdp is an RDP server giving standard Remote Desktop clients a graphical Linux login, depending on the xorgxrdp module rather than sharing a wlroots session.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
noVNC
An open-source VNC client that runs in a web browser using HTML5 WebSockets and Canvas.
Remmina
The standard Linux remote desktop client, with plugins for RDP, VNC, SSH, SPICE and X2Go behind one connection list.
AVNC
Open-source VNC client for Android with configurable gestures, virtual keys and a built-in SSH tunnel.
KRDC
KDE's remote desktop client for viewing and controlling other computers over VNC and RDP.
bVNC
Open-source VNC client for Android, part of a suite that also covers RDP, SPICE and oVirt.
