Arch Linux

cvmd

Member

Registered: 2023-04-06

Posts: 17

Hyprland with SDDM and mullvad-vpn

Hello!

I'm running Hyprland with SDDM login manager on a fresh arch install. I use the mullvad-vpn app from the AUR.

My issue is that mullvad-vpn app takes >1 min to start and the app (but not the vpn connection) is very buggy and often stops responding after a short time.

I have tried following the Hyprland FAQ and added this to my hyprland.conf

env = XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP,Hyprland
env=XDG_SESSION_TYPE,wayland
env=XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP,Hyprland
exec-once = dbus-update-activation-environment --systemd WAYLAND_DISPLAY XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
exec-once = ~/bin/hyprland.sh

where hyprland.sh is taken directly from the Hyprland FAQ

!/usr/bin/env bash
sleep 4
killall -e xdg-desktop-portal-hyprland
killall xdg-desktop-portal
/usr/lib/xdg-desktop-portal-hyprland &
sleep 4
/usr/lib/xdg-desktop-portal &

All other apps, such as bitwarden and signal-desktop launch without issue before  and after adding the above. The only problem seems to be with the mullvad-vpn app, even though the actual VPN connection is working fine.

Help much appreciated. Thanks!

frogeatfrog-world

Member

Registered: 2025-10-23

Posts: 3

Re: Hyprland with SDDM and mullvad-vpn

Boosting this.

I'm also on Arch, Hyprland, with SDDM.
Same behavior you describe.

LuxFerre

Member

Registered: 2010-03-01

Posts: 110

Re: Hyprland with SDDM and mullvad-vpn

Isn't it easier to just use wireguard?

frogeatfrog-world

Member

Registered: 2025-10-23

Posts: 3

Re: Hyprland with SDDM and mullvad-vpn

I'm still in the process of setting up hyprland.
I didn't have a notification daemon set up yet. I think that was the problem, at least on my end.
Hopefully this helps OP.

As for wireguard, I'm just not used to it and I switch between VPNs a lot.

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,517

Re: Hyprland with SDDM and mullvad-vpn

Does this happen if you disable sddm and start Hyprland from the command line?   Sounds like a dbus issue.    And yes, a notification daemon is mandatory. https://wiki.hypr.land/Useful-Utilities/Must-have/

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frogeatfrog-world

Member

Registered: 2025-10-23

Posts: 3

Re: Hyprland with SDDM and mullvad-vpn

Does this happen if you disable sddm and start Hyprland from the command line?   Sounds like a dbus issue.    And yes, a notification daemon is mandatory. https://wiki.hypr.land/Useful-Utilities/Must-have/

This works as a far as a workaround goes. Thanks for the link btw.

I'll note that mullvad is in my hyprland.conf as a startup app, and if if it starts up too fast it will fail to minimize to tray in waybar which also causes similar behavior. I set it to sleep for a few seconds before launching so between that and lauching through the tty everything works now.

exec-once = sleep 5 && mullvad-vpn