LizardByte · ReenigneArcher · Jan 26, 2026 · Jan 25, 2026
diff --git a/cmake/FindSystemd.cmake b/cmake/FindSystemd.cmake
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ IF (NOT WIN32)
             OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
             OUTPUT_VARIABLE SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR)
 
+        execute_process(COMMAND ${PKG_CONFIG_EXECUTABLE}
+            --variable=systemd_user_preset_dir systemd
+            OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
+            OUTPUT_VARIABLE SYSTEMD_USER_PRESET_INSTALL_DIR)
+
         execute_process(COMMAND ${PKG_CONFIG_EXECUTABLE}
             --variable=systemd_system_unit_dir systemd
             OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
@@ -29,7 +34,7 @@ IF (NOT WIN32)
             OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
             OUTPUT_VARIABLE SYSTEMD_MODULES_LOAD_DIR)
 
-        mark_as_advanced(SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR SYSTEMD_SYSTEM_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR SYSTEMD_MODULES_LOAD_DIR)
+        mark_as_advanced(SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR SYSTEMD_USER_PRESET_INSTALL_DIR SYSTEMD_SYSTEM_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR SYSTEMD_MODULES_LOAD_DIR)
 
     endif ()
 

diff --git a/cmake/packaging/linux.cmake b/cmake/packaging/linux.cmake
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ if(${SUNSHINE_BUILD_APPIMAGE} OR ${SUNSHINE_BUILD_FLATPAK})
             DESTINATION "${SUNSHINE_ASSETS_DIR}/systemd/user")
     install(FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/sunshine-kms.service"
             DESTINATION "${SUNSHINE_ASSETS_DIR}/systemd/user")
+    install(FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/00-sunshine-kms.preset"
+            DESTINATION "${SUNSHINE_ASSETS_DIR}/systemd/user-preset")
 else()
     find_package(Systemd)
     find_package(Udev)
@@ -33,6 +35,8 @@ else()
                 DESTINATION "${SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR}")
         install(FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/sunshine-kms.service"
                 DESTINATION "${SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR}")
+        install(FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/00-sunshine-kms.preset"
+                DESTINATION "${SYSTEMD_USER_PRESET_INSTALL_DIR}")
         install(FILES "${SUNSHINE_SOURCE_ASSETS_DIR}/linux/misc/60-sunshine.conf"
                 DESTINATION "${SYSTEMD_MODULES_LOAD_DIR}")
     endif()

diff --git a/cmake/prep/special_package_configuration.cmake b/cmake/prep/special_package_configuration.cmake
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ elseif(UNIX)
     # configure service
     configure_file(packaging/linux/sunshine.service.in sunshine.service @ONLY)
     configure_file(packaging/linux/sunshine-kms.service.in sunshine-kms.service @ONLY)
+    configure_file(packaging/linux/00-sunshine-kms.preset.in 00-sunshine-kms.preset @ONLY)
 
     # configure the arch linux pkgbuild
     if(${SUNSHINE_CONFIGURE_PKGBUILD})

diff --git a/docs/getting_started.md b/docs/getting_started.md
@@ -274,16 +274,11 @@ flatpak install --user ./sunshine_{arch}.flatpak
 flatpak run --command=additional-install.sh dev.lizardbyte.app.Sunshine
 ```
 
-##### Run with NVFBC capture (X11 Only)
+##### Run with NVFBC capture (X11 Only) or XDG Portal (Wayland Only)
 ```bash
 flatpak run dev.lizardbyte.app.Sunshine
 ```
 
-##### Run with KMS capture (Wayland & X11)
-```bash
-sudo -i PULSE_SERVER=unix:/run/user/$(id -u $whoami)/pulse/native flatpak run dev.lizardbyte.app.Sunshine
-```
-
 ##### Uninstall
 ```bash
 flatpak run --command=remove-additional-install.sh dev.lizardbyte.app.Sunshine
@@ -430,9 +425,10 @@ After adding yourself to the group, log out and log back in for the changes to t
 systemctl --user start sunshine
 ```
 
-**Start on boot**
+**Start on boot (unprivileged; swap logic for KMS)**
 ```bash
-systemctl --user enable sunshine
+systemctl --user --now disable sunshine-kms
+systemctl --user --now enable sunshine
 ```
 
 ### macOS

diff --git a/docs/troubleshooting.md b/docs/troubleshooting.md
@@ -164,14 +164,14 @@ If screencasting fails with KMS, you may be using the unprivileged sunshine serv
 sunshine-kms service:
 
 ```bash
-systemctl --user disable sunshine
-systemctl --user enable sunshine-kms --now
+systemctl --user --now disable sunshine
+systemctl --user --now enable sunshine-kms
 ```
 
 > [!NOTE]
-> The above command will not work with the AppImage or Flatpak packages. Please refer to the
-> [AppImage setup](md_docs_2getting__started.html#appimage) or
-> [Flatpak setup](md_docs_2getting__started.html#flatpak) for more specific instructions.
+> The above commands will not work with the AppImage or Flatpak packages, as KMS screencasting
+> requires elevated privileges which are not allowed by their respective packaging security policies.
+> As an alternative, XDG Portal capture is recommended.
 
 ### KMS streaming fails on Nvidia GPUs
 If KMS screen capture results in a black screen being streamed, you may need to

diff --git a/packaging/linux/00-sunshine-kms.preset.in b/packaging/linux/00-sunshine-kms.preset.in
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# @PROJECT_DESCRIPTION@
+# KMS service should preset to disabled
+
+disable sunshine-kms.service
diff --git a/packaging/linux/AppImage/AppRun b/packaging/linux/AppImage/AppRun
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ function install() {
   cp -r "$SUNSHINE_SHARE_HERE/systemd/user/" ~/.config/systemd/
   # patch service executable path
   sed -i -e "s#$SUNSHINE_PATH#$(readlink -f $ARGV0)#g" ~/.config/systemd/user/sunshine.service
-  sed -i -e "s#$SUNSHINE_PATH#$(readlink -f $ARGV0)#g" ~/.config/systemd/user/sunshine-kms.service
 
   # setcap
   sudo setcap cap_sys_admin+p "$(readlink -f "$SUNSHINE_BIN_HERE")"
@@ -73,7 +72,6 @@ function remove() {
 
   # remove service
   sudo rm -f ~/.config/systemd/user/sunshine.service
-  sudo rm -f ~/.config/systemd/user/sunshine-kms.service
 }
 
 # process arguments

diff --git a/packaging/linux/copr/Sunshine.spec b/packaging/linux/copr/Sunshine.spec
@@ -313,9 +313,10 @@ fi
 %caps(cap_sys_admin+p) %{_bindir}/sunshine
 %caps(cap_sys_admin+p) %{_bindir}/sunshine-*
 
-# Systemd unit files for user services
+# Systemd unit/preset files for user services
 %{_userunitdir}/sunshine.service
 %{_userunitdir}/sunshine-kms.service
+%{_userpresetdir}/00-sunshine-kms.preset
 
 # Udev rules
 %{_udevrulesdir}/*-sunshine.rules

diff --git a/packaging/linux/dev.lizardbyte.app.Sunshine.metainfo.xml b/packaging/linux/dev.lizardbyte.app.Sunshine.metainfo.xml
@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@
       <code>flatpak run --command=additional-install.sh @PROJECT_FQDN@</code>
     </p>
     <p>NOTE: Sunshine uses a self-signed certificate. The web browser will report it as not secure, but it is safe.</p>
-    <p>NOTE: KMS Grab (Flatpak)</p>
-    <p>
-      <code>sudo -i PULSE_SERVER=unix:/run/user/$(id -u $whoami)/pulse/native flatpak run @PROJECT_FQDN@</code>
-    </p>
   </description>
 
   <releases>

diff --git a/packaging/linux/flatpak/scripts/additional-install.sh b/packaging/linux/flatpak/scripts/additional-install.sh
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@
 # User Service
 mkdir -p ~/.config/systemd/user
 cp "/app/share/sunshine/systemd/user/sunshine.service" "$HOME/.config/systemd/user/sunshine.service"
-cp "/app/share/sunshine/systemd/user/sunshine-kms.service" "$HOME/.config/systemd/user/sunshine-kms.service"
-echo "Sunshine User Services have been installed."
-echo "Use [systemctl --user enable sunshine] or [systemctl --user enable sunshine-kms] once to autostart Sunshine on login."
+echo "Sunshine User Service has been installed."
+echo "Use [systemctl --user enable sunshine] once to autostart Sunshine on login."
 
 # Load uhid (DS5 emulation)
 UHID=$(cat /app/share/sunshine/modules-load.d/60-sunshine.conf)

diff --git a/packaging/linux/flatpak/scripts/remove-additional-install.sh b/packaging/linux/flatpak/scripts/remove-additional-install.sh
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@
 # User Service
 systemctl --user stop sunshine
 rm "$HOME/.config/systemd/user/sunshine.service"
-rm "$HOME/.config/systemd/user/sunshine-kms.service"
 systemctl --user daemon-reload
-echo "Sunshine User Services have been removed."
+echo "Sunshine User Service has been removed."
 
 # Remove rules
 flatpak-spawn --host pkexec sh -c "rm /etc/modules-load.d/60-sunshine.conf"