Does not start in the tray on Ubuntu 22.04 due to missing Qt platform plugin

Start by locating the Ubuntu 22.04 .deb packaging metadata and checking how its dependencies are declared. Verify that adding qt6-qpa-plugins allows the packaged Sunshine installation to start with the system tray enabled, then test that the xcb plugin error no longer occurs.

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Is your issue described in the documentation?

• I have read the documentation

Is your issue present in the latest beta/pre-release?

I'm too lazy to test

Describe the Bug

I encountered this bug on two systems: one with a fresh install and another after upgrading to v2026.914.233613.

For the fresh install, I followed the instructions here for apt install on Debian/Ubuntu.
After starting with sunshine it begins startup but then crashes with the following:

Warning: Qt: Could not find the Qt platform plugin "xcb" in ""
Aborted (core dumped)

This happens when it is trying to start in the tray, so a workaround is to set system_tray = disabled in sunshine.conf but it doesn't fix the core problem.

This is due to a missing dependency: Sunshine links Qt6, but no Qt6 xcb platform plugin is installed. The only libqxcb.so on the system is a Qt5 copy inside a snap:

$ ldd /usr/bin/sunshine | grep -i qt
 libQt6Widgets.so.6 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libQt6Widgets.so.6
...
$ find / -iname "libqxcb.so" 2>/dev/null
/snap/gnome-46-2404/164/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/qt5/plugins/platforms/libqxcb.so

Expected Behavior

Sunshine starts in the tray

Additional Context

The actual fix is installing the Qt platform plugins package qt6-qpa-plugins:

sudo apt install qt6-qpa-plugins

Suggested fix: add qt6-qpa-plugins to the Depends (or Recommends) of the Ubuntu 22.04 .deb.

Host Operating System

Linux

Operating System Version

Ubuntu 22.04

Architecture

amd64/x86_64

Package

Linux - deb

GPU Type

NVIDIA

GPU Model

RTX 4090

GPU Driver/Mesa Version

580/595

Capture Method

None - happens during startup regardless of capture method.

Apps

Log output

[2026-09-23 15:58:22.173219] [0x00007b619a386000] [info]    [misc] has_elevated_privileges found permitted cap:21
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.173243] [0x00007b619a386000] [info]    [misc] drop_elevated_privileges succeeded in dropping capabilities
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.173267] [0x00007b619a386000] [info]    [misc] has_elevated_privileges found permitted cap:23
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.173272] [0x00007b619a386000] [info]    [misc] drop_elevated_privileges succeeded in dropping capabilities
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.173292] [0x00007b619a386000] [info]    config: 'upnp' = enabled
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.173]: Info: Sunshine version: 2026.914.233613 commit: 63d35f702ee9e362e43263742981836ec0710384
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.173]: Info: Package Publisher: LizardByte
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.173]: Info: Publisher Website: https://app.lizardbyte.dev
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.173]: Info: Get support: https://app.lizardbyte.dev/support
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.173]: Info: config: 'upnp' = enabled
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.347]: Info: Found [1] outputs
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.347]: Info: Virtual Desktop: 1920x1080
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.347]: Info: XrandR: available
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.347]: Info: -- Output --
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.347]: Info:   Resolution: 1920x1080
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.347]: Info:   Offset: 0x0
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.365]: Error: Couldn't release NvFBC context from current thread: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.365]: Info: Detecting displays
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.412]: Info: Detected display: HDMI-0 (id: 0)HDMI-0 connected: true
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.412]: Info: Detected display: DP-0 (id: 1)DP-0 connected: false
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.412]: Info: Detected display: DP-1 (id: 2)DP-1 connected: false
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.412]: Info: Detected display: HDMI-1 (id: 3)HDMI-1 connected: false
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.412]: Info: Detected display: DP-2 (id: 4)DP-2 connected: false
[2026-09-23 15:58:22.412]: Info: Detected display: DP-3 (id: 5)DP-3 connected: false
[2026-09-23 15:58:26.954]: Error: [wayland] Environment variable WAYLAND_DISPLAY has not been defined
[2026-09-23 15:58:26.955]: Info: [portalgrab] Found stream for display id/name: '' position: 0x0 resolution: 1920x1080
[2026-09-23 15:58:26.961]: Info: // Testing for available encoders, this may generate errors. You can safely ignore those errors. //
[2026-09-23 15:58:26.961]: Info: Trying encoder [nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:26.961]: Info: Screencasting with NvFBC
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.082]: Info: Creating encoder [h264_nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.083]: Info: Color coding: SDR (Rec. 601)
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.083]: Info: Color depth: 8-bit
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.083]: Info: Color range: JPEG
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.142]: Info: Streaming bitrate is 1000000
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.177]: Info: Creating encoder [hevc_nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.177]: Info: Color coding: SDR (Rec. 601)
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.177]: Info: Color depth: 8-bit
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.177]: Info: Color range: JPEG
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.177]: Info: Streaming bitrate is 1000000
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.210]: Info: Creating encoder [av1_nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.210]: Info: Color coding: SDR (Rec. 601)
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.210]: Info: Color depth: 8-bit
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.210]: Info: Color range: JPEG
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.210]: Info: Streaming bitrate is 1000000
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.260]: Error: Couldn't release NvFBC context from current thread: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.260]: Info: Screencasting with NvFBC
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.379]: Info: Creating encoder [h264_nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.379]: Info: Color coding: SDR (Rec. 601)
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.379]: Info: Color depth: 8-bit
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.379]: Info: Color range: JPEG
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.379]: Info: Streaming bitrate is 1000000
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.435]: Error: Couldn't release NvFBC context from current thread: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.435]: Info: Screencasting with NvFBC
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.550]: Info: Creating encoder [hevc_nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.550]: Info: Color coding: SDR (Rec. 601)
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.550]: Info: Color depth: 8-bit
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.550]: Info: Color range: JPEG
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.550]: Info: Streaming bitrate is 1000000
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.599]: Error: Couldn't release NvFBC context from current thread: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.599]: Info: Screencasting with NvFBC
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.713]: Info: Creating encoder [hevc_nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.713]: Info: Color coding: SDR (Rec. 709)
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.713]: Info: Color depth: 10-bit
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.713]: Info: Color range: JPEG
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.713]: Info: Streaming bitrate is 1000000
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.729]: Error: cuda::cuda_t doesn't support any format other than AV_PIX_FMT_NV12 and AV_PIX_FMT_YUV444P
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.756]: Error: Couldn't release NvFBC context from current thread: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.756]: Info: Screencasting with NvFBC
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.868]: Info: Creating encoder [hevc_nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.868]: Info: Color coding: SDR (Rec. 709)
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.868]: Info: Color depth: 10-bit
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.868]: Info: Color range: JPEG
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.869]: Info: Streaming bitrate is 1000000
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.887]: Error: cuda::cuda_t doesn't support any format other than AV_PIX_FMT_NV12 and AV_PIX_FMT_YUV444P
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.915]: Error: Couldn't release NvFBC context from current thread: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:27.915]: Info: Screencasting with NvFBC
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.029]: Info: Creating encoder [av1_nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.029]: Info: Color coding: SDR (Rec. 601)
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.029]: Info: Color depth: 8-bit
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.029]: Info: Color range: JPEG
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.029]: Info: Streaming bitrate is 1000000
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.033]: Warning: [av1_nvenc @ 0x575296b4ae00] YUV444P not supported
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.033]: Error: [av1_nvenc @ 0x575296b4ae00] Provided device doesn't support required NVENC features
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.034]: Error: Could not open codec [av1_nvenc]: Function not implemented
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.052]: Error: Couldn't release NvFBC context from current thread: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.052]: Info: Screencasting with NvFBC
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.163]: Info: Creating encoder [av1_nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.163]: Info: Color coding: SDR (Rec. 709)
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.163]: Info: Color depth: 10-bit
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.163]: Info: Color range: JPEG
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.163]: Info: Streaming bitrate is 1000000
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.181]: Error: cuda::cuda_t doesn't support any format other than AV_PIX_FMT_NV12 and AV_PIX_FMT_YUV444P
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.211]: Error: Couldn't release NvFBC context from current thread: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.211]: Info: Screencasting with NvFBC
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.326]: Info: Creating encoder [av1_nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.326]: Info: Color coding: SDR (Rec. 709)
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.326]: Info: Color depth: 10-bit
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.326]: Info: Color range: JPEG
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.326]: Error: av1_nvenc: YUV 4:4:4 not supported
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.343]: Error: Couldn't release NvFBC context from current thread: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.343]: Info: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.343]: Info: // Ignore any errors mentioned above, they are not relevant. //
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.343]: Info: 
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.343]: Info: Found H.264 encoder: h264_nvenc [nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.343]: Info: Found HEVC encoder: hevc_nvenc [nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.343]: Info: Found AV1 encoder: av1_nvenc [nvenc]
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.343]: Info: Starting system tray
[2026-09-23 15:58:28.344]: Warning: Qt: Could not find the Qt platform plugin "xcb" in ""
Aborted (core dumped)

Online logs

No response