Wallpaper displays behind default Windows desktop, can hear but not see unless "Win+tab" is used.

[Magius]

This is an interesting one. I have a Samsung display that has never worked well with the PC sleeping. So, every time I walk out for a long while, I turn it off. Doing so is the equivalent of disconnecting the display, because Samsung is Samsung.

This stresses Wallpaper Engine somewhat but it has always worked fine. I would get a "can't recognize your display" every now and again but the wallpapers showed up fine all the same.

Until the new versions of Windows 11 with Copilot and Windows Engine.

Now, once I turn the display back on, WE does not complain about the display but nothing is displayed. The wallpaper is applied, because a video will play its soundtrack, but only the default desktop shows up. Restarting WE solves nothing. Logging off and back on gets everything working back again.

This morning I discovered the wallpaper is actually there. It is applied but remains hidden behind the default desktop. Pressing the "WIndows key + tab" to change apps, reveals the WE background hiding behind the Win desktop.

Update:
And just after posting this I found a DUMB workaround.
Using the shortcut for File Explorer (Win+e) brings the WE wallpaper to the front again. LMAO! I will check a few more things and update here if I find something more permanent.

Now WE came back on its own, so it doesn't seem to happen 100% of the time. sigh

It doesn't happen if it's only a short time but does happen after a longer amount of time. Win+E brings it back 100%.

[FACL-Mister X]

Same problem for me with an acer display. Happened right after the Update.

[Tim]

Can you downgrade back to Wallpaper Engine 2.2 and see if the issue persists? Right-click on Wallpaper Engine -> Properties -> BETAS -> select "previous" from the list.

Most-likely it's related to the Windows update and not the Wallpaper Engine update but it would be a good start to validate this first since we have not come across this issue.

Also please let me know if you are using any Windows Insider beta updates or if you have used them previously.

[Magius]

Happens on 2.2.x as well. It is the new WIn 11 update. :)

Win+E restores the Wallpaper Engine's desktop, right after File Explorer launches.
Nothing else I have tried so far works, besides logging out and back in that is.

And I am not part of the WIndows Insider betas.

Thanks for reaching back, love the work you guys do with Wallpaper Engine!

[Tim]

Since we haven't been able to reproduce this problem yet, it'll take some digging on our end. Could you send me a log file from our analysis tool and outlined here:

https://help.wallpaperengine.io/en/debug/scantool_support.html

Include a quick link back to this thread so that I know what it's about, we'll look into it.