First, install any available Flatpak updates, restart Stremio, and test it once with GTK’s built-in Adwaita theme. A theme override can fix a bright border caused by GTK theme integration, but if the padding remains, there is currently no confirmed Stremio setting that disables these client-side decorations.
This issue was reported after updating the Stremio Linux Flatpak to version 1.2.0 on Arch Linux with AwesomeWM and X11. The report describes oversized client-side decoration space and a white border that remains visible even in fullscreen.
Why this happens
GTK applications can draw their own window frame, shadows, header area, or padding. These are called client-side decorations because the application toolkit renders them instead of leaving the entire frame to the window manager.
AwesomeWM rules can control placement, size, floating state, borders, and titlebars managed by AwesomeWM. They usually cannot remove pixels that GTK or the application draws inside its own window. That distinction explains why globally disabling window-manager titlebars may not remove the Stremio frame.
The white border may also be a GTK theme or Flatpak theme-integration problem rather than the decoration itself. The reported hardware included an AMD RX6600, but there is no evidence that the GPU causes this particular issue.
1. Update Stremio and restart it completely
Start with the least destructive step:
flatpak update
Close every Stremio window and make sure the application is no longer running before reopening it. If a newer Stremio Linux shell build contains a decoration fix, updating is preferable to changing configuration files or downgrading.
Confirm which Flatpak application ID and version are installed:
flatpak list --app | grep -i stremio
Copy the application ID from that output, then run:
flatpak info APP_ID
Replace APP_ID with the actual ID shown on your system. Do not guess it.
2. Check fullscreen and window-manager borders separately
Test these states individually:
- Normal window
- Maximized or tiled window
- Stremio’s fullscreen mode
- AwesomeWM’s own fullscreen action
If AwesomeWM’s outer border disappears but a white inset remains inside the content, that points toward an application or GTK-rendered frame. If the outer border changes according to your AwesomeWM theme and rules, at least part of it is being managed by the window manager.
Also check whether your AwesomeWM configuration contains a Stremio-specific rule. Search your configuration for the window class or title and for calls that create an awful.titlebar. Back up the configuration before editing it. Removing an AwesomeWM titlebar can eliminate a server-side frame, but it will not remove GTK padding drawn inside the application.
3. Test a neutral GTK theme for one launch
A mismatched or unavailable host theme can sometimes appear as a bright frame around a sandboxed GTK application. Test the built-in Adwaita theme without making a permanent change:
flatpak run --env=GTK_THEME=Adwaita APP_ID
For a dark test, use:
flatpak run --env=GTK_THEME=Adwaita:dark APP_ID
This is a diagnostic override, not a confirmed Stremio fix. It affects only that launch.
Interpret the result as follows:
| Result | Likely meaning | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| White border disappears | Host and Flatpak GTK themes may not be integrating correctly | Use the temporary override or apply it persistently |
| Border changes color but padding remains | Theme controls the appearance, while the shell controls the spacing | Keep the less distracting theme and report the padding upstream |
| Nothing changes | The frame may be built into the Stremio Linux shell rather than the GTK theme | Continue with the inspection steps below |
If the override helps and you want to retain it, apply it only to Stremio:
flatpak override --user --env=GTK_THEME=Adwaita:dark APP_ID
Undo that override with:
flatpak override --user --unset-env=GTK_THEME APP_ID
Avoid granting broad filesystem access just to install a GTK theme. Expanded Flatpak permissions are not necessary for this test.
4. Determine whether GTK owns the frame
Run the following command and click the Stremio window:
xprop
Look for properties such as _GTK_FRAME_EXTENTS, along with the window class and name. The presence of GTK frame extents is a useful clue that client-side shadows or frame space are involved, although it is not conclusive by itself.
Record the relevant lines rather than changing them. Utilities that modify X11 window properties generally cannot remove content that the application redraws, and aggressive rules may break resizing, pointer alignment, or fullscreen behavior.
5. Avoid destructive fixes that are unlikely to help
Do not delete Stremio’s Flatpak data or reset your profile solely for this visual problem. The report ties the change to the Linux shell update, not to corrupted account data, playback data, or addons.
Reinstallation is also unlikely to alter GTK decoration behavior when the same version and package are installed again. Likewise, switching graphics drivers is not justified without additional rendering symptoms such as corruption, flickering, or crashes.
Downgrading may temporarily restore previous behavior, but no known-good Flatpak commit was supplied in the report. An older build can also miss later fixes. If you consider a rollback, preserve your data and use only a commit that you can verify came from the configured Flatpak remote.
What worked for affected users
No completed workaround or maintainer-confirmed fix was included in the available report. The reporter requested an option to enable or disable GTK4 window decorations, but that request is not evidence that such a setting currently exists.
The Adwaita launch override above is therefore best treated as a safe diagnostic and appearance workaround. It may reduce or recolor the white border when theme integration is responsible, but it cannot be presented as a universal way to remove the underlying padding.
6. Provide a useful bug report if the frame remains
If the latest Flatpak still shows the border, add a concise reproduction report containing:
- Stremio version and Flatpak application ID
- Output of
flatpak info APP_ID - Arch Linux and AwesomeWM versions
- Confirmation that the session is X11
- Current GTK theme
- Whether Adwaita and Adwaita Dark changed the result
- Whether the border remains in both application and WM fullscreen modes
- Relevant
xproplines - Screenshots of normal and fullscreen states
Do not post authentication tokens, account details, complete environment dumps, or unrelated private configuration. Mention whether the problem began immediately after upgrading from a specific known version, if you can verify that version locally.
FAQ
Can AwesomeWM forcibly remove the GTK padding?
Not reliably if the padding is rendered inside the application window. AwesomeWM can remove its own titlebar and border, but an application-side frame generally requires a GTK theme change or a change in the Stremio Linux shell.
Is there a Stremio decoration toggle?
The available report does not confirm one in version 1.2.0. Avoid following instructions that refer to an undocumented setting unless it is visible in your installed build.
Why does the border remain in fullscreen?
That suggests it may be an internal shell margin, GTK shadow, or theme-rendered area rather than an ordinary AwesomeWM border. Comparing application fullscreen with WM fullscreen helps narrow down which component owns it.
Should I switch from X11 to Wayland?
Not solely for this issue. The report concerns AwesomeWM on X11, and there is no supplied evidence that changing the entire session resolves it.
Last reviewed: September 7, 2026