cursor: different cursor getting used for different apps

[unlux]

I assert that this issue is relevant for Stylix

• [x] I assert that this is a bug and not a user error or support request.
• [x] I assert that this is not a duplicate of an existing issue.

Description

my config has cursor configured as follows,

    cursor = {
      name = "Adwaita Cursors";
      package = pkgs.adwaita-icon-theme;
      size = 14;
    };

but i get the different cursors ( and sizes ) in different apps. please check the screenshots attatched below.

zen-browser:

nautilus:

the size is very big and different,

notification panel:

the cursor is same as nautilus, but the size is different.

flake.lock

"stylix": {
      "inputs": {
        "base16": "base16",
        "base16-fish": "base16-fish",
        "base16-helix": "base16-helix",
        "base16-vim": "base16-vim",
        "firefox-gnome-theme": "firefox-gnome-theme",
        "flake-compat": "flake-compat_4",
        "flake-utils": "flake-utils_2",
        "git-hooks": "git-hooks",
        "gnome-shell": "gnome-shell",
        "home-manager": "home-manager_2",
        "nixpkgs": "nixpkgs_5",
        "nur": "nur",
        "systems": "systems_2",
        "tinted-foot": "tinted-foot",
        "tinted-kitty": "tinted-kitty",
        "tinted-schemes": "tinted-schemes",
        "tinted-tmux": "tinted-tmux",
        "tinted-zed": "tinted-zed"
      },
      "locked": {
        "lastModified": 1743464673,
        "narHash": "sha256-XQXrK7o2c/5VgiyaSbaIeKhtfhSiF5ykppITYzPnXtk=",
        "owner": "danth",
        "repo": "stylix",
        "rev": "711bd28ac96dec8c9187f8db4a297677eef2e654",
        "type": "github"
      },
      "original": {
        "owner": "danth",
        "repo": "stylix",
        "type": "github"
      }
    },

Installation Method

NixOS

System Information

• system: "x86_64-linux"
• host os: Linux 6.6.85, NixOS, 25.05 (Warbler), 25.05.20250330.52faf48
• multi-user?: yes
• sandbox: yes
• version: nix-env (Determinate Nix 3.1.1) 2.27.1
• nixpkgs: /nix/store/mphw46pqiq3x60wq22zna385dw56h2ib-source

Notify maintainers

@danth, @trueNAHO

[unlux]

my gnome tweaks page looks like this i have not modified anything

[trueNAHO]

Thanks for reporting this. I believe this has been a faulty Stylix behaviour for a long time.

I think this is caused by some applications not picking up our general cursor support. In that case, we have to implement cursor support for those individual applications.

For reference, a similar problem has already been mentioned in https://github.com/danth/stylix/issues/814.

[unlux]

welcome, i'd like to add another point, on system boot, the cursor is completely dead, once i log in it never reappers until next boot.

the white translucent box is the cursor

also, i checked the issue you mentioned, i have rebuilt my config many times and reinstalled nixos once in the meantime as well, and the issue is consistent.

this is my whole config,

{
  pkgs,
  lib,
  ...
}: {
  stylix = {
    enable = true;

    autoEnable = true;
    base16Scheme = "${pkgs.base16-schemes}/share/themes/rose-pine.yaml";
    cursor = {
      name = "Adwaita Cursors";
      package = pkgs.adwaita-icon-theme;
      size = 14;
    };
    fonts = {
      monospace = {
        package = pkgs.nerd-fonts.commit-mono;
        name = "CommitMono Nerd Font Regular";
      };
      serif = {
        name = "Cantarell";
        package = pkgs.cantarell-fonts;
      };

      sansSerif = {
        name = "Cantarell";
        package = pkgs.cantarell-fonts;
      };
      emoji = {
        package = pkgs.noto-fonts-emoji;
        name = "Noto Color Emoji";
      };
      sizes = {
        applications = 12;
        desktop = 10;
        popups = 10;
        terminal = 12;
      };
    };
    polarity = "dark";

    homeManagerIntegration = {
      autoImport = true;
      followSystem = true;
    };

    # image = null;
    # imageScalingMode = "fill";

    opacity = { # not working in gnome -_- 
      applications = 0.9;
      desktop = 0.9;
      popups = 0.9;
      terminal = 0.9;
    };
     };
}

also, if it might be possible, disable any stylix interferance/setup for cursor might fix considering this issue is non-existent without it. as in, stylix doesnt change any setting for cursors, and lets it be the default as per the wm.

[Flameopathic]

also, if it might be possible, disable any stylix interferance/setup for cursor might fix considering this issue is non-existent without it. as in, stylix doesnt change any setting for cursors, and lets it be the default as per the wm.

if i properly understand what you mean, #943 implemented this functionality and it should be available to you.

[unlux]

i'll try it when i can next, but it is still better if we manage the inconsistency along with the cursor missing on boot. i am not building my config unless needed, so that i can provide you any logs you need. happy to help.

[unlux]

sorry i forgot to update, the 'null' property is working fine, but if i want to change the cursor, i cant. so i'd still like us to proceed with fixing the issue.

[danth]

@unlux I believe the correct name for the theme may be Adwaita, not Adwaita Cursors:

[danth@horologium:~]$ nix build nixpkgs#adwaita-icon-theme
[danth@horologium:~]$ head result/share/icons/Adwaita/index.theme 
[Icon Theme]
Name=Adwaita

Can you check whether this fixes your issue?