veracrypt
VeraCrypt window is not visible and is transparent using the DisplayLink
After starting VeraCrypt, the application window is not visible and is transparent on the externally connected monitor using the DisplayLink device.
Expected behavior
The application windows should be visible on all display devices
Observed behavior
The application window is visible on the laptop screen but not on the DisplayLink connected monitor.
Steps to reproduce
- Start the VeraCrypt application
Screenshots
External monitor
Your Environment
MacBook Pro with Apple silicon M3 Pro
VeraCrypt version: VeraCrypt_FUSE-T_1.26.20.dmg
Operating system and version: macOS Sequia 15.3.1
System type: 64-bit
DisplayLink version: 1.12 https://www.synaptics.com/products/displaylink-graphics/downloads/macos
DisplayLink device: UGREEN Revodok Pro 209 https://eu.ugreen.com/products/copy-of-weekly-sale-product-9-in-1-usb-c-docking-station
Same on macOS Seqoia 15.5, MacBook Pro M1, installed through brew using Dell D6000 (DisplayLink) Dock. Even after reinstall.
Can you please start VeraCrypt using the following command from Terminal:
/Applications/VeraCrypt.app/Contents/MacOS/VeraCrypt --allow-screencapture
Close any existing instance first and then run the above command.
Since version 1.26.18, VeraCrypt disables software screen capture by default as a security measure. The above command line switch disables this protection.
If it solves the problem, it will mean that DisplayLink is using software screen capture.
There is no option in VeraCrypt UI to disable this protection. I will add one.
I can confirm starting Veracrypt from the shell with the following command works.
/Applications/VeraCrypt.app/Contents/MacOS/VeraCrypt --allow-screencapture
Can you please start VeraCrypt using the following command from Terminal:
/Applications/VeraCrypt.app/Contents/MacOS/VeraCrypt --allow-screencaptureClose any existing instance first and then run the above command.
Since version 1.26.18, VeraCrypt disables software screen capture by default as a security measure. The above command line switch disables this protection.
If it solves the problem, it will mean that DisplayLink is using software screen capture.
There is no option in VeraCrypt UI to disable this protection. I will add one.
The possibility of having this option configurable in the VeraCrypt UI would be really helpful.
Can also confirm. /Applications/VeraCrypt.app/Contents/MacOS/VeraCrypt --allow-screencapture works with DisplayLink. Additionally: It's right that DisplayLink uses Screen Capture. You need to give screen recording permissions for DisplayLink and also can't get rid of the "purple observing" icon in the menubar (Your screen is beeing recorded) in the menubar since latest macOS.
I just ran into this problem today. I would also like to vote for an option to disable the screen capture protection. Thank you!
... as a follow-up...
I have two Windows 10 computers and I am using one to connect and administer the other via Anyviewer. The second computer is supposed to function like a NAS which holds multiple HDDs with Veracrypt encryption. When I need to access any of these disks, I was planning to connect to the second one, mount them and access them from the first computer. However, when I connect to the second computer and ran Veracrypt, its window is not visible. The second computer does not have a monitor but when I attached one I can see Veracrypt window. However, there will not be a monitor attached to the second at other times. Thus, it is impossible for me to use Veracrypt via Anyviewer. Is is because of the same feature,, i.e. screen capture blocking?
Thank you for this amazing software...
@Fulgura-Frango Yes, there is also a screen protection feature on Windows but it can be disabled during installing through a checkbox in the MSI or Setup dialog. You can also change it through the menu "Settings ->Performance/Driver Configuration".
Of course, if you are connecting remotely, the solution is to reinstall VeraCrypt and check the option to disable screen protection (MSI/Setup are not protected and so they will be visible remotely).
@idrassi Could this be done for macOS too please? I just tried VeraCrypt_FUSE-T_1.26.24.dmg and there was no such option in the installer or in the settings after installation (unless maybe I am blind...).
Thanks for such a great job maintaining this program, I have been using it for years!
@Fulgura-Frango Yes, there is also a screen protection feature on Windows but it can be disabled during installing through a checkbox in the MSI or Setup dialog. You can also change it through the menu "Settings ->Performance/Driver Configuration".
Of course, if you are connecting remotely, the solution is to reinstall VeraCrypt and check the option to disable screen protection (MSI/Setup are not protected and so they will be visible remotely).
And how would this work in portable mode? I was planning to use portable and its window is not visible either. I could not check this myself as I am not near the computers at the moment. Thanks again.
@Fulgura-Frango For Windows portable mode, you will need to disable screen protection through registry: Create a reg file and write the following content to it:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\veracrypt]
"VeraCryptEnableScreenProtection"=dword:00000000
then everytime before starting VeraCrypt portable, double click on this .reg file to install its content into the registry.
I will think about a more user-friendly way for Windows portable mode (probably command line switch like macOS).
I have pushed a change that adds a new switch "/protectScreen no" that allows to disable screen protection in portable mode (it has no effect in install mode): https://github.com/veracrypt/VeraCrypt/commit/5627e7a738f13ce4ca05b98a0f0de6b2183d5d26
This change is included in the beta version 1.26.26 that I published on Sourceforge for Argon2 support: https://sourceforge.net/projects/veracrypt/files/VeraCrypt%20Nightly%20Builds/Windows/
I tried but it did not work in 1.26.26 portable mode.
I used VeraCrypt-x64.exe and I can see the program is running on the taskbar but its window is not visible.
I tried with the reg file method and it worked exactly the same way as version 24.
I use Anyviewer to connect to the server PC which has the encrypted drives.
What are the options to have this configurable in the VeraCrypt UI in the near future? Thanks.
@Fulgura-Frango For Windows portable mode, you will need to disable screen protection through registry: Create a reg file and write the following content to it:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\veracrypt] "VeraCryptEnableScreenProtection"=dword:00000000then everytime before starting VeraCrypt portable, double click on this .reg file to install its content into the registry.
I will think about a more user-friendly way for Windows portable mode (probably command line switch like macOS).
thank you
