Stremio complains about ICU lib version mismatch on arch systems

[jocker-il]

Hello,

The last update on my CachyOS Linux system completely broke Stremio and now it won't show the main window, only the tray icon and nothing works there - not even the "quit" option. thinking it was a QT issue I found a report that seemed to suggest it's due to Stremio not updated to QT6 so I posted there and a nice person helped me try to resolve the issue but it still persist as I'm unable to update the qtwebengine module

systems specs:

OS: CachyOS x86_64
Kernel: Linux 6.17.8-2-cachyos
DE: KDE Plasma 6.5.2
WM: KWin (Wayland)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Lite Hash Rate [Discrete]
Locale: en_US.UTF-8

I've tried running it from the terminal and the result is below:

❯ stremio
QQmlApplicationEngine failed to load component
qrc:/main.qml:2:1: plugin cannot be loaded for module "QtWebEngine": Cannot load library /usr/lib/qt/qml/QtWebEngine/libqtwebengineplugin.so: (libicui18n.so.76: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory)
QObject::connect: Cannot connect MainApp::receivedMessage(QVariant, QVariant) to (nullptr)::onAppMessageReceived(QVariant, QVariant)

and I seem to have an unsupported ICU version:

~
❯ pacman -Q icu
icu 78.1-1.1

even installing the needed ICU76 didn't provide the desired function and a new error appears:

'
WebEngineContext used before QtWebEngine::initialize() or OpenGL context creation failed.
Cannot mix incompatible Qt library (5.15.17) with this library (5.15.18)
fish: Job 1, 'stremio' terminated by signal SIGABRT (Abort)
'

but at least now the notification icon doesn't get stuck as the application exits

[genericCandy]

I don't know much about CachyOS, but given that it's Arch-based, i'm guessing you installed Stremio from AUR. In that case, that looks to me like the CachyOS update updated a dependency of Stremio, which required the older version and now doesn"t work.

What is the output of checkrebuild -v ? Try to reinstall those packages (AUR package is rebuild-detector)

[jocker-il]

thank you for the reply,

the output is a long list of missing files or links for three packages:

• proton-ge-custom-bin
• xplayer
• xplayer-plparser

the complete output is in the attached file

checkrebuild_-v output.txt

but I'd say the real problem is Stremio depending on outdated and vulnerable libraries - and that needs addressing, not just for Arch users, cause sooner rather then later other systems WILL update to QT6 and ICU 78 - we're just in the front (and seem to be testing and finding the flaws of other applications sooner because of that :) )

[wiredmatt]

Qt5 was dropped from AUR. See Dropping qt5-webengine.

I'm not familiar with Qt6, unsure about how big the migration effort might be.

In the meantime you can use... flatpak.

[genericCandy]

Qt5 was dropped from AUR. See Dropping qt5-webengine.

qt5-webengine wasn't dropped from AUR, it was dropped from official Arch repos and then moved to AUR, so Stremio can technically depend on it a little while longer

But yeah, that doesn't solve the big issue that is "Stremio should move to Qt6 quickly"

[jocker-il]

But yeah, that doesn't solve the big issue that is "Stremio should move to Qt6 quickly"

that's the main point here - Stremio should make the move to the current established tools it relays on

personally, I'd like to avoid using Flatpak if I can, so if anyone can help me compile that qt6 version someone made and is mentioned in the other thread, I'd be grateful, as I don't know how that's done or if I have the right tools installed to compile a git into a working application

[vejeta]

people - I'd like to avoid using Flatpak if I can, so if anyone can help me compile that qt6 version someone made and is mentioned in the other thread, I'd be grateful, as I don't know how that's done or if I have the right tools installed to compile a git into a working application

Compiling stremio with qt6 is a very big effort that can take months, that is not an easy path that requires rewriting stremio.

I wouldn´t recomment it compiling it yourself either, if you are not experienced with compiling.

For a regular user that is just starting to install software. Just be wise with your time:

Just provide the qt5-qtwebengine from AUR as genericCandy said above OR move to flatpak.

I would choose the AUR option.

[jocker-il]

Alternatively, if anyone has any other player that can play directly from magnet-turrents I'd love to hear about it :)

[vejeta]

I dont know how tied you are to Arch or CachyOS, but for the Debian distribution, I prepared packages that can be installed from https://debian.vejeta.com/

But again, the easy thing for you is just install qt5-qtwebengine, it is just probably one line command for CachyOs (sorry I can´tt give more details as I am not familiar with it, but if you ask in an CachyOs or Arch forum, they can surely give you one single command and fix your problem in ten seconds, I truly believe you are overcomplicating the issue)

[jocker-il]

Thanks @vejeta , but there is already a github from someone that did the work - I just need to compile it, but if you think that is too big a job for a noob like me (self defined, not saying you said it), then I have a problem, because every location I check says that Qt5-webengine has vulnerabilities - and that's worse.

I mean - I ran from windows to Linux to be rid of anyone having easy access to my private files (no kids or anything like that, just privacy),

and, for now - I'd rather not leave CachyOS, though I'm starting to be annoyed with the constant issues with the fast-changing landscape here and cutting-edge software updates :( but for me it's easier then installing another distro and starting over with configuring everything the way I like it now, and Cachy is the fastest gaming platform as of now - that's important to me as well

[vejeta]

Thanks @vejeta , but there is already a github from someone that did the work - I just need to compile it, but if you think that is too big a job for a noob like me (self defined, not saying you said it), then I have a problem, because every location I check says that Qt5-webengine has vulnerabilities - and that's worse.

I mean - I ran from windows to Linux to be rid of anyone having easy access to my private files (no kids or anything like that, just privacy)

I believe you are mixing subjects right now...more overcomplicating...

All software has vulnerabilities, that doesn´t mean that all of them are critical. Stremio is highly tied to Qt5-qtwebengine, you can't easily change that. Unless you want to become a QT developer and spend months to port Stremio to QT6.

Your options from my point of view are:

I order them from wise to crazy order, I am just trying to help as I would want someone to help me if they had more experience and could give me some sense:

SANE OPTIONS (compromise a little bit on your wishes but you get Stremio installed)

• Install Qt5-qtwebengine: 5 seconds task.
• Use a flatpak package of stremio (it includes all the dependencies bundled on it: 5 minutes task)
• Use Stremio Docker. https://github.com/tsaridas/stremio-docker/ They provide docker images with Stremio already compiling and working and can be used anywhere. You must learn to use docker (10 minutes - several hours, depending on how familiar you are with it)

MEDIUM OPTIONS

• Change the Linux Distribution. (Go to Debian/Ubuntu. I provided packages for it. People have already tested it). It can take hours to days to change a distribution.

• Compiling yourself: https://github.com/Stremio/stremio-linux-shell/ (This Stremio version is based on GTK, instead of QT5).
  It can take days for a non experienced person, and again all software contains vulnerabilities, they are just not discovered or reported.

CRAZY

• Port Stremio to QT6: Several months for an experienced developer. Unknown time for a non-developer.

I hope that clarifies things a little bit. :)

[jocker-il]

@vejeta , thanks for sticking with me on this - I've tried again to update qt5-webengine and I run into the same error 503 - looks like it won't download the git... do that's a no-go,

I guess next is trying flatpak - I'm not going to switch distros now or learn docker anytime soon (though I might use this weekend to try...)

can I find you anywhere - LinkedIn or discord for a more PM based convo instead of this back-and-forward in a GitHub thread ? (I'm in the CachyOS discord server if you can bother to find me through it - it might make for a better conversation option)

(BTW, I'm a security professional so I know something about vulnerabilities and the need to avoid them as much as possible - I read about one at least, every day...). the windows thing was actually because I hated the new win8 look and feel and then the probing changes in the next versions and having to work around them - a lot of work, thought Nix' maintenance also feels like too much work for just surfing and gaming plus some office work on occasion. luckily, my over 25 year experience with computers and their OSs starting with the famous DOS 2.2 has given me some ability to coup with this "new world" (and a course or two on Nix', WinNT and Novell)

[vejeta]

@jocker-il Unfortunately I am not much of a discord user, I tend to habitate more decentralized protocols like USENET or Mastodon, or IRC :P But hopefully you find enough information here:

The reason you're getting 503 errors is that qt5-webengine has been completely removed from Arch repositories (both official and AUR) as of November 8th, 2025. It's not coming back: https://lists.archlinux.org/archives/list/arch-dev-public@lists.archlinux.org/thread/U45C4RAW4IXVLO376XGFNLEGGFFXCULV/

For you: Install Flatpak Stremio. It's your only realistic option and it's much safer than the alternative.

Why this is okay for your privacy goals:

I dont like flatpak, but seeing CachyOS current situation...flatpak will provide for you

Stremio runs in its own container, separate from your personal files.
Even if something goes wrong, it can't easily access your private documents.
You can control what it accesses using a tool called "Flatseal".

This is an imperfect solution, but imperfect isolation is much better than no isolation at all. At the end you are the one that must choose and weight the pros and cons.

[vejeta]

@jocker-il Last option also, use: https://web.stremio.com/
https://github.com/Stremio/stremio-web

Not what you originally wanted...but I can´t think of more options :D

[jocker-il]

looks like the web version doesn't like to "sail the high seas" ;-) nvm - I'll install Flatpak and then use that for Stremio and probably other stuff - the Discovery store seems to require it as well, so I was probably going to install it anyway (Flatpak) I get where you coming from with the chat locations - you must be either my generation or the one before (boomer ?), I didn't stay with IRC for long - I think windows/MS ruined it for me with the apps that I had to keep hunting for and the advancement of modern chat applications and mobile apps...

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On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 12:34 AM Juan Manuel Méndez Rey < ***@***.***> wrote: *vejeta* left a comment (Stremio/stremio-shell#462) <#462 (comment)> @jocker-il <https://github.com/jocker-il> Last option also, use: https://web.stremio.com/ https://github.com/Stremio/stremio-web Not what you originally wanted...but I can´t think of more options :D — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#462 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADDNTXJARFEQIRMBPEX4OHL35T5ALAVCNFSM6AAAAACMQRHP4CVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTKNJVGA3TOOJQGQ> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>