diff --git a/src/composite.cpp b/src/composite.cpp
index 2f375a15f1..3a77e12b61 100644
--- a/src/composite.cpp
+++ b/src/composite.cpp
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class CompositorSelectionOwner : public KSelectionOwner
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
     CompositorSelectionOwner(const char *selection)
-        : KSelectionOwner(selection, kwinApp()->x11Connection(), rootWindow())
+        : KSelectionOwner(selection, kwinApp()->x11Connection(), kwinApp()->x11RootWindow())
         , m_owning(false)
     {
         connect (this, &CompositorSelectionOwner::lostOwnership,
diff --git a/src/effects.h b/src/effects.h
index effacfef20..bb18a6e545 100644
--- a/src/effects.h
+++ b/src/effects.h
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ QList<EffectWindow*> EffectsHandlerImpl::elevatedWindows() const
 inline
 xcb_window_t EffectsHandlerImpl::x11RootWindow() const
 {
-    return rootWindow();
+    return kwinApp()->x11RootWindow();
 }
 
 inline
diff --git a/src/events.cpp b/src/events.cpp
index 2d57f9c86c..e4ed633bb2 100644
--- a/src/events.cpp
+++ b/src/events.cpp
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ bool Workspace::workspaceEvent(xcb_generic_event_t *e)
     // events that should be handled before Clients can get them
     switch (eventType) {
     case XCB_CONFIGURE_NOTIFY:
-        if (reinterpret_cast<xcb_configure_notify_event_t*>(e)->event == rootWindow())
+        if (reinterpret_cast<xcb_configure_notify_event_t*>(e)->event == kwinApp()->x11RootWindow())
             markXStackingOrderAsDirty();
         break;
     };
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ bool Workspace::workspaceEvent(xcb_generic_event_t *e)
     switch (eventType) {
     case XCB_CREATE_NOTIFY: {
         const auto *event = reinterpret_cast<xcb_create_notify_event_t*>(e);
-        if (event->parent == rootWindow() &&
+        if (event->parent == kwinApp()->x11RootWindow() &&
                 !QWidget::find(event->window) &&
                 !event->override_redirect) {
             // see comments for allowClientActivation()
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ bool Workspace::workspaceEvent(xcb_generic_event_t *e)
 
     case XCB_CONFIGURE_REQUEST: {
         const auto *event = reinterpret_cast<xcb_configure_request_event_t*>(e);
-        if (event->parent == rootWindow()) {
+        if (event->parent == kwinApp()->x11RootWindow()) {
             uint32_t values[5] = { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0};
             const uint32_t value_mask = event->value_mask
                                         & (XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_X | XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_Y | XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_WIDTH | XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_HEIGHT | XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_BORDER_WIDTH);
@@ -278,13 +278,13 @@ bool Workspace::workspaceEvent(xcb_generic_event_t *e)
     }
     case XCB_FOCUS_IN: {
         const auto *event = reinterpret_cast<xcb_focus_in_event_t*>(e);
-        if (event->event == rootWindow()
+        if (event->event == kwinApp()->x11RootWindow()
                 && (event->detail == XCB_NOTIFY_DETAIL_NONE || event->detail == XCB_NOTIFY_DETAIL_POINTER_ROOT || event->detail == XCB_NOTIFY_DETAIL_INFERIOR)) {
             Xcb::CurrentInput currentInput;
             updateXTime(); // focusToNull() uses xTime(), which is old now (FocusIn has no timestamp)
             // it seems we can "loose" focus reversions when the closing client hold a grab
             // => catch the typical pattern (though we don't want the focus on the root anyway) #348935
-            const bool lostFocusPointerToRoot = currentInput->focus == rootWindow() && event->detail == XCB_NOTIFY_DETAIL_INFERIOR;
+            const bool lostFocusPointerToRoot = currentInput->focus == kwinApp()->x11RootWindow() && event->detail == XCB_NOTIFY_DETAIL_INFERIOR;
             if (!currentInput.isNull() && (currentInput->focus == XCB_WINDOW_NONE || currentInput->focus == XCB_INPUT_FOCUS_POINTER_ROOT || lostFocusPointerToRoot)) {
                 //kWarning( 1212 ) << "X focus set to None/PointerRoot, reseting focus" ;
                 AbstractClient *c = mostRecentlyActivatedClient();
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ bool X11Client::windowEvent(xcb_generic_event_t *e)
                 setOpacity(info->opacityF());
             } else {
                 // forward to the frame if there's possibly another compositing manager running
-                NETWinInfo i(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), frameId(), rootWindow(), NET::Properties(), NET::Properties2());
+                NETWinInfo i(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), frameId(), kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(), NET::Properties(), NET::Properties2());
                 i.setOpacity(info->opacity());
             }
         }
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ void X11Client::unmapNotifyEvent(xcb_unmap_notify_event_t *e)
     if (e->event != wrapperId()) {
         // most probably event from root window when initially reparenting
         bool ignore = true;
-        if (e->event == rootWindow() && (e->response_type & 0x80))
+        if (e->event == kwinApp()->x11RootWindow() && (e->response_type & 0x80))
             ignore = false; // XWithdrawWindow()
         if (ignore)
             return;
diff --git a/src/group.cpp b/src/group.cpp
index 2ba52f3e21..843259f7ac 100644
--- a/src/group.cpp
+++ b/src/group.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ Group::Group(xcb_window_t leader_P)
 {
     if (leader_P != XCB_WINDOW_NONE) {
         leader_client = workspace()->findClient(Predicate::WindowMatch, leader_P);
-        leader_info = new NETWinInfo(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), leader_P, rootWindow(),
+        leader_info = new NETWinInfo(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), leader_P, kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(),
                                      NET::Properties(), NET::WM2StartupId);
     }
     effect_group = new EffectWindowGroupImpl(this);
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ QIcon Group::icon() const
         return leader_client->icon();
     else if (leader_wid != XCB_WINDOW_NONE) {
         QIcon ic;
-        NETWinInfo info(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), leader_wid, rootWindow(), NET::WMIcon, NET::WM2IconPixmap);
+        NETWinInfo info(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), leader_wid, kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(), NET::WMIcon, NET::WM2IconPixmap);
         auto readIcon = [&ic, &info, this](int size, bool scale = true) {
             const QPixmap pix = KWindowSystem::icon(leader_wid, size, size, scale, KWindowSystem::NETWM | KWindowSystem::WMHints, &info);
             if (!pix.isNull()) {
diff --git a/src/main_x11.cpp b/src/main_x11.cpp
index 8c6a1a8eb8..d6084debcf 100644
--- a/src/main_x11.cpp
+++ b/src/main_x11.cpp
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ void ApplicationX11::lostSelection()
     destroyCompositor();
     destroyWorkspace();
     // Remove windowmanager privileges
-    Xcb::selectInput(rootWindow(), XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE);
+    Xcb::selectInput(kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(), XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE);
     removeNativeX11EventFilter();
     quit();
 }
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ void ApplicationX11::performStartup()
         const uint32_t maskValues[] = {XCB_EVENT_MASK_SUBSTRUCTURE_REDIRECT};
         ScopedCPointer<xcb_generic_error_t> redirectCheck(xcb_request_check(kwinApp()->x11Connection(),
                                                                             xcb_change_window_attributes_checked(kwinApp()->x11Connection(),
-                                                                                                                 rootWindow(),
+                                                                                                                 kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(),
                                                                                                                  XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK,
                                                                                                                  maskValues)));
         if (!redirectCheck.isNull()) {
diff --git a/src/netinfo.cpp b/src/netinfo.cpp
index 75892f8c5c..5b1a85d7b7 100644
--- a/src/netinfo.cpp
+++ b/src/netinfo.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ RootInfo *RootInfo::create()
     Q_ASSERT(!s_self);
     xcb_window_t supportWindow = xcb_generate_id(kwinApp()->x11Connection());
     const uint32_t values[] = {true};
-    xcb_create_window(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), XCB_COPY_FROM_PARENT, supportWindow, KWin::rootWindow(),
+    xcb_create_window(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), XCB_COPY_FROM_PARENT, supportWindow, kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(),
                       0, 0, 1, 1, 0, XCB_COPY_FROM_PARENT,
                       XCB_COPY_FROM_PARENT, XCB_CW_OVERRIDE_REDIRECT, values);
     const uint32_t lowerValues[] = { XCB_STACK_MODE_BELOW }; // See usage in layers.cpp
diff --git a/src/unmanaged.cpp b/src/unmanaged.cpp
index 689e2e98e9..3c02ccf012 100644
--- a/src/unmanaged.cpp
+++ b/src/unmanaged.cpp
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ bool Unmanaged::track(xcb_window_t w)
     checkOutput();
     m_visual = attr->visual;
     bit_depth = geo->depth;
-    info = new NETWinInfo(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), w, rootWindow(),
+    info = new NETWinInfo(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), w, kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(),
                           NET::WMWindowType | NET::WMPid,
                           NET::WM2Opacity |
                           NET::WM2WindowRole |
diff --git a/src/workspace.cpp b/src/workspace.cpp
index a8b0a8604b..adc618c8e5 100644
--- a/src/workspace.cpp
+++ b/src/workspace.cpp
@@ -312,7 +312,10 @@ void Workspace::initializeX11()
     // Compatibility
     int32_t data = 1;
 
-    xcb_change_property(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), XCB_PROP_MODE_APPEND, rootWindow(), atoms->kwin_running,
+    xcb_change_property(kwinApp()->x11Connection(),
+                        XCB_PROP_MODE_APPEND,
+                        kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(),
+                        atoms->kwin_running,
                         atoms->kwin_running, 32, 1, &data);
 
     if (kwinApp()->operationMode() == Application::OperationModeX11) {
@@ -352,7 +355,7 @@ void Workspace::initializeX11()
         // Begin updates blocker block
         StackingUpdatesBlocker blocker(this);
 
-        Xcb::Tree tree(rootWindow());
+        Xcb::Tree tree(kwinApp()->x11RootWindow());
         xcb_window_t *wins = xcb_query_tree_children(tree.data());
 
         QVector<Xcb::WindowAttributes> windowAttributes(tree->children_len);
@@ -1241,12 +1244,12 @@ void Workspace::slotDesktopRemoved(VirtualDesktop *desktop)
 void Workspace::selectWmInputEventMask()
 {
     uint32_t presentMask = 0;
-    Xcb::WindowAttributes attr(rootWindow());
+    Xcb::WindowAttributes attr(kwinApp()->x11RootWindow());
     if (!attr.isNull()) {
         presentMask = attr->your_event_mask;
     }
 
-    Xcb::selectInput(rootWindow(),
+    Xcb::selectInput(kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(),
                      presentMask |
                      XCB_EVENT_MASK_KEY_PRESS |
                      XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE |
@@ -1319,7 +1322,7 @@ bool Workspace::isOnCurrentHead()
         return !is_multihead;
     }
 
-    return rootWindow() == geometry->root;
+    return kwinApp()->x11RootWindow() == geometry->root;
 }
 
 void Workspace::sendClientToOutput(AbstractClient *client, AbstractOutput *output)
@@ -2866,7 +2869,7 @@ void Workspace::setMoveResizeClient(AbstractClient *c)
 // (the property with the size of the frame remains on the window after the crash).
 void Workspace::fixPositionAfterCrash(xcb_window_t w, const xcb_get_geometry_reply_t *geometry)
 {
-    NETWinInfo i(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), w, rootWindow(), NET::WMFrameExtents, NET::Properties2());
+    NETWinInfo i(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), w, kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(), NET::WMFrameExtents, NET::Properties2());
     NETStrut frame = i.frameExtents();
 
     if (frame.left != 0 || frame.top != 0) {
diff --git a/src/x11client.cpp b/src/x11client.cpp
index e824771fab..0f78da2ab3 100644
--- a/src/x11client.cpp
+++ b/src/x11client.cpp
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ void X11Client::releaseWindow(bool on_shutdown)
     m_client.deleteProperty(atoms->kde_net_wm_user_creation_time);
     m_client.deleteProperty(atoms->net_frame_extents);
     m_client.deleteProperty(atoms->kde_net_wm_frame_strut);
-    m_client.reparent(rootWindow(), m_bufferGeometry.x(), m_bufferGeometry.y());
+    m_client.reparent(kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(), m_bufferGeometry.x(), m_bufferGeometry.y());
     xcb_change_save_set(c, XCB_SET_MODE_DELETE, m_client);
     m_client.selectInput(XCB_EVENT_MASK_NO_EVENT);
     if (on_shutdown)
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ bool X11Client::manage(xcb_window_t w, bool isMapped)
 
     m_geometryHints.init(window());
     m_motif.init(window());
-    info = new WinInfo(this, m_client, rootWindow(), properties, properties2);
+    info = new WinInfo(this, m_client, kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(), properties, properties2);
 
     if (isDesktop() && bit_depth == 32) {
         // force desktop windows to be opaque. It's a desktop after all, there is no window below
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ bool X11Client::manage(xcb_window_t w, bool isMapped)
             if (opacity() == 1.0) {
                 return;
             }
-            NETWinInfo info(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), frameId(), rootWindow(), NET::Properties(), NET::Properties2());
+            NETWinInfo info(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), frameId(), kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(), NET::Properties(), NET::Properties2());
             info.setOpacityF(opacity());
         }
     );
@@ -1014,7 +1014,7 @@ void X11Client::embedClient(xcb_window_t w, xcb_visualid_t visualid, xcb_colorma
 
     // Create the frame window
     xcb_window_t frame = xcb_generate_id(conn);
-    xcb_create_window(conn, depth, frame, rootWindow(), 0, 0, 1, 1, 0,
+    xcb_create_window(conn, depth, frame, kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(), 0, 0, 1, 1, 0,
                       XCB_WINDOW_CLASS_INPUT_OUTPUT, visualid, cw_mask, cw_values);
     m_frame.reset(frame);
 
@@ -1752,7 +1752,7 @@ void X11Client::sendClientMessage(xcb_window_t w, xcb_atom_t a, xcb_atom_t proto
     ev.data.data32[3] = data2;
     ev.data.data32[4] = data3;
     uint32_t eventMask = 0;
-    if (w == rootWindow()) {
+    if (w == kwinApp()->x11RootWindow()) {
         eventMask = XCB_EVENT_MASK_SUBSTRUCTURE_REDIRECT; // Magic!
     }
     xcb_send_event(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), false, w, eventMask, reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&ev));
@@ -3113,24 +3113,24 @@ xcb_window_t X11Client::verifyTransientFor(xcb_window_t new_transient_for, bool
     // make sure splashscreens are shown above all their app's windows, even though
     // they're in Normal layer
     if (isSplash() && new_transient_for == XCB_WINDOW_NONE)
-        new_transient_for = rootWindow();
+        new_transient_for = kwinApp()->x11RootWindow();
     if (new_transient_for == XCB_WINDOW_NONE) {
         if (set)   // sometimes WM_TRANSIENT_FOR is set to None, instead of root window
-            new_property_value = new_transient_for = rootWindow();
+            new_property_value = new_transient_for = kwinApp()->x11RootWindow();
         else
             return XCB_WINDOW_NONE;
     }
     if (new_transient_for == window()) { // pointing to self
         // also fix the property itself
         qCWarning(KWIN_CORE) << "Client " << this << " has WM_TRANSIENT_FOR poiting to itself." ;
-        new_property_value = new_transient_for = rootWindow();
+        new_property_value = new_transient_for = kwinApp()->x11RootWindow();
     }
 //  The transient_for window may be embedded in another application,
 //  so kwin cannot see it. Try to find the managed client for the
 //  window and fix the transient_for property if possible.
     xcb_window_t before_search = new_transient_for;
     while (new_transient_for != XCB_WINDOW_NONE
-            && new_transient_for != rootWindow()
+            && new_transient_for != kwinApp()->x11RootWindow()
             && !workspace()->findClient(Predicate::WindowMatch, new_transient_for)) {
         Xcb::Tree tree(new_transient_for);
         if (tree.isNull()) {
@@ -3151,20 +3151,20 @@ xcb_window_t X11Client::verifyTransientFor(xcb_window_t new_transient_for, bool
 // windows in the group
     int count = 20;
     xcb_window_t loop_pos = new_transient_for;
-    while (loop_pos != XCB_WINDOW_NONE && loop_pos != rootWindow()) {
+    while (loop_pos != XCB_WINDOW_NONE && loop_pos != kwinApp()->x11RootWindow()) {
         X11Client *pos = workspace()->findClient(Predicate::WindowMatch, loop_pos);
         if (pos == nullptr)
             break;
         loop_pos = pos->m_transientForId;
         if (--count == 0 || pos == this) {
             qCWarning(KWIN_CORE) << "Client " << this << " caused WM_TRANSIENT_FOR loop." ;
-            new_transient_for = rootWindow();
+            new_transient_for = kwinApp()->x11RootWindow();
         }
     }
-    if (new_transient_for != rootWindow()
+    if (new_transient_for != kwinApp()->x11RootWindow()
             && workspace()->findClient(Predicate::WindowMatch, new_transient_for) == nullptr) {
         // it's transient for a specific window, but that window is not mapped
-        new_transient_for = rootWindow();
+        new_transient_for = kwinApp()->x11RootWindow();
     }
     if (new_property_value != m_originalTransientForId)
         Xcb::setTransientFor(window(), new_property_value);
@@ -3195,7 +3195,7 @@ void X11Client::removeTransient(AbstractClient* cl)
         if (X11Client *c = dynamic_cast<X11Client *>(cl)) {
             c->m_transientForId = XCB_WINDOW_NONE;
             c->setTransientFor(nullptr); // SELI
-// SELI       cl->setTransient( rootWindow());
+// SELI       cl->setTransient( kwinApp()->x11RootWindow());
             c->setTransient(XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
         }
     }
@@ -4524,7 +4524,7 @@ bool X11Client::doStartInteractiveMoveResize()
         // something with Enter/LeaveNotify events, looks like XFree performance problem or something *shrug*
         // (https://lists.kde.org/?t=107302193400001&r=1&w=2)
         QRect r = workspace()->clientArea(FullArea, this);
-        m_moveResizeGrabWindow.create(r, XCB_WINDOW_CLASS_INPUT_ONLY, 0, nullptr, rootWindow());
+        m_moveResizeGrabWindow.create(r, XCB_WINDOW_CLASS_INPUT_ONLY, 0, nullptr, kwinApp()->x11RootWindow());
         m_moveResizeGrabWindow.map();
         m_moveResizeGrabWindow.raise();
         updateXTime();
diff --git a/src/x11client.h b/src/x11client.h
index b523044d3d..17cb56c61e 100644
--- a/src/x11client.h
+++ b/src/x11client.h
@@ -542,14 +542,14 @@ inline bool X11Client::isClientSideDecorated() const
 
 inline bool X11Client::groupTransient() const
 {
-    return m_transientForId == rootWindow();
+    return m_transientForId == kwinApp()->x11RootWindow();
 }
 
 // Needed because verifyTransientFor() may set transient_for_id to root window,
 // if the original value has a problem (window doesn't exist, etc.)
 inline bool X11Client::wasOriginallyGroupTransient() const
 {
-    return m_originalTransientForId == rootWindow();
+    return m_originalTransientForId == kwinApp()->x11RootWindow();
 }
 
 inline bool X11Client::isTransient() const
diff --git a/src/xwl/xwayland.cpp b/src/xwl/xwayland.cpp
index 3257d9bd02..611053df64 100644
--- a/src/xwl/xwayland.cpp
+++ b/src/xwl/xwayland.cpp
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ void Xwayland::handleXwaylandReady()
 
 void Xwayland::updatePrimary(AbstractOutput *primaryOutput)
 {
-    Xcb::RandR::ScreenResources resources(rootWindow());
+    Xcb::RandR::ScreenResources resources(kwinApp()->x11RootWindow());
     xcb_randr_crtc_t *crtcs = resources.crtcs();
     if (!crtcs) {
         return;
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ void Xwayland::updatePrimary(AbstractOutput *primaryOutput)
             auto outputs = crtcInfo.outputs();
             if (outputs && crtcInfo->num_outputs > 0) {
                 qCDebug(KWIN_XWL) << "Setting primary" << primaryOutput << outputs[0];
-                xcb_randr_set_output_primary(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), rootWindow(), outputs[0]);
+                xcb_randr_set_output_primary(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), kwinApp()->x11RootWindow(), outputs[0]);
                 break;
             }
         }