Bug 503807

Summary:	Unable to log into x11 session using external keyboard on laptop
Product:	[Plasma] plasmashell	Reporter:	proxyx
Component:	Session Management	Assignee:	Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED DOWNSTREAM
Severity:	normal	CC:	kde, natalie_clarius, nate, olib141
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	6.3.4
Target Milestone:	1.0
Platform:	Other
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments:	journalctl output

Description proxyx 2025-05-05 19:33:51 UTC

SUMMARY
When attempting to log into KDE Plasma x11 session using an external keyboard connected to my laptop, I am immediately returned to the login screen.  This condition will loop until the external keyboard is removed.  Logging in with laptop keyboard works as expected.  Logging in with Wayland using the external keyboard also works as expected.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. connect external keyboard to laptop
2. attempt to login to the x11 desktop
3. note that you are returned to the login screen

OBSERVED RESULT
returned to the login screen after inputting correct password

EXPECTED RESULT
logged into desktop (x11 session)

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
(available in the Info Center app, or by running `kinfo` in a terminal window)
Linux/KDE Plasma:   Fedora Linux 42
KDE Plasma Version:  6.3.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.13.0
Qt Version: 6.9.0

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This only occurs when attempting to use an external keyboard to log into an x11 session.

Comment 1 Oliver Beard 2025-05-06 01:22:51 UTC

Moved from plasma-login to plasmashell.
---------

System log output during a failed login would be useful.

You can collect this by noting the time just before logging in, and the time just after you get sent back to the login screen. With these times, you can get the relevant logs using the command:

    journalctl --since "17:00:00" --until "17:00:30" > log.txt

for instance, for between 5 PM and 5PM + 30 s.

Alternatively, you could use:

    journalctl -f > log.txt

in a separate TTY, switching back, attempting login, and then switching to that TTY to interrupt it after login fails.

Both will yield a file, 'log.txt' which contains the system log and can be attached here, and we can look at it to try to determine why login is failing.

Comment 2 proxyx 2025-05-06 03:56:21 UTC

Created attachment 180972 [details]
journalctl output

Output of journalctl -f command during login failure

Comment 3 proxyx 2025-05-06 03:58:17 UTC

Additionally, on further testing it seems that the problem only manifests when i have my mouse wireless dongle and the external keyboard connected at the same time.  Whereas individually, they work fine.

Comment 4 Oliver Beard 2025-05-06 22:32:43 UTC

I don't believe the log output indicates an issue in Plasma. It seems like it could be an SDDM issue, possibly https://github.com/sddm/sddm/issues/2043.

It might be worth taking this to Fedora.

Comment 5 proxyx 2025-05-07 00:28:32 UTC

(In reply to Oliver Beard from comment #4)
> I don't believe the log output indicates an issue in Plasma. It seems like
> it could be an SDDM issue, possibly https://github.com/sddm/sddm/issues/2043.
> 
> It might be worth taking this to Fedora.

Thank you, Oliver, I will do so.

Comment 6 Bug Janitor Service 2025-05-22 03:47:26 UTC

🐛🧹 ⚠️ This bug has been in NEEDSINFO status with no change for at least 15 days. Please provide the requested information, then set the bug status to REPORTED. If there is no change for at least 30 days, it will be automatically closed as RESOLVED WORKSFORME.

For more information about our bug triaging procedures, please read https://community.kde.org/Guidelines_and_HOWTOs/Bug_triaging.

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