Bug 508634

Summary:	Folder View widget does not automatically show new files
Product:	[Plasma] plasmashell	Reporter:	edu.bugs.kde
Component:	Desktop icons & Folder View widget	Assignee:	Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status:	REPORTED ---
Severity:	normal	CC:	hein, kdedev, n0body_special, nate, xaxaxa.kdebug
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	6.4.4
Target Milestone:	1.0
Platform:	Other
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description edu.bugs.kde 2025-08-23 08:58:09 UTC

SUMMARY
When a new file is created, Folder View widget does not show it until the widget is refreshed.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Add Folder View widget to panel or desktop. Pointing to `~/Downloads`, for example.
2. Create a file in `~/Downloads` using the terminal or any other app.

OBSERVED RESULT
Need to click on the widget and press F5 to refresh view. Only then does the new file show up.

EXPECTED RESULT
Folder View shows newly added file immediately.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: Fedora Linux 42
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.17.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If Dolphin is open then Dolphin shows the new file just fine while Folder View still doesn’t show and needs to be refreshed.

Comment 1 Nate Graham 2025-08-26 21:02:20 UTC

Works as expected for me; the newly-created item appears instantly. 

Is this 100% reproducible for you all the time, even after a reboot?

If so, can you reproduce the issue by creating a new clean user account on the machine, rebooting, logging into that new account, and then creating a Folder View widget and putting something in it externally as before?

Thanks!

Comment 2 edu.bugs.kde 2025-08-27 01:12:22 UTC

On a new clean user account, the issue does not happen and things work as expected.

On the old existing user account, issue is 100% reproducible, even after a reboot.

I also have it from another post in discuss (https://discuss.kde.org/t/quality-improvement-folder-view-widget/38737) -- point 8 -- that this issue also happens to other users.

I have not applied any customizations on the old user account widgets, that I am aware of. Are there any config/files I could inspect or reset to get back in line with the working behavior on the new user account?

Comment 3 xaxaxa.kdebug 2025-08-27 08:42:00 UTC

I am on Debian Trixie (fresh install of nearly 2 weeks ago) and wrote that linked post. I also realized that the icon of .desktop files inside that folder view is not updated when saved, even when closing and opening the folder view on taskbar is done. It updates when some other changes happen that triggers a refresh action. 
But somehow I cannot reproduce it again right now. There is definitely a bug. The question is: what is the trigger!?

Comment 4 n0body_special 2025-09-26 10:38:20 UTC

At last, I found this thread.

This bug has always been there with me. 100% reproducible on Kubuntu versions 24.04, 24.10 and now 25.04, on my two desktops and laptop. Surprised to see the widget doesn't have a constant buggy behavior for other people, for me it has never worked as intented.
I have always used a "recents" widget of some kind the last 20 years in Linux Mint and Windows. Kubuntu is the first distro that I can't have a decent widget. Annoying AF. How can I help with this?

Comment 5 Nate Graham 2025-09-26 15:52:11 UTC

By determining under which exact conditions the bug happens, because I and other developers can't reproduce it ourselves.

Comment 6 edu.bugs.kde 2025-09-27 03:40:45 UTC

Hi, Nate.

I still have this reproducible on my machine. One, newly created, account where the issue does not happen and one, original old, account where the issue persists.

If there's anything you want me to try or if there's any logs/config/files I might share that can help us track down the bug, please let me know. I'll be glad to help.

Comment 7 Nate Graham 2025-09-29 16:52:51 UTC

If I knew I'd tell you, but unfortunately I don't.