Bug 509525

Summary:	Accidental manipulation of file previously highlighted in inactive side of split view
Product:	[Applications] dolphin	Reporter:	Aaron <aaron.oldenburg>
Component:	split view	Assignee:	Dolphin Bug Assignee <dolphin-bugs-null>
Status:	CONFIRMED ---
Severity:	normal	CC:	dolphin-bugs-null, rafal, s_chriscollins
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	25.08.0
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Manjaro
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Aaron 2025-09-15 15:53:47 UTC

SUMMARY
Dolphin sometimes deletes files in non-active pane of split view when you return to window by clicking an item for deletion in other pane, resulting in the wrong item being deleted.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Open split view of multiple files in large thumbnail view.
2. Click around on the right view and select one or more files.
3. Click a non-Dolphin window.
4. Return to Dolphin by clicking an item in the left view.
5. Hit delete

OBSERVED RESULT
When you hit delete, the last file on the right side, even if not active, is deleted.

EXPECTED RESULT
The most recent file on the left side should be deleted.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: 6.1.149-2-MANJARO (64-bit)
KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.6
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.17.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
I tried this a couple times as I wrote this and couldn't get it to happen again.

Comment 1 S. Christian Collins 2025-10-06 17:02:22 UTC

I have run into this several times now, and it is definitely a somewhat recent regression. From my own experience, I can say the following:
* This bug does not require icon view to trigger. It happens for me also with details view.
* This bug does not just affect file deletion, but any keyboard shortcut executed.
* It is really hard to come up with a reliable reproduction for this, as it seems to happen at random.

This bug is DANGEROUS, as on multiple occasions, I have accidentally deleted the wrong file, because the file in the INACTIVE pane was deleted when it should have been the file in the ACTIVE pane.

Comment 2 S. Christian Collins 2025-10-09 13:27:55 UTC

Good news! I have been able to find a simple repro for this bug. It seems the bug is triggered when closing a tab returns the user to a split pane view.

Repro steps:
1. In Dolphin, navigate into a folder (this is important, since we will be using the "Back" action in a bit).
2. Split the view.
3. Open a new tab, then close the tab, which will return you to the split view tab.
4. Click within the right pane and press the Backspace key.

RESULT: The LEFT pane goes back a folder.

EXPECTED RESULT: the RIGHT pane should go back a folder.

This bug affects other keyboard operations as well, for example, if you attempt to delete a file or folder in the RIGHT pane, the selected file(s) or folder(s) in the LEFT pane will be deleted instead!

I can also repro the bug using KDE neon Unstable Edition:
  * Dolphin: 25.11.70
  * Plasma: 6.5.80
  * KDE Frameworks: 6.19.0
  * Qt: 6.9.2

Comment 3 S. Christian Collins 2025-11-04 16:02:09 UTC

This bug is still present in Plasma 6.5.1 (Frameworks 6.19.0; Qt 6.10.0). See comment #2 for easy repro.

I really hope somebody sees this bug soon, because it is very dangerous, and somebody is bound to end up accidentally deleting files unintentionally and not realizing it.

Comment 4 Rafał Lichwała 2025-11-15 21:23:00 UTC

I think I've already fixed this bug (did not know this bug report during fixing) and it has been merged but not released yet.

https://invent.kde.org/system/dolphin/-/commit/19401a315f963223d973188a8e47c4ccbd783232

It is fixed on the current master branch, but still exists in dolphin 25.08.3