Bug 510049

Summary:	Forced desktop switching upon opening a file
Product:	[Plasma] kwin	Reporter:	alerikaisattera
Component:	general	Assignee:	KWin default assignee <kwin-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED FIXED
Severity:	normal	CC:	kdedev
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	6.3.6
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Other
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:	6.4.5
Sentry Crash Report:

Description alerikaisattera 2025-09-29 13:12:32 UTC

SUMMARY
Sometimes, opening a file in an application that can have multiple files open at once causes forced desktop switching

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Open an instance of Kate on desktop 1
2. Open an instance of Kate on desktop 2
3. Open a text file from a file manager on desktop 1

OBSERVED RESULT
Forced desktop switching to desktop 2 and the file is opened in the instance of Kate on desktop 2

EXPECTED RESULT
No desktop switching, the file is opened in the instance of Kate on desktop 1

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: 
macOS: 
(available in the Info Center app, or by running `kinfo` in a terminal window)
Linux/KDE Plasma: 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.6
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.17.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1

Comment 1 TraceyC 2025-09-29 16:35:40 UTC

I'm not able to reproduce this with Plasma & apps built from git-master, or with a Plasma 6.4.5 installation, following the steps to reproduce.
Even if I click to focus Kate on desktop 2, if I open a file in Dolphin on desktop 1, it's opened in Kate on desktop 1.

This may be fixed in 6.4.5. It might also be caused by a setting in Kate, possibly under Settings - Session - do you have "Manually choose a session" or something else under Application Startup Behavior?

Do you see this behavior with any other applications or only Kate?

Comment 2 alerikaisattera 2025-10-05 10:57:17 UTC

I don't have any other programs that allow running multiple instances and opening multiple files in one instance. When opening multiple files is possible and the program window is on another desktop, force switching does occur, but that's a bit different situation

Comment 3 TraceyC 2025-10-06 15:48:15 UTC

Thanks. I'll close this for now. I you can reproduce this with Plasma 6.4.5 or later, feel free to reopen this report.