Bug 510368

Summary: Dolphin copies, instead of Symlinks when holding CTRL+SHIFT between folder windows or window to desktop on Wayland
Product: [Applications] dolphin Reporter: kmdest <findanotherplace>
Component: bars: filterAssignee: Dolphin Bug Assignee <dolphin-bugs-null>
Status: CONFIRMED ---    
Severity: normal CC: aristsakas, dolphin-bugs-null, kdedev, nicolas.fella
Priority: NOR Keywords: wayland-only
Version First Reported In: 25.04.2   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: CachyOS   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description kmdest 2025-10-07 23:50:14 UTC 
SUMMARY
When holding CTRL + Shift to make a symlink, it only works if the file is moved within the same window it is moved to (vertical split, etc).

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. On wayland, Hold CTRL + Shift
2. Drag a file to a seperate Dolphin window, or the desktop, or vice versa

OBSERVED RESULT
File will be copied and won't make a symlink

EXPECTED RESULT
File will make a symlink shortcut instead of being copied

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: Linux 6.17.1-2-cachyos
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.18.0
Qt Version: 6.9.2

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
It works fine on X11.
Comment 1 TraceyC 2025-10-08 21:06:33 UTC 
Confirmed in Dolphin built from git-master 25.11.70
Comment 2 Nicolas Fella 2025-10-12 16:43:58 UTC 
There's no such thing as linking in drag and drop on a protocol level in Wayland, only copy and move
Comment 3 TraceyC 2025-10-14 17:37:58 UTC 
It's curious that it would work, then, within the same window in Dolphin but not Dolphin to Desktop / another Dolphin window etc

It's also possible to create a link on the desktop via drag and drop if you don't use any keyboard modifiers, where you get the context menu asking if you want to copy, move or link. In fact, the context menu still shows "Link here Ctrl+Shift", which sets the expectation that the keyboard modifiers will work.

So from a user's perspective, I can still create links on the desktop with drag and drop, with no keyboard modifiers, but the keyboard modifiers don't do what they should
Comment 4 kmdest 2025-10-26 15:05:27 UTC 
I found launching setting env var QT_QPA_PLATFORM=xcb to lanch as xwayland allows this to work between windows. It causes other issues like the selection box lagging, and you have to set it on Kate and Konsole too or they won't "hear" drag and drops, thankfully doing it in the application menu editor makes it automatic at least.
Also allows me to actually drag and drop from other xwayland apps on to dolphin, finally.
Thanks https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/17mk43e/run_dolphin_under_xwayland_permanent/
Comment 5 aristsakas 2025-12-30 11:35:40 UTC 
potential duplicate of bug 470161