Bug 513672

Summary:	Regression: Screen blanking/going off pauses media playback
Product:	[Plasma] plasmashell	Reporter:	Marek <marek.schimara>
Component:	Audio in general	Assignee:	Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status:	REPORTED ---
Severity:	normal	CC:	isma.af, jtamate, nate
Priority:	NOR	Keywords:	regression
Version First Reported In:	6.5.4
Target Milestone:	1.0
Platform:	Fedora RPMs
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Marek 2025-12-21 19:45:42 UTC

SUMMARY
When the screen gets turned off, media playback is paused.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Start some media (tested: spotify (flatpak), amarok,  youtube video in a browser (firefox))
2. Lock the screen (Meta+L), or wait for the screen to lock, sound is still playing
3. Press Esc to blank the screen, or wait for the screen to turn off if it's configured to do so in Power Management > Display and Brigtness

OBSERVED RESULT
Media stops playing (pauses). In case of Spotify I can control it from my phone, but when the screen is off pressing Play on the phone doesn't resume the playback on the PC like it usually does. I observe the same issue also when switching to the text console (media stops playing, I cannot make it resume until I go back to the Plasma session).

EXPECTED RESULT
Media should continue playing when the screen is off. This used to work recently (before the last update?) I would say definitely 2 weeks ago / plasma 6.5.3.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: 
macOS: 
(available in the Info Center app, or by running `kinfo` in a terminal window)
Linux/KDE Plasma: Fedora 43
KDE Plasma Version: 6.5.4-1
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.21.0
Qt Version: 6.10.1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Comment 1 Nate Graham 2025-12-22 18:17:39 UTC

*** Bug 513642 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 2 Nate Graham 2025-12-22 20:57:10 UTC

Is this a screen connected via HDMI that has built-in speakers, by any chance?

Comment 3 Marek 2025-12-22 21:46:12 UTC

(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #2)
> Is this a screen connected via HDMI that has built-in speakers, by any
> chance?

I have 2 screens, both connected by HDMI:
- LG Ultrafine 32UN500P-W - this one has built-in speakers
- HP 24o - a basic display, no speakers

I'm not sure what role the speakers play here, as all the players are paused when the screen goes off, and no sound is coming out of anywhere including the built-in speakers. 

Writing this I went to check my Audio Outputs, I have "Ryzen HD Audio Controller Stereo" and "Radeon High Definition Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI)" which was selected (probably because it says "High Definition". So I switched to the first one (without HDMI) and indeed the playback now continues when the screen turns off. Hooray! :-) Media players are still paused when switching to a text console.

By the way the "HDMI" part was invisible because the label was ellipsized right before it. It only shows in a tooltip when hovering above the 3-dot menu next to it.

Comment 4 Marek 2025-12-22 21:59:39 UTC

Precision - maybe important? I never used the built-in speakers, I use external speakers plugged into the PC speakers/mic connector. But I also have "audio out" cable connected from the LG screen, going to the same external speakers (I use the LG also for Chromecast, without the PC). So I suppose that's why both HDMI and non-HDMI outputs "work the same" for me.