Bug 502248 - Specific combination of keystrokes trigger function keys
Summary: Specific combination of keystrokes trigger function keys
Status: RESOLVED DOWNSTREAM
Alias: None
Product: kde
Classification: I don't know
Component: general (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: unspecified
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Unassigned bugs
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-03-31 16:53 UTC by Trekker4482
Modified: 2025-04-08 17:17 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:


Attachments
Video showcasing the keystrokes and function key activation (913.64 KB, video/webm)
2025-03-31 16:53 UTC, Trekker4482
Details

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Description Trekker4482 2025-03-31 16:53:11 UTC
Created attachment 179888 [details]
Video showcasing the keystrokes and function key activation

When writing on the laptop's keyboard, specific combination of keys behave like function keys. It also depends on writing speed.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Turn on the laptop
2. Write specific combination of character

OBSERVED RESULT
Specific character creates different function key effects:
| Keytrokes | Function key activated |
| tre       | F2                     |
| gfd       | F4                     |
| hjk       | F6                     |
| àù↵       | F5                     |
| altro␣    | F7                     |

EXPECTED RESULT
Writing the characters without activating function keys.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Fedora Linux 41
KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.3
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.12.0
Qt Version: 6.8.2
Kernel Version: 6.13.7-200.fc41.x86_64 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
Processors: 6 × AMD Ryzen 5 4500U with Radeon Graphics
Memory: 7.1 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon Graphics

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The last one, the "altro " does not always trigger, only occasionally, it's shown in the attached video (which is a bit slower than real time testing).
I'm using the British English system language, but with an Italian keyboard.
Comment 1 Nate Graham 2025-03-31 20:43:08 UTC
Does it happen if you use an Italian keyboard layout with that keyboard?
Comment 2 Trekker4482 2025-03-31 20:51:53 UTC
(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #1)
> Does it happen if you use an Italian keyboard layout with that keyboard?

It happens with both US and IT layouts. The characters typed change for the case of àù↵ to '\↵ but not the function key activation.
Comment 3 Nate Graham 2025-03-31 21:09:03 UTC
Maybe a silly question, but could this be a hardware issue? Do you have another keyboard you can try out?
Comment 4 Trekker4482 2025-03-31 21:17:24 UTC
(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #3)
> Maybe a silly question, but could this be a hardware issue? Do you have
> another keyboard you can try out?

damn, I actually haven't thought about that. If that's the case it's going to be embarrassing. I'll borrow a usb keyboard and let you know tomorrow.
Comment 5 Trekker4482 2025-04-05 20:14:36 UTC
(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #3)
> Maybe a silly question, but could this be a hardware issue? Do you have
> another keyboard you can try out?

So I have tried a couple of keyboard, one USB and a replacement for the laptop keyboard. The USB one had no problem, the FPC replacement instead displayed the same behaviour. I guess it must be hardware, somewhere within the motherboard.
Comment 6 Nate Graham 2025-04-08 17:17:58 UTC
Yeah, this means it's something the hardware or firmware enforces. Sometimes laptop manufacturers do this in an effort to be helpful but it ends up inconvenient instead.

For example on my HP laptop's keyboard, Alt+F4 closes a window irrespective of whether I'm holding down the function key. As a result, I've accidentally closed a window before when testing something that required me to press Alt+[toggle keyboard brightness] (which is on the F4 key of my keyboard). That was fun one.