Bug 504199 - 4k Monitor scaled to 200% positioned to the right fails to show effects
Summary: 4k Monitor scaled to 200% positioned to the right fails to show effects
Status: REPORTED
Alias: None
Product: kwin
Classification: Plasma
Component: effects-window-management (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 6.3.5
Platform: Arch Linux Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: KWin default assignee
URL:
Keywords: multiscreen
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-05-14 07:55 UTC by nwalkewicz
Modified: 2025-06-22 05:40 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

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


Attachments
Contains log.txt from journalctl and main.qml that the log references. (5.11 KB, application/gzip)
2025-05-14 07:55 UTC, nwalkewicz
Details
Video showing flickering on right (4k) monitor (3.17 MB, video/mp4)
2025-05-14 08:22 UTC, nwalkewicz
Details
Video showing flickering on right (4k) monitor (3.17 MB, video/mp4)
2025-05-14 08:24 UTC, nwalkewicz
Details

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Description nwalkewicz 2025-05-14 07:55:27 UTC
Created attachment 181275 [details]
Contains log.txt from journalctl and main.qml that the log references.

SUMMARY
Monitor scaled to 200% positioned to the right fails to show effects.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Attach a 1080p and 4k monitor to your PC.
2. In Settings > Display & Monitor, move the 4k monitor to the right of your 1080p monitor and set its scaling to 200%. Apply changes. (Either monitor can be Primary, it doesn't affect the result.)
3. Create a couple virtual desktops in Window Management > Virtual Desktops > Add Desktop.
4. Switch virtual desktops with the shortcut Meta-Ctrl-Right/Left.

OBSERVED RESULT
The left (1080p) monitor on the left successfully displays the animation and transitions to the next/previous virtual desktop, but the right monitor (4k) flickers between its most recent draw before performing the transition and some other draw during/after the transition. Sometimes it flickers between the few most recent draws if elements on the screen had changed just before attempting to switch virtual desktops. (The cursor immediately updates as it's moved around the screen if there are "elements" that change the cursor icon). Eventually, after interacting with the screen (re-maximizing the already-maximized window or dragging around a bit on the desktop), the flickering stops; but it persists until such an interaction is done.

EXPECTED RESULT
Both monitors should display the animation to transition to the next/previous virtual desktop and show the most up-to-date elements on screen.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: Linux 6.14.6-arch1-1 (64-bit); KDE Plasma 6.3.5
KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.13.0
Qt Version: 6.9.0

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This only happens if the 4k@200% monitor is positioned to the right of the 1080p monitor, even if it's only slightly to the right (e.g. almost directly above, but a few pixels to the right). Any configuration where the 4k monitor isn't to the right of the 1080p one makes this problem disappear and animations run smoothly as expected.

Initially, I thought this affected all KWin animations, but after some testing, it seems to happen with only certain ones. "Toggle Overview" did have the same effect of not actually showing the overview on the right monitor. However, changing the virtual desktop switching animation to "Fade Desktop" stopped the issue; that one works as expected.

I took a quick look into `journalctl` and I found some errors at the exact time I tried those two desktop effects. I'll add the log as an attachment, as well as the `main.qml` file it seems to be complaining about (regardless of whether or not it seems relevant).

Lastly, it seems there was a similar issue in 2023-2024 (https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=476002), but I don't believe that's the same. I'll attempt the initial proposed workaround (booting my machine with the 4k monitor at 1080p and changing it back to 4k@200% after the fact) and update this bug report if that remedies it. That should hopefully give an idea of whether or not it's related.
Comment 1 nwalkewicz 2025-05-14 08:22:31 UTC
Created attachment 181278 [details]
Video showing flickering on right (4k) monitor
Comment 2 nwalkewicz 2025-05-14 08:24:50 UTC
Created attachment 181279 [details]
Video showing flickering on right (4k) monitor
Comment 3 nwalkewicz 2025-05-14 08:26:35 UTC
I attempted the workaround, setting my 4k monitor to 1080p and rebooting, then setting it back to 4k@200% scaling. It did not remedy the issue. I'm also uploading a video of the event, as OBS is unable to capture the issue and captures what *should* be displaying instead of what *does* display. Apologies, I had to encode the video in h265 to get the file size low enough to upload. You'll probably have to download the video to view it unless your browser supports that codec.
Comment 4 TraceyC 2025-05-15 20:10:47 UTC
Thanks for the bug report. I'm not able to reproduce this with two monitors set up how you describe, but I don't have a 4k monitor to test with. I'll leave this open so someone with a 4k display can test.
Comment 5 Real Name Here 2025-06-22 05:40:16 UTC
I've experienced this bug for months with dual 4k monitors scaled at 200%.  There's an issue with the slide animation specifically. When I change the animation to fade, the transition functions normally. Does any dev have a 4k monitor to test this?

Linux: 6.15.2-1-default (64-bit) openSUSE Tumbleweed 20250618
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.0
KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.15.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1

Nvidia driver version: 575.57.08