Bug 507712 - Changing systemsettings when docked loses panels
Summary: Changing systemsettings when docked loses panels
Status: REPORTED
Alias: None
Product: plasma-mobile
Classification: Plasma
Component: Shell (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: unspecified
Platform: NixOS Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Plasma Mobile Bugs
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-07-31 19:50 UTC by Warbo
Modified: 2025-08-01 00:28 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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


Attachments
Config file that made plasma-mobile unusable (628 bytes, text/plain)
2025-07-31 19:50 UTC, Warbo
Details
Working config, generated after moving bad one elsewhere (550 bytes, text/plain)
2025-07-31 19:52 UTC, Warbo
Details

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Description Warbo 2025-07-31 19:50:37 UTC
Created attachment 183692 [details]
Config file that made plasma-mobile unusable

SUMMARY
I plugged my Pinephone into a USB-C dock, with a HDMI monitor, keyboard and mouse, and turned on the "Docked Mode" quick-setting. After unplugging and turning off "Docked Mode", the Plasma shell no longer matched the initial plasma-mobile setup: it just showed a couple of desktop icons, and no panels. Dragging up could open the application launcher; but dragging down just showed a search box, not the notifications/quick-settings/etc.

I eventually found that the new shell layout was coming from `~/.config/plasma-org.kde.plasma.mobileshell-appletsrc`; renaming that file and restarting `display-manager` gave me the original plasma-mobile shell.

I think this *may* be caused by something in systemsettings, since I was playing with some settings like the wallpaper. 

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Plug in an external monitor
2. Enabled "docked mode"
3. Change the wallpaper?
4. Unplug monitor and disable "docked mode"

OBSERVED RESULT
Plasma shell has lost its panels, pull-down menu, etc.

EXPECTED RESULT
Plasma shell remains with its original configuration.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: NixOS 25.11
KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.14.0
Qt Version: 6.9.0
Kernel Version: 6.13.8 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: offscreen (I use wayland, but I ran kinfo in an SSH session)
Processors: 4 × ARM Cortex-A53
Memory: 2.9 GiB of RAM
Product Name: Pine64 PinePhone (1.2)
U-Boot Version: 2023.01

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
I've attached the problematic config, which was presumably generated by something in systemsettings (maybe the wallpaper plugin?).
Comment 1 Warbo 2025-07-31 19:52:06 UTC
Created attachment 183693 [details]
Working config, generated after moving bad one elsewhere
Comment 2 Devin Lin 2025-08-01 00:28:14 UTC
Hmm, I think what might have happened here is that the panels were only created on the "main" display (the phone screen), and after plugging it into a dock and unplugging, the phone screen became recognized with a different set of containments.

We probably need to ensure that all screens get the panels, not just the "main" display...