Bug 508554 - Dolphin focus panic on left or right panel. with use shortcut keys on split view
Summary: Dolphin focus panic on left or right panel. with use shortcut keys on split view
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Alias: None
Product: dolphin
Classification: Applications
Component: split view (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 25.08.0
Platform: openSUSE Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Dolphin Bug Assignee
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-08-21 11:37 UTC by SkyWalteron
Modified: 2025-11-22 21:34 UTC (History)
8 users (show)

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


Attachments
Screen Recording to demonstrate dolphins behavior (2.64 MB, video/x-matroska)
2025-09-16 18:52 UTC, mpy
Details

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Description SkyWalteron 2025-08-21 11:37:05 UTC
1.Enable Split view in Dolphin
'dolphin --split' or Enable 'Configure/Interface/Folder&Tabs/New windows:Begin in split view mode'

2.Lost forcus of Dolphin.
Click on desktop Background or another window.

3.Refocus Dolphin, Exept tabs of left or right.
Click on the tab bar or toolbar or exept tab pain.

4.Press shortcut key, Back(Alt+Left) or Forward(Alt+Right) multiple times. 1,2,3,4.

Result:
Shortcut key action alternately on tab panes.
Back with left pane(A)→Back with right pane(B)→Back with left pane(A)→Back with right pane(B).

If click pane, normaly action to focus to panes.
But if happen this issue. Can't focus to panes with any click, shortcut keys.

Expected:
Shortcut keys do action to focus panes only.
Click panes to focus on panes.

This issue is no happen on older version Dolphin. Only 25.08.
This issue is random happen. But reproducible method with I wrote maybe.

Operating System: openSUSE Tumbleweed 20250818
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.17.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1
Kernel Version: 6.16.1-1-default (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Comment 1 Marc Cousin 2025-09-05 13:57:21 UTC
I have the exact same problem. And I think it's also the same when you have a split view and use "places" shortcuts. They'll alternate between the 2 split views when clicking on them. Drives me mad. I'm on Arch/CachyOS BTW
Dolphin: 25.08.0
KDE Frameworks: 6.17.0
Qt: Using 6.9.2 and built against 6.9.1
Arch Linux (Wayland)
Build ABI: x86_64-little_endian-lp64
Kernel: linux 6.16.4-4-cachyos
Comment 2 mpy 2025-09-15 18:35:38 UTC
Same issue here. If you have the terminal panel enabled you can workaround by (directly after starting dolphin) first clicking into the terminal panel and then into the left(!) split view After that this dolphin window seems to behave correctly.

Operating System: Arch Linux 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.18.0
Qt Version: 6.9.2
Kernel Version: 6.16.0-localbuild (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Comment 3 Akseli Lahtinen 2025-09-16 09:18:32 UTC
I dont think I can reproduce this issue, did I try reproducing it correctly?

1. Open dolphin with `--split` 
2. Navigate through folders enough for the back/forward actions to be available, in both views
3. Unfocus dolphin
4. Focus dolphin by pressing "Places" panel
5. Press Alt+Left or Alt+Right multiple times

For me the actions only happen in the correct view.

Can someone make a video of this issue to help reproducing it?

Operating System: Fedora Linux 42
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.17.0
Qt Version: 6.9.2
Kernel Version: 6.16.7-200.fc42.x86_64 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 12 × AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor
Memory: 16 GiB of RAM (15.5 GiB usable)
Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon RX 6600
Comment 4 Akseli Lahtinen 2025-09-16 09:19:02 UTC
.
Comment 5 mpy 2025-09-16 18:51:51 UTC
Thanks for looking into that.
My steps for (a minimal) demonstrating the OP's problem description "Shortcut key action alternately on tab panes." are the following:

0. close all running dolphin instances

1. open dolphin in split-mode in some deep hierarchy, e.g.
    dolphin --split /sys/class/mem/full/power
    in the video I use: dolphin --split /just/some/deep/hierarchy/for/demonstration

2. dolphin opens with this path in both left and right views

3. press "ALT + UP-ARROW" (default shortcut for Go > Up) multiple times.

4. instead of going up the hierarchy in one split view, dolphins alternates between right and left view: go one up in the right view, go one up in the left view, go one up in the right view, ...

This is demonstrated in the attached screen recording.
Hope this helps.
Comment 6 mpy 2025-09-16 18:52:43 UTC
Created attachment 184982 [details]
Screen Recording to demonstrate dolphins behavior
Comment 7 mpy 2025-09-16 18:55:27 UTC
I forgot to mention that in the second part of the video I use the mouse to navigate back into the deep folders in the right view. After that "ALT + UP-ARROW" behaves as expected.
Comment 8 Akseli Lahtinen 2025-09-25 09:37:23 UTC
Okay I can reproduce this now, very odd bug. Thanks for the video!
Comment 9 Marc Cousin 2025-10-12 16:16:32 UTC
In my case, I can trigger the problem if I have dolphin set up with split view by default. Then I start it, and click on any "places" entry. Each time I click on one, focus jumps from one view to the other one.
If at dolphin's start I do another action, like entering a folder, then I don't have the bug
Comment 10 SkyWalteron 2025-10-13 01:50:19 UTC
(In reply to Marc Cousin from comment #9)
If you are "dolphin start of normal=non split view", And "enable split view mode after normal=non split view of open dolphin",
You don't have this issue? 
This issue happen trigger is "split view is default with dolphin setting"?
or start with command: 'dolphin --split'

I check that it. 
If I split mode enable to after start dolphin.  shortcut key action to left panel only. No right panel.
Cursor can't focus right panel with under or follow mouse. 
I test setting is "systemsettings/window behavior/Focus/Focus:follows mouse or focus under mouse or click to focus".
If I click right panel, shortcut key action to right panel.
But I don't know to when I get panic strange move of shortcut key to left or right panel. So this is not resolve method.

Anyway, This issue is horror. I can't use dolphin with split view on 25.08.1
Dolphin of Plasma 5 version, no problem. If I can use dolphin of 23.08 version. the best.
But really old, And opensuse Tumbleweed & slowroll, doesn't use of 23.08..
I hope quick fix for this issue.

Operating System: openSUSE Tumbleweed-Slowroll 20251002
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.18.0
Qt Version: 6.9.2
Kernel Version: 6.16.9-1.0.14.sr20250901-default (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Dolphin:25.08.1
Comment 11 SkyWalteron 2025-10-17 02:12:28 UTC
I find reproduce method and find reproduce action with new shortcut key.
I can definitely reproduce it this way. on Dolphin 25.08.1

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1.Dolphin/Split mode enable
'Configure/Interface/Folder&Tabs/New windows:Begin in split view mode'
2.Close dolphin
3.Open dolphin of new instance
Important:No click dolphin after startup, No take focus for folder view panel of left and right.
If open dolphin with no click, Focus is only all Dolphin window.
4.Press shortcut key Back(Alt+Leta) or Forward(Alt+Right) or "Up (Alt+Up)"←new

OBSERVED RESULT
Dolphin back or forward or up action is first action is left tab, next action is right tab, and next action is left tab again, and next action is right tab again on folder panel.

This issue is dolphin move focus for folder view left or right. maybe similar this issue too?
"Focus is split between split view panes when starting with split view and remembering of last used folders & tabs is disabled"
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=503576
Comment 12 SkyWalteron 2025-10-17 02:20:19 UTC
And I forgot important reproduce point.
Configure/Interface/Folders & Tabs/Show on startup:Folders, tabs, and window state from last time:Disable

If I setting of other startup folder location, I can get focus panic issue.
I enable settings to remember startup location, Dolphin focus of only right folder panel.
Comment 13 SkyWalteron 2025-10-17 02:25:17 UTC
(In reply to SkyWalteron from comment #12)
But this method is no fix, Dolphin focus panic again. Sorry,  That was not important poin. 
Configure/Interface/Folders & Tabs/Show on startup:Folders, tabs, and window state from last time:Disable or Enable
Comment 14 Jan Rathmann 2025-10-17 07:38:16 UTC

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 503576 ***
Comment 15 Dekudibusei 2025-10-26 13:09:48 UTC
(In reply to Jan Rathmann from comment #14)
>
> *** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 503576 ***

I'm not sure whether this is a *exact* duplicate, for you do not seem to have the left and right panes switching focus continuously. It might be that one is feeding into the other, though.

(In reply to SkyWalteron from comment #11)
> I find reproduce method and find reproduce action with new shortcut key.
> I can definitely reproduce it this way. on Dolphin 25.08.1
>
> STEPS TO REPRODUCE
> 1.Dolphin/Split mode enable
> 'Configure/Interface/Folder&Tabs/New windows:Begin in split view mode'
> 2.Close dolphin
> 3.Open dolphin of new instance
> Important:No click dolphin after startup, No take focus for folder view
> panel of left and right.
> If open dolphin with no click, Focus is only all Dolphin window.
> 4.Press shortcut key Back(Alt+Leta) or Forward(Alt+Right) or "Up
> (Alt+Up)"←new
>
> OBSERVED RESULT
> Dolphin back or forward or up action is first action is left tab, next
> action is right tab, and next action is left tab again, and next action is
> right tab again on folder panel.
>
> This issue is dolphin move focus for folder view left or right. maybe
> similar this issue too?
> "Focus is split between split view panes when starting with split view and
> remembering of last used folders & tabs is disabled"
> https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=503576

Yes, I think that my topic (and did search beforehand, sorry mods!) located at https://discuss.kde.org/t/dolphin-left-right-issues/40786 is a duplicate of this bug.

System information:

OS: Fedora Linux 42 (KDE Plasma Desktop Edition)
Kernel: 6.17.4-200.fc42.x86_64
Architecture: x86_64
Compiler: gcc v: 15.2.1
Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.4.5
Qt: 5.15.17
KDE Frameworks: 5.116.0
kf5-config: 1.0
Comment 16 Jan Rathmann 2025-10-26 17:52:41 UTC
(In reply to Dekudibusei from comment #15)
> I'm not sure whether this is a *exact* duplicate, for you do not seem to
> have the left and right panes switching focus continuously. It might be that
> one is feeding into the other, though.

I can also reproduce the focus switching when pressing Alt+Up repeatedly. To me it looks like this is one additional symptom of the whole issue of the focus being ambiguously split split between the two panes. That's why I'm pretty sure this report describes the same bug as in https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=503576 .
Comment 17 SkyWalteron 2025-10-27 02:26:09 UTC
(In reply to Dekudibusei from comment #15)
thanks wrote your info!
I thinked, If Developer can't find this issue, I need write to KDE discuss?
So you topic is good timing. Thanks wrote topic and info!
Comment 18 SkyWalteron 2025-10-27 03:21:47 UTC
(In reply to Jan Rathmann from comment #16)
Sorry I changed status of this issue. Because I saw your issue report. 
I had difficult think have you issue report "focus panic" on "left and right tabs"? 
So "Focus panic on split panel"?
If So, I change report status again. Thanks.

I think might be a good is If you report have comments of "focus panic" in 503576.
Since people confused "really similar too?". just like me.

Dolphin have split panel issue since Dolphin 25.08. So I think this focus panic issue report, more may increase.
I found might similar issue report on Dolphin Split view category. Do you think?

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=509525
 Accidental manipulation of file previously highlighted in inactive side of split view
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=511076
Split view panes broken when filter is active and switching tabs
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=509466
Unchecking "Turning off split view closes the view in focus", breaks other functionality after restart
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=508405
Dolphin: If split view mode is activated, then the context menu of any file or folder within Dolphin does not get displayed
Comment 19 Méven 2025-10-27 14:22:02 UTC
I think it only happens if the left and right split views show the same folder hierarchy.

When the history is traversed, the first view to the left that had the leaving folder in its history with activate.
Hence alternatively between the two sides.
Comment 20 SkyWalteron 2025-10-30 02:40:31 UTC
(In reply to Méven from comment #19)
I can confirm to not only happens with only same hierarchy.

example:
1.dolphin --split /usr/share/applications/ $HOME/.local/share/applications/&
Important:No click Dolphin
2.Alt+Left or Right or Up
Right,Left back, Right back, Left back, Right back, Left back, Right back

/usr/share/applications:3
/~/.local/share/applications:4
Not =.

And I found new issue to Dolphin can't back if left or right panel location address end.
Example:
1R:/~/.local/share/applications > /~/.local/share
2L:/usr/share/applications > /usr/share
3R:/~/.local/share > /~/.local
4L:/usr/share > /usr
5R:/~/.local > /~
6L:/usr > /
Back action stop, Cant back. > 7R:/~/.local > /

This issue occurring, Dolphin stop to path move action with location end of left or right tab.
Comment 21 Bug Janitor Service 2025-11-16 11:26:49 UTC
A possibly relevant merge request was started @ https://invent.kde.org/system/dolphin/-/merge_requests/1101
Comment 22 Rafał Lichwała 2025-11-16 18:11:45 UTC
Git commit 4916403d46216237205394dc86a86b8ea5a4cedc by Rafał Lichwała.
Committed on 16/11/2025 at 14:10.
Pushed by meven into branch 'master'.

main: set active view in split mode when not restoring session

When Dolphin config was set to start in split mode by default
AND simply open the given folder in both panels
(Settings -> Folders&Tabs -> Show on startup -> selected folder [NOT "...state from last time"])
no view was initially active making weird side-effects described in both bugs.

This commit solves that by calling mainWindow->openDirectories
on start when both of the above conditions are met.
Related: bug 503576

M  +4    -0    src/main.cpp

https://invent.kde.org/system/dolphin/-/commit/4916403d46216237205394dc86a86b8ea5a4cedc
Comment 23 Méven 2025-11-22 21:34:44 UTC
Git commit 3f5bf2dfb18feffc84770cc19c6e2786ff8de8f8 by Méven Car, on behalf of Rafał Lichwała.
Committed on 22/11/2025 at 21:34.
Pushed by meven into branch 'release/25.12'.

main: set active view in split mode when not restoring session

When Dolphin config was set to start in split mode by default
AND simply open the given folder in both panels
(Settings -> Folders&Tabs -> Show on startup -> selected folder [NOT "...state from last time"])
no view was initially active making weird side-effects described in both bugs.

This commit solves that by calling mainWindow->openDirectories
on start when both of the above conditions are met.
Related: bug 503576


(cherry picked from commit 4916403d46216237205394dc86a86b8ea5a4cedc)

Co-authored-by: Rafał Lichwała <rafal@siliconet.pl>

M  +4    -0    src/main.cpp

https://invent.kde.org/system/dolphin/-/commit/3f5bf2dfb18feffc84770cc19c6e2786ff8de8f8