Bug 512996 - Implement zwp_virtual_keyboard_manager_v1 protocol
Summary: Implement zwp_virtual_keyboard_manager_v1 protocol
Status: REPORTED
Alias: None
Product: kwin
Classification: Plasma
Component: wayland-generic (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: unspecified
Platform: Debian stable Linux
: NOR wishlist
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: KWin default assignee
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-12-06 03:09 UTC by Kurt
Modified: 2025-12-08 21:25 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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Description Kurt 2025-12-06 03:09:05 UTC 
SUMMARY:  KWin does not implement the zwp_virtual_keyboard_manager_v1 Wayland protocol, which prevents all Wayland-native virtual keyboards from functioning on KDE Plasma Wayland. This affects users who need virtual keyboards for accessibility or emergency input recovery.


STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Install any Wayland-native virtual keyboard (wvkbd, squeekboard, etc.) on KDE Plasma Wayland
2. Attempt to run it: (i.e. wvkbd-mobintl)  Alternatively, install Maliit and enable it in System Settings → Input Devices → Virtual Keyboard
3. Log out and back in
4. Click in any text field
5. Virtual keyboard fails with multiple virtual keyboard programs for Linux

OBSERVED RESULT:  Plasma Konsole throws this error: virtual_keyboard_manager not available


EXPECTED RESULT


SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: Observed on both Neptune 9.0 (Debian-based) and CashyOS (latest v3)
KDE Plasma Version:  Observed on both v 6.3.6 and v 6.5.3
KDE Frameworks Version:  Observed with 6.13.0 and later
Qt Version: v 6.8.2 and later

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  The overlayVirtualKeyboardOnWindows setting in KWin also reverts to false after restart, suggesting incomplete virtual keyboard infrastructure even beyond the missing protocol support.

This is a significant accessibility and usability gap compared to other Wayland compositors. Users transitioning from X11 to Wayland on KDE Plasma lose the ability to use virtual keyboards entirely.

Request:
Please implement support for the zwp_virtual_keyboard_manager_v1 protocol in KWin to bring it to feature parity with other major Wayland compositors and restore virtual keyboard functionality for KDE Plasma Wayland users.