https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=507261
Bug ID: 507261
Summary: Scroll Lock Key fails to toggle Scroll Lock Indicator
LED on IBM PC-compatible Keyboards in Linux with KDE
Plasma
Classification: Plasma
Product: plasmashell
Version First 6.3.5
Reported In:
Platform: Debian testing
OS: Linux
Status: REPORTED
Severity: grave
Priority: NOR
Component: general
Assignee: plasma-b...@kde.org
Reporter: bengt...@gmail.com
CC: k...@davidedmundson.co.uk
Target Milestone: 1.0
SUMMARY
Pressing the Scroll Lock key on IBM PC-compatible keyboards fails to toggle on
or off the Scroll Lock indicator LED when the keyboard is connected to an
IBM-Compatible x86 PC running Linux with KDE Plasma.
On keyboard models where the keyboard backlight is part of the Scroll Lock LED
circuit, this further results in the keyboard backlight not being able to be
turned on. This is a critical accessibility issue for visually-impaired users
who require the keyboard backlight to be on in order to see the letters on the
keys.
STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Boot into any distro of Linux running KDE Plasma, on an IBM-compatible PC
with a keyboard that has a Scroll Lock LED.
2. Press the Scroll Lock key.
3. Observe the Scroll Lock LED.
OBSERVED RESULT
On pressing the Scroll Lock key, the Scroll Lock indicator LED fails to toggle
on or off.
EXPECTED RESULT
When the Scroll Lock key is pressed, the Scroll Lock LED should turn on and
emit visible light.
On pressing it again, the Scroll Lock LED should toggle off.
SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: This bug is not present in any version of Windows or DOS
macOS: N/A, I do not have a Mac
(available in the Info Center app, or by running `kinfo` in a terminal window)
Linux/KDE Plasma: Debian GNU/Linux 13
KDE Plasma Versions: 6.3.5
KDE Frameworks Versions: 6.13.0
Qt Versions: 6.8.2
Note: The same bug is found in every version of KDE Plasma in every Linux
distro I have so far tested, not just Debian 13.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Attempted workarounds:
Under X11: create a bash script to run "xset led on", then get the display
manager setup script to run it so that the Scroll Lock LED and keyboard
backlight turn on at the login screen so that visually impaired users can see
the keys to type the password. While workable, this is beyond the skillset of
the average computer user, especially those new to Linux, so it is a clunky
workaround at best, rather than a solution.
Under Wayland: I have not found any viable workaround.
Methods involving brightnessctl or
'echo 1 > /sys/class/leds/input3::scrolllock/brightness'
are not practical because they require root privileges / sudo, and users with
weak eyesight cannot see the keys to type the sudo password because the
backlight is not yet on. Also, display manager setup scripts will not run as
root under Wayland so they cannot turn on the LEDs at the login screen. In
addition, when using these methods under Wayland, the Scroll Lock LED and
keyboard backlight will turn off when the Caps Lock or Num Lock key is pressed.
Possible workaround for both X11 and Wayland: See comment by Pykler in
StackExhange article entitled "Why is the Scroll Lock key disabled in
Cinnamon/Linux/Xorg?" dated 2014-10-25
DESIRED BUG FIX
Fix KDE Plasma so that the Scroll Lock indicator LED toggles when the user
presses the Scroll Lock key. The user should not have to write shell scripts
and edit config files in order to use Scroll Lock. Implement a GUI setting in
KDE Plasma where the user can configure the Scroll Lock LED to be on at the
display manager login screen so that visually-impaired users who need the
keyboard backlight can see the keys to type the password.
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