https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=513742
Bug ID: 513742
Summary: Desktop icons keep getting scattered (now on lock)
Classification: Plasma
Product: plasmashell
Version First 6.5.4
Reported In:
Platform: Arch Linux
OS: Linux
Status: REPORTED
Severity: normal
Priority: NOR
Component: general
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
CC: [email protected]
Target Milestone: 1.0
Created attachment 187906
--> https://bugs.kde.org/attachment.cgi?id=187906&action=edit
before_scatter.png
SUMMARY
To preface this, I've had issues with desktop icons in KDE for years now with
this exact "layout". I always fill my desktop with shortcuts around the screen
excluding the bottom right corner. There's a whole other bug if you try to do
that in KDE Plasma, but I digress, I avoid it. You'll understand exactly what
I'm talking about when you open the attachments, it's a very specific setup
which is simple enough to reproduce.
My setup:
- I have two displays, the second of which is set to "Layout" -> "Desktop"
- First (primary) is 2560x1440 (144Hz), second is 1920x1080 (75Hz)
- Distro is Arch Linux, packages are updated to the latest as of December 23rd
of 2025, Wayland is used
The icons are supposed to look like the ones in the first attachment
[before_scatter.png]. In the past the icons used to get scattered around the
screen every time the second display was unplugged & plugged back in, or
sometimes when logging in.
After I saw https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=512381 and plasma-desktop
6.5.4 was released, I wiped all of my configuration and made my desktop from
scratch. I have tested this release for a bit and so far they seem to stick
like usual, although I wouldn't bet on it seeing the fragile state of the
desktop icon implementation.
Cut to the issue, I locked the screen once and the result was the second
attachment [after_scatter.png].
STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Put your desktop icons in a layout resembling the first attachment
[before_scatter.png] (Desktop folder settings attached in third attachment
[desktop_folder_settings.png])
1.5. Play around plugging and unplugging the second monitor, maybe also signing
out (will not yield any changes or affect anything hopefully)
2. Lock the session using Modkey + L
3. Log back in and watch
OBSERVED RESULT
Can be seen in the second attachment [after_scatter.png]
EXPECTED RESULT
Can be seen in the first attachment [before_scatter.png]
SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
# /usr/bin/kinfo
Operating System: Arch Linux
KDE Plasma Version: 6.5.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.21.0
Qt Version: 6.10.1
Kernel Version: 6.12.63-1-lts (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Closing this off, I am aware my desktop layout may look a bit weird or "rare",
however I believe that it keeps exposing small edge cases in said
implementation and is a good way to detect and eliminate these tiny
inconsistencies. I hope the issue can be resolved as it has greatly impacted my
workflow through the past more than 5 years, which is a shame as I otherwise
really enjoy using KDE Plasma.
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