wl-copy spawns a window when focus stealing prevention is set to medium in kde plasma 6.5

[renner0e]

KDE bug report with reproduction steps:

I'm happy to provide logs or additional information if necessary.

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=509277

SUMMARY
If you copy/paste with wl-clipboard, wl-copy/wl-paste a window gets spawned

STEPS TO REPRODUCE

1. systemsettings > window behavior > focus stealing prevention > set to medium, apply
2. echo test | wl-copy

OBSERVED RESULT
An invisible window called wl-clipboard gets spawned and nothing gets copied/pasted from/to the clipboard.
If you click on the blank window icon in the panel, the clipboard action will be executed and the window is closed.

EXPECTED RESULT
the content gets copied/pasted into the system clipboard immediately without user interaction

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
rolling back KWin on my heavily customized Fedora Kinoite image to
fd75e3aba30918191f9e885664ba52999868c0c5 and restarting kwin fixes it, this is the last working version I tested

first broken commit that I tested:
4a1f9bb5621d5bbcca71da0b4d23f1877e3d38db

wl-clipboard 2.2.1

I reproduced the issue on a rather fresh KDE Linux VM and also on my custom kinoite image
updatectl says this kde linux version:
202509060254

You need kwin from master branch, it cannot be reproduced on a current stable release; get it with kde linux or wait until 6.5 is out I guess.

Screencast_20250908_174759.webm

[Bryan2333]

Will this happen on wl-clipboard-rs?

[renner0e]

Will this happen on wl-clipboard-rs?

it does not, it works perfectly on that one

[Bryan2333]

Will this happen on wl-clipboard-rs?

it does not, it works perfectly on that one

Ok, thanks for you reply.

[cubernetes]

On GNOME, this can fix the issue:
https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/5410/grand-theft-focus/
Not sure if it's a solution or a workaround, but maybe it helps someone along the way :)
And maybe there are similar solutions for KDE.

[lorentzforces]

wl-clipboard-rs

Should note that this is not necessarily a drop-in alternative as major compositors (GNOME, KDE) do not implement the required protocol to avoid the focus-stealing workaround.

[Zamundaaa]

KWin does support ext data control...

[bugaevc]

On compositors that do expose data-control, the OG C wl-clipboard shouldn't be spawning a window either. Please attach WAYLAND_DEBUG=1 logs.

[nekoalice42]

Issue is reproducible for me after an update to KDE 6.5 too.

Operating System: Arch Linux
KDE Plasma Version: 6.5.0
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.19.0
Qt Version: 6.10.0
Kernel Version: 6.17.4-zen2-1-zen (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
[not relevant specs omitted]

System Settings > Window Management > Window Behavior > Focus stealing prevention: Medium

$ pacman -Q wl-clipboard
wl-clipboard 1:2.2.1-3

Logs with WAYLAND_DEBUG=1

$ export WAYLAND_DEBUG=1
$ wl-copy Test!
[1602514.524] {Default Queue}  -> wl_display#1.get_registry(new id wl_registry#2)
[1602514.532] {Default Queue}  -> wl_display#1.sync(new id wl_callback#3)
[1602518.254] {Display Queue} wl_display#1.delete_id(3)
[1602518.263] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(1, "wl_compositor", 6)
[1602518.268] {Default Queue}  -> wl_registry#2.bind(1, "wl_compositor", 2, new id [unknown]#4)
[1602518.274] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(3, "zwp_tablet_manager_v2", 2)
[1602518.277] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(4, "zwp_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibit_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.281] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(5, "zxdg_decoration_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.285] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(6, "wp_viewporter", 1)
[1602518.289] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(7, "wp_security_context_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.292] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(8, "wp_fractional_scale_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.295] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(9, "wl_shm", 2)
[1602518.299] {Default Queue}  -> wl_registry#2.bind(9, "wl_shm", 1, new id [unknown]#5)
[1602518.303] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(10, "wl_seat", 10)
[1602518.306] {Default Queue}  -> wl_registry#2.bind(10, "wl_seat", 2, new id [unknown]#6)
[1602518.310] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(11, "zwp_pointer_gestures_v1", 3)
[1602518.313] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(12, "zwp_pointer_constraints_v1", 1)
[1602518.317] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(13, "zwp_relative_pointer_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.320] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(14, "wl_data_device_manager", 3)
[1602518.323] {Default Queue}  -> wl_registry#2.bind(14, "wl_data_device_manager", 1, new id [unknown]#7)
[1602518.327] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(15, "ext_data_control_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.331] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(16, "wp_cursor_shape_manager_v1", 2)
[1602518.334] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(17, "zwp_primary_selection_device_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.339] {Default Queue}  -> wl_registry#2.bind(17, "zwp_primary_selection_device_manager_v1", 1, new id [unknown]#8)
[1602518.343] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(18, "org_kde_kwin_idle", 1)
[1602518.346] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(19, "zwp_idle_inhibit_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.349] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(20, "ext_idle_notifier_v1", 2)
[1602518.352] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(21, "org_kde_plasma_shell", 8)
[1602518.355] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(22, "org_kde_kwin_appmenu_manager", 2)
[1602518.359] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(23, "org_kde_kwin_server_decoration_palette_manager", 1)
[1602518.363] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(25, "org_kde_plasma_virtual_desktop_management", 3)
[1602518.366] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(27, "org_kde_kwin_shadow_manager", 2)
[1602518.370] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(28, "org_kde_kwin_dpms_manager", 1)
[1602518.373] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(29, "org_kde_kwin_server_decoration_manager", 1)
[1602518.376] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(30, "kde_output_management_v2", 16)
[1602518.379] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(31, "zxdg_output_manager_v1", 3)
[1602518.382] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(32, "wl_subcompositor", 1)
[1602518.385] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(33, "zxdg_exporter_v2", 1)
[1602518.388] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(34, "zxdg_importer_v2", 1)
[1602518.392] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(37, "xdg_activation_v1", 1)
[1602518.395] {Default Queue}  -> wl_registry#2.bind(37, "xdg_activation_v1", 1, new id [unknown]#9)
[1602518.399] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(39, "wp_content_type_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.402] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(40, "wp_tearing_control_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.405] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(41, "xdg_toplevel_drag_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.408] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(42, "xdg_toplevel_icon_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.412] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(43, "kde_screen_edge_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.415] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(44, "frog_color_management_factory_v1", 1)
[1602518.418] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(45, "wp_presentation", 2)
[1602518.421] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(46, "wp_color_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.424] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(47, "xdg_wm_dialog_v1", 1)
[1602518.428] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(48, "kde_external_brightness_v1", 3)
[1602518.431] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(49, "wp_alpha_modifier_v1", 1)
[1602518.435] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(50, "wl_fixes", 1)
[1602518.438] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(51, "wp_fifo_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.441] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(52, "wp_single_pixel_buffer_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.445] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(53, "xdg_toplevel_tag_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.448] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(54, "wp_color_representation_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.452] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(55, "wp_pointer_warp_v1", 1)
[1602518.455] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(57, "wl_drm", 2)
[1602518.458] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(58, "zwp_linux_dmabuf_v1", 5)
[1602518.462] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(59, "wp_linux_drm_syncobj_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.465] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(61, "xdg_wm_base", 6)
[1602518.468] {Default Queue}  -> wl_registry#2.bind(61, "xdg_wm_base", 1, new id [unknown]#10)
[1602518.472] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(62, "zwlr_layer_shell_v1", 5)
[1602518.476] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(64, "kde_output_device_v2", 16)
[1602518.479] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(66, "wp_drm_lease_device_v1", 1)
[1602518.482] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(67, "kde_output_order_v1", 1)
[1602518.485] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(68, "zwp_text_input_manager_v1", 1)
[1602518.488] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(69, "zwp_text_input_manager_v2", 1)
[1602518.491] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(70, "zwp_text_input_manager_v3", 1)
[1602518.494] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(72, "org_kde_kwin_blur_manager", 1)
[1602518.497] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(73, "org_kde_kwin_slide_manager", 1)
[1602518.500] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(74, "xdg_system_bell_v1", 1)
[1602518.503] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(80, "wl_output", 4)
[1602518.506] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(85, "kde_output_device_v2", 16)
[1602518.510] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(86, "wl_output", 4)
[1602518.513] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(87, "kde_output_device_v2", 16)
[1602518.516] {Default Queue} wl_registry#2.global(88, "wl_output", 4)
[1602518.519] {Default Queue} wl_callback#3.done(186952)
[1602518.523] {Default Queue}  -> wl_display#1.sync(new id wl_callback#3)
[1602518.581] {Display Queue} wl_display#1.delete_id(3)
[1602518.584] {Default Queue} discarded wl_shm#5.format(0)
[1602518.587] {Default Queue} discarded wl_shm#5.format(1)
[1602518.589] {Default Queue} discarded wl_shm#5.format(808669761)
[1602518.592] {Default Queue} discarded wl_shm#5.format(808669784)
[1602518.594] {Default Queue} discarded wl_shm#5.format(808665665)
[1602518.597] {Default Queue} discarded wl_shm#5.format(808665688)
[1602518.600] {Default Queue} discarded wl_shm#5.format(942948929)
[1602518.603] {Default Queue} discarded wl_shm#5.format(942948952)
[1602518.605] {Default Queue} discarded wl_shm#5.format(875710274)
[1602518.608] {Default Queue} discarded wl_shm#5.format(875710290)
[1602518.611] {Default Queue} wl_seat#6.name("seat0")
[1602518.614] {Default Queue} wl_seat#6.capabilities(3)
[1602518.617] {Default Queue} wl_callback#3.done(186952)
[1602518.621] {Default Queue}  -> wl_data_device_manager#7.get_data_device(new id wl_data_device#3, wl_seat#6)
[1602518.625] {Default Queue}  -> wl_data_device_manager#7.create_data_source(new id wl_data_source#11)
[1602518.629] {Default Queue}  -> wl_data_source#11.offer("text/plain")
[1602518.632] {Default Queue}  -> wl_data_source#11.offer("text/plain;charset=utf-8")
[1602518.635] {Default Queue}  -> wl_data_source#11.offer("TEXT")
[1602518.638] {Default Queue}  -> wl_data_source#11.offer("STRING")
[1602518.641] {Default Queue}  -> wl_data_source#11.offer("UTF8_STRING")
[1602518.644] {Default Queue}  -> wl_seat#6.get_keyboard(new id wl_keyboard#12)
[1602518.753] {Default Queue} wl_keyboard#12.keymap(1, fd 4, 38396)
[1602518.770] {Default Queue}  -> wl_compositor#4.create_surface(new id wl_surface#13)
[1602518.774] {Default Queue}  -> xdg_wm_base#10.get_xdg_surface(new id xdg_surface#14, wl_surface#13)
[1602518.778] {Default Queue}  -> xdg_surface#14.get_toplevel(new id xdg_toplevel#15)
[1602518.781] {Default Queue}  -> xdg_toplevel#15.set_title("wl-clipboard")
[1602518.784] {Default Queue}  -> wl_surface#13.commit()
[1602518.789] {Default Queue}  -> wl_display#1.sync(new id wl_callback#16)
[1602519.284] {Display Queue} wl_display#1.delete_id(16)
[1602519.288] {Default Queue} wl_callback#16.done(186952)
[1602519.292] {Default Queue} xdg_toplevel#15.configure(0, 0, array[0])
[1602519.295] {Default Queue} xdg_surface#14.configure(186953)
[1602519.298] {Default Queue}  -> xdg_surface#14.ack_configure(186953)
[1602519.316] {Default Queue}  -> wl_shm#5.create_pool(new id wl_shm_pool#16, fd 5, 4)
[1602519.320] {Default Queue}  -> wl_shm_pool#16.create_buffer(new id wl_buffer#17, 0, 1, 1, 4, 0)
[1602519.324] {Default Queue}  -> wl_surface#13.attach(wl_buffer#17, 0, 0)
[1602519.327] {Default Queue}  -> wl_surface#13.damage(0, 0, 1, 1)
[1602519.331] {Default Queue}  -> wl_surface#13.commit()
--- here I clicked the spawned wl-clipboard window
[1607344.815] {Default Queue} xdg_wm_base#10.ping(186969)
[1607344.836] {Default Queue}  -> xdg_wm_base#10.pong(186969)
[1607344.840] {Default Queue} wl_keyboard#12.enter(186976, wl_surface#13, array[0])
[1607344.846] {Default Queue}  -> wl_data_device#3.set_selection(wl_data_source#11, 186976)
[1607344.849] {Default Queue}  -> wl_display#1.sync(new id wl_callback#18)
[1607344.852] {Default Queue} wl_keyboard#12.modifiers(186973, 64, 0, 0, 0)
[1607344.855] {Default Queue} wl_data_device#3.data_offer(new id wl_data_offer#4278190080)
[1607344.859] {Default Queue} wl_data_offer#4278190080.offer("text/plain")
[1607344.862] {Default Queue} wl_data_offer#4278190080.offer("text/html")
[1607344.864] {Default Queue} wl_data_offer#4278190080.offer("text/plain;charset=utf-8")
[1607344.868] {Default Queue} wl_data_device#3.selection(wl_data_offer#4278190080)
[1607344.871] {Default Queue}  -> wl_data_offer#4278190080.destroy()
[1607344.874] {Default Queue} wl_keyboard#12.modifiers(186978, 0, 0, 0, 0)
[1607344.878] {Default Queue} xdg_toplevel#15.configure(1, 1, array[4])
[1607344.880] {Default Queue} xdg_surface#14.configure(186981)
[1607344.882] {Default Queue}  -> xdg_surface#14.ack_configure(186981)
[1607345.055] {Display Queue} wl_display#1.delete_id(18)
[1607345.070] {Default Queue} wl_data_device#3.data_offer(new id wl_data_offer#4278190081)
[1607345.082] {Default Queue} wl_data_offer#4278190081.offer("text/plain")
[1607345.084] {Default Queue} wl_data_offer#4278190081.offer("text/plain;charset=utf-8")
[1607345.090] {Default Queue} wl_data_offer#4278190081.offer("TEXT")
[1607345.092] {Default Queue} wl_data_offer#4278190081.offer("STRING")
[1607345.095] {Default Queue} wl_data_offer#4278190081.offer("UTF8_STRING")
[1607345.098] {Default Queue} wl_data_device#3.selection(wl_data_offer#4278190081)
[1607345.103] {Default Queue}  -> wl_data_offer#4278190081.destroy()
[1607345.107] {Default Queue} wl_callback#18.done(186981)
[1607345.110] {Default Queue}  -> xdg_toplevel#15.destroy()
[1607345.114] {Default Queue}  -> xdg_surface#14.destroy()
[1607345.116] {Default Queue}  -> wl_surface#13.destroy()
[1607345.832] {Default Queue} wl_data_source#11.send("text/plain;charset=utf-8", fd 5)
[1607346.731] {Display Queue} wl_display#1.delete_id(15)                                            
[1607346.754] {Display Queue} wl_display#1.delete_id(14)
[1607346.763] {Display Queue} wl_display#1.delete_id(13)
[1607346.767] {Default Queue} wl_keyboard#12.leave(186982, nil)
[1607346.783] {Default Queue} wl_data_source#11.send("text/plain;charset=utf-8", fd 5)
[1607525.476] {Default Queue} discarded wl_buffer#17.release()

[nekoalice42]

Workaround 1

Install this package directly from git.

For Arch Linux users: AUR has wl-clipboard-git package which still builds successfully despite being orphaned.

Workaround 2

This allows wl-copy and wl-paste windows to steal the focus.

Either import from file

1. Create a new file in any location, name it anything you want ending with ".kwinrule"
2. Paste the content below

[Force focus wl-clipboard fake windows]
Description=Force focus wl-clipboard fake windows
fsplevelrule=2
wmclass=wl-(copy|paste)
wmclassmatch=3

3. Open System Settings > Window Management > Window Rules
4. Import the rule via "Import..." button on the top right corner
5. Choose your newly created file from step 2
6. Click "Apply"
7. Test it with wl-copy Test! and wl-paste

Or set it up manually

1. Open System Settings > Window Management > Window Rules
2. Add new rule via a button on the right top corner
3. Description: anything you want
4. Window class (application): Choose "Regular expression" and type "wl-(copy|paste)"
5. Add Property > Focus stealing prevention
6. Focus stealing prevention: Choose "Force" and "None", if not chosen yet
7. Click "Apply"
8. Test it with wl-copy Test! and wl-paste

[bugaevc]

Logs with WAYLAND_DEBUG=1

I'm not seeing wlr-data-control exposed.

https://invent.kde.org/plasma/kwin/-/commit/764b7230be77c49c9f37fe13a202930e4b59bb6e looks relevant. You should try either reverting that patch, or making sure you have 091d602.

[nekoalice42]

or making sure you have 091d602.

Seems like the commit is not landed in any of the releases, so it isn't included in packaged version. Installing wl-clipboard-git from AUR helped. I've updated my comment above.

[Interpause]

Hi, reproducible on Gentoo as well. Would it be possible to make a new release tag? Thanks.

[Conan-Kudo]

This commit is needed for Plasma 6.5+: 091d602