Regression: Alt+Shift and Ctrl+Shift layout switch requires long key press after update (Cinnamon)

[TutaZdesya]

Distribution

Linux Mint 22.3 "Zena" Cinnamon

Package version

Cinnamon 6.6.4

Graphics hardware in use

Intel UHD Graphics (CometLake-U GT2), i915 driver. Single GPU system. Running on X11 (X.Org)

Frequency

Always

Bug description

After a recent Linux Mint update, keyboard layout switching (the language, for example) using Alt+Shift or Ctrl+Shift is broken in Cinnamon.

Before the update, Alt+Shift switched layouts instantly.

After the update Alt+Shift only works if Alt is held for a noticeable time.

Win+Space works correctly.

The issue happens consistently after the update.

Steps to reproduce

1. Reboot the system after updating to 22.3 and log in to a Cinnamon session.
2. Configure two keyboard layouts (e.g. English and Russian).
3. Set Alt+Shift (or Ctrl+Shift) as the keyboard layout switching shortcut.
4. Press Alt+Shift (or Ctrl+Shift) to switch the keyboard layout.

Expected behavior

Alt+Shift should switch the keyboard layout instantly and reliably, as it did before the update. Suppose Ctrl+Shift should switch instantly too.

Additional information

• Win+Space layout switching works correctly, so the issue is specific to Alt+Shift and Ctrl+Shift (didn't try other combinations) in Cinnamon.
• Default Linux Mint Cinnamon theme is used.
• No third-party keyboard-related applets are installed.

[nickk-acc]

Confirmed on my system too

System:
Kernel: 6.14.0-37-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64
Distro: Linux Mint 22.3 Zena base: Ubuntu 24.04 noble
CPU:
Info: 10-core model: AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 w/ Radeon 880M
Graphics:
Device-1: AMD Strix [Radeon 880M / 890M]

[mtwebster]

You can go to the 'XKB Options' tab and re-add the old layout switch shortcuts, but they only work properly in an x11 session. Be sure to clear the ones from the Layouts tab to prevent conflicts. (Click a keybinding there, press backspace).

These new keybindings don't require a 'long press' - they require a particular order - you must press first one, holding it, then the other (like other system keybindings).

[nickk-acc]

You can go to the 'XKB Options' tab and re-add the old layout switch shortcuts, but they only work properly in an x11 session. Be sure to clear the ones from the Layouts tab to prevent conflicts. (Click a keybinding there, press backspace).

These new keybindings don't require a 'long press' - they require a particular order - you must press first one, holding it, then the other (like other system keybindings).

Tried this and it doesn't survive a logout and reboot. Don't know why. The setting seems applied after the restart but it doesn't work. Also didn't work for some reason when I tried to remote to another pc. The keybinding still worked in remote (although slower). It is not an issue of pressing it in the wrong order. The alt needs to be pressed for quite some time for the shift that follows to be registered. It's not instant. If it actually was an issue of pressing it wrong then we wouldn't both agree that win+space works correctly.

[mtwebster]

Hmm I see you're right, it doesn't work after logging in. Restarting cinnamon works to fix it, as a workaround. I'll look into this.

Still disagree with you how the other shortcuts work now, it's no different than alt-tab to switch apps - you must hold alt first.

[nickk-acc]

Restaring cinammon also fixes xkb solution for me. But I still insist on the alt+shift not registering correctly. I mean I have been using alt+shift for years. I just pressed alt+tab around 20 times since it was your example and worked everytime and instantly and pressed alt+shift and it registered about 1/3 of the presses. I also noticed that the language icon on the panel actually disappears and reappears when it actually works (something that didn't happen previously). Basically I see the icons that are to the left of the language icon move to the right and then move again in the original positions after the language changes. That didn't happen before, or it was so fast that wasn't noticeble.

[alexeymuranov]

Possibly related: Shift+Shift L and Shift+Shift R may be set but do not work altogether. (But "Both Shifts together" may be set in XKB Options, then it works.)

[nickk-acc]

Kind of a fix. It is not actually fixed but just for now.
In keyboard app

1. Remove the alt + shift from xkb if it has been set already
2. Set in the shortcuts alt+shift as the keybinding
3. Set (or reset) in XKB option the alt + shift as switching to next layout
   With these steps it actually works as expected even after logouts and reboots
   For the new weird glitch that has already been reported elsewhere (the disappearance and reappearance of the keyboard applet in the panel), just remove it and reapply it so it will be the left foremost so when it flashes because of the layout change it will not cause all of the rest of the icons to jump left and right. Also changing it from a flag to letters seems to be redraw much faster and it doesn't flash (although it is not fixed width and makes everything move based on the letters that represent the layout)

[unxed]

@nickk-acc thanks for the workaround! 🙏❤️ Works for me.

[alexeymuranov]

Possibly related: Shift+Shift L and Shift+Shift R may be set but do not work altogether. (But "Both Shifts together" may be set in XKB Options, then it works.)

Never mind, they started working. Probably after reboot. Still, I find that there are a lot of glitches.