Unable to do anything after pressing the Super key

[corrado venturini]

I press super key, the various application windows appear on desktop but i'm unable to do anything:
i can just click on the red 'X' top right of the window to close it but if i click on the window i can't get focus on it. to exit this situation i can only reboot so I was unable to open the problem while it was active. I can just attach the journal relative to it.
The problem seems random, trying to reproduce it I had the problem 3 times out of 6 attempts.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 21.04
Package: gnome-shell 3.38.3-3ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.11.0-11.12-generic 5.11.0
Uname: Linux 5.11.0-11-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu60
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Fri Mar 19 08:49:44 2021
DisplayManager: gdm3
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-02-28 (18 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 21.04 "Hirsute Hippo" - Alpha amd64 (20210228)
RelatedPackageVersions: mutter-common 3.38.3-3ubuntu2
SourcePackage: gnome-shell
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue, and help make Ubuntu better.

Are you talking about GNOME Shell? (ie. the desktop), or when a specific program is running.

The reason for asking is to try and work out the correct package; my guess is changing "Ubuntu" to "gnome-shell" maybe more helpful so it gets seen by the right "eyes" (ie. desktop developer).

Thanks for helping make Ubuntu better.

[corrado venturini (corradoventu)]

I do not know which package is guilty so I have not specified but perhaps gnome-shell is more right; but i don't know how to change.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

I can't reproduce the issue but the recurring message in your log certainly sounds like it would explain clicking/focus problems:

  meta_window_set_stack_position_no_sync: assertion 'window->stack_position >= 0' failed

Since we already have bug 1871262 open for that I am going to mark this as a duplicate.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[funicorn (funicorn)]

I comment here because I can reproduce the issue and want to add more specifics.

The issue happened since upgrade to 21.04 dev branch with gnome-shell both on Wayland and Xorg. It appears occasionally, not every time though, when Super key was pressed or Mouse was moved onto the hot corner, calling up activity (application) previews. Then suddenly screen doesn't respond to any keyboard or mouse input, with window previews staying there. (In fact mouse movement is visible but clicking to close a window is no longer effective. I can restart the gnome-shell by inputting alt+F2 & r)

How to reproduce :

1. Press 'Super', or move mouse to top-left corner.
2. Try typing into the dash box while (or even before) window previews show up.
3. There are chances the screen freezes. Applications cannot be switched or closed, and repressing Super key cannot disappear the previews.

[Sunit (sunit-parab)]

I have exactly the same issue though i was not able to fetch the error in syslog. ONly alternative am left with is reboot.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Sunit,

This bug is closed as a duplicate of bug 1871262. Please look at that bug and if it's not exactly what you experience then open a new bug by running:

  ubuntu-bug gnome-shell

[Robert (ra669180)]

Having the exact problem. Whenever I press the Super button it gets stuck and I am forced to restart making it difficult to use.

CPU: Intel Core i5-10400
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1650
OS: 21.04

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Oops, sorry this seems more like bug 1922353.

[Darren (chilton-darren)]

isn't it because you long press on the super?
then you can long press again on the super to disable this mode.