layout switch is delayed

[Alexey Nezhdanov]

I have two layouts configured En and Ru with Ctrl-Shift as layout switch combo.

When I start typing in wrong layout I notice it, hit Ctrl-Shift and type again, but more often than not it is wrong layout again.
I repeat the action, but there is no luck. On the third attemt it usually either works OR the first letter is still in wrong layout, but the second is in correct one - i.e. layout switches as I type.

The explanation for this is that layout switch takes very unreasonable time - much longer than it is needed to move your fingers from one key to the other. Each time I encounter the error I retry slower so on the third attempt it is slow enough to actually recognize that layout switch is happening, but with a delay.

This is extremely annoying and unacceptable. If someone knows how to work around it - please post your suggestions here. It would be nice to have a solution for 3+ layouts setup as well.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 1370953

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Alexey Nezhdanov (snakeru-gmail)]

A very bad (but still better than what we have now) workaround would be to lock keyboard immidiately after layout switch combo is pressed and unlock it once the layout actually switched.

This way user won't have wrong letters typed. He won't have right letters typed either, but that will make him retry typing, not retry switching layouts (thus extending the pain).

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Nicolaev Iacob (nicolaev-iacob)]

A workaround for me was adding this second language to xconfiguration using:
example:
setxkbmap us,ru

after this adding no more lags., but works only for current session.

[monomakh (monomakh)]

I have the same ubuntu 15.04 at home and at work. And all works fine at unity session at home computer, but I have this issue at work computer with Shift+Alt layout switch (en and ru). Btw, all work fine at xfce session on both computers.

[monomakh (monomakh)]

Looks like https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/1388770 duplicates this bug

[Valentin (valentin531)]

Very annoying bug.

ubuntu 14.04 LTS

but it only happens on the x64 system. On the same computer ubuntu 14.04 x86 works fine - layout switching is immediately

[kostyarin (k-i-r)]

I have the same bug.

Ubuntu 15.10

uname -a

Linux asus 4.2.0-17-generic #21-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 23 19:56:16 UTC 2015 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[kostyarin (k-i-r)]

It's critical. No way to work. No way to use system wholly. Hey, developer, I can help you to catch the bug.

[Valentin Gorelov (gorelov-valentin)]

It seems that Ubuntu uses dconf to switch layouts.

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.input-sources current 0
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.input-sources current 1
This operations are very slow on my system because of intensive HDD IO usage.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Semenov Pasha (sempasha)]

By default ubuntu use deadline diso io scheduler.
It seams that changinq disk scheduler from deadline to cfq solves the problem.

[Alexey Kachalov (avkachalov)]

I have this bug on Ubuntu 16.04 x64 too.
Some people say switching to setxkbmap helps: https://toster.ru/q/72254

[Alex (topic001)]

what the f*cking bullshit???? 21st century and you can't solve this annoying bug during several years??? F*ck your bloody UNITY and solve this simplest and most important problem!!!
how to use the system if not possible to switch layout normally???
shit! shit! shit!

Ubuntu 17.04

uname -a
Linux 4.10.0-33-generic #37-Ubuntu SMP Fri Aug 11 10:53:59 UTC 2017 i686 i686 i686 GNU/Linux

[Alexey Nezhdanov (snakeru-gmail)]

Alex, how much did you pay for your copy of Ubuntu?

The problem is frustrating, but:
1) these people don't owe you anything
2) this is FOSS - go and do it yourself
3) solutions do exist.

Drop that tone!

Am 29.08.2017 9:55 nachm. schrieb "Alex" <email address hidden>:

> what the f*cking bullshit???? 21st century and you can't solve this
> annoying bug during several years??? F*ck your bloody UNITY and solve this
> simplest and most important problem!!!
> how to use the system if not possible to switch layout normally???
> shit! shit! shit!
>
> Ubuntu 17.04
>
> uname -a
> Linux 4.10.0-33-generic #37-Ubuntu SMP Fri Aug 11 10:53:59 UTC 2017 i686
> i686 i686 GNU/Linux
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1370953
>
> Title:
> layout switch is delayed
>
> Status in console-setup package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
> Status in gconf package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I have two layouts configured En and Ru with Ctrl-Shift as layout
> switch combo.
>
> When I start typing in wrong layout I notice it, hit Ctrl-Shift and type
> again, but more often than not it is wrong layout again.
> I repeat the action, but there is no luck. On the third attemt it
> usually either works OR the first letter is still in wrong layout, but the
> second is in correct one - i.e. layout switches as I type.
>
> The explanation for this is that layout switch takes very unreasonable
> time - much longer than it is needed to move your fingers from one
> key to the other. Each time I encounter the error I retry slower so on
> the third attempt it is slow enough to actually recognize that layout
> switch is happening, but with a delay.
>
> This is extremely annoying and unacceptable. If someone knows how to
> work around it - please post your suggestions here. It would be nice
> to have a solution for 3+ layouts setup as well.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/console-setup/+
> bug/1370953/+subscriptions
>

[Alex (topic001)]

bla-bla-bla
keyboard layout switcher is not a rocket science. this is system BASE feature. It must work perfectly, as it had already worked some time ago. If you do something do it good, or do not do it at all. Even if it is free.

i have reviewed half of the internet for a solution and would not write here, if it exists.

talk about the problem, not about me.

[Alexey Nezhdanov (snakeru-gmail)]

The worst thing one can do it so maintain his position instead of apologising after being rude and being called out on that.
At least one workaround was proposed even in this very thread.

[Oleg (olegyam)]

I'm experiencing this bug on elementary OS 5.0. After looking through different reports I can see that it comes from ubuntu.

Sad that there seems to be no progress on its resolution after several years :(

Did somebody found a workaround with setxkbmap or something else?

[Max (papko26)]

I'm experiencing same bug on elementary OS 5.0. It really driving me nuts.
Added initial bounty on this.
https://www.bountysource.com/issues/63898369-slow-keyboard-layouts-switch

[Alexey (kazqviazer)]

Hello!

The problem is still here. In 17.10, 18.04, 18.10, 19.04 releases...

I found out that all standard layout switches are with that stupid delay.
But somehow the alternative switching on LShift+RShift works instantly!

I spent few hours to find the place where this action is stored to move it to standard keybindings like Shfit+Alt, but failed.

May be someone can suggest the way how to find action on key binding in Ubuntu to do this?

[Alexey Gusev (alexeygusev)]

I confirm this bug is still present in ubuntu 19.10.

My comment in gnome bug tracker: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/issues/1154#note_696130

[Denis Oleksiuk (denisreact)]

This bug still in ubuntu 20.04 :((((

[Marat Mkhitaryan (marataziat)]

Fixed in Ubuntu 21.04 for me

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Is anyone still experiencing this bug in 22.04?

[Roman Shipovskij (roman-shipovskij)]

Yes, this bug is still present in 22.04, the reason and workaround described here https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/-/issues/1154#note_1065418

[Ubuntu Foundations Team Bug Bot (crichton)]

The attachment "keyboard-layout-switching-delay-workaround.patch" seems to be a patch. If it isn't, please remove the "patch" flag from the attachment, remove the "patch" tag, and if you are a member of the ~ubuntu-reviewers, unsubscribe the team.

[This is an automated message performed by a Launchpad user owned by ~brian-murray, for any issues please contact him.]