unable to drag monitors in Display Arrangement

[Scott Palmer]

I am unable to drag the displays in the Display Arrangement section. I have a dual monitor setup and they are in the reverse order.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: xorg 1:7.7+19ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-16.19-generic 4.13.4
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-16-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
CompositorRunning: None
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Thu Oct 19 13:12:07 2017
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: artful
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, if not too technical
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [17aa:2203]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-10-19 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Release amd64 (20171018)
MachineType: LENOVO 343522U
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-16-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=df6662ff-9496-4ff5-8165-82efdbf0b335 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
Symptom: display
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 05/28/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: GCET99WW (2.59 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 343522U
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Defined
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrGCET99WW(2.59):bd05/28/2014:svnLENOVO:pn343522U:pvrThinkPadX230Tablet:rvnLENOVO:rn343522U:rvrNotDefined:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.family: ThinkPad X230 Tablet
dmi.product.name: 343522U
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad X230 Tablet
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
version.compiz: compiz N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.83-1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 17.2.2-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 17.2.2-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.19.5-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.10.0-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917+git20170309-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.15-2

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. The issue you are reporting is an upstream one and it would be nice if somebody having it could send the bug to the developers of the software by following the instructions at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/GNOME. If you have done so, please tell us the number of the upstream bug (or the link), so we can add a bugwatch that will inform us about its status. Thanks in advance.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Could you take a screenshot of the UI you are using? Do you get an error or just no reaction when you try to drag one?

[Shawn Venti (sventi)]

I just wanted to add that I experience this same problem. I do not receive an error of any kind the mini displays simply will not rearrange when I attempt to drag them.

Let me know if I can supply any additional information.

[Dschoni (jonathan-schock)]

Bug on bugzilla's tracker:

https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=789711

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

thanks

[Michal Pasniewski (michalp-y)]

Attached screencast of my exercise in frustration (arrange monitors in order 2 3 4)

[dino99 (9d9)]

Have you tried switching the cord/port used to plug the displays .
How are they actually set ?

[Michal Pasniewski (michalp-y)]

Ultimately there IS a way to rearrange them but one needs to be very patient. It's like a puzzle :)

All three monitors of the same resolution are connected to an NVidia 1060 with 3 different types of cable (Display, normal HDMI, old HDMI) so I cannot replug them easily at the card, and I would have do some rerouting at the monitor stands where cables are attached. I will probably have to do that...

I also have a TV on an HDMI cable (sadly it always comed as #1), which, when I last unplugged it, rearranged everything again. Not very nice.

I attached NVIDIA X Server Settings. BTW I tried to reorder monitors in NVIDIA X Server Settings but the settings were always overwritten on reboot.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

upstream commited some changes that should help with the issue

[derpthan (derpthan2156312)]

I have this issue as well and it's driving me nuts. Is there any command line workaround? I don't mind running a script every boot / screen unlock as long as I can get back to working quickly ...

The status is now 'Fix Released', so I assume this bug has been fixed upstream. Any idea when this fix will show up in the Ubuntu repositories?

[dreamwalker (dreamwalker)]

I have just had this issue as well, I have 3 displays:

Internal Panel (Disabled)
27" on HDMI (Active)
27" on VGA (Active)

I managed to work around the problem by activating the internal panel so it shows all 3 displays then I could drag the displays into the desired layout.

Before applying the changes I turned the internal panel off again as I didn't require it but it saved fine.

System Details:
DELL XPS 9560 running Ubuntu 17.10
External DELL Dock (TB16) with the displays attached

[SoulTaker (abbyssoul)]

Also affected by this issue.

System: Lenovo X1 carbon (Gen3)
OS: Ubuntu 17.10

Can't drag displays in displays settings menu to rearrange layout.
One screen is connected via HDMI and an other via mini DP.

Interesting thing to note - I have tryed switching cables but the layout didn't changed - that is left screen remained as main screen even now it is plugged via DP but used to be plugged via HDMI.

This drives me crazy.

[Jason Moore (moorepants)]

I have three screens: builtin laptop screen and two external monitors. If I turn off the builtin laptop screen, I am not able to rearrange the remaining two screens with the mouse. But if I have all 3 screens enabled I can arrange them as desired and then turn off the builtin screen after. This confirms dreamwalker's solution.

[Behrooz Nobakht (nobeh)]

I also confirm that dreamwalker's solution worked for me. My setup is Dell Precission 5520 with two external Dell displays. To be able to drag the monitors, it is necessary that Built-in display is ON at least until before pressing Apply button.

[David Park (perdavidpark)]

I have the same issue, Having two external monitor connected to a DELL Dock TB16 and Dock connected to my Dell XPS 13 laptop.
I can also confirm that dreamwalker workaround worked for me. When I activate the laptop screen the UI started working draging the screen icons on the display arrangement window in gnome settings (device) page (gnome-control-center). Then after arrangement was set I diactivated the laptop screen before confirming all by pressing apply.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

the issue should be fixed in 18.04