Locate pointer not working when animations are disabled

[J Chapman]

I have just upgraded to Ubuntu 23.10 (Mantic Minotaur), going through the regular process of settling in with the new features and so forth, I realised that the 'locate pointer' is not working as expected.
When the focus is on a screen element (like this text field that I am entering information into) I can press the left ctrl button and the border will flash around the element/text field/button etcetera.
(I have made a screen cast, if I can I will upload it)
Previously when pressing the left ctrl button the mouse pointer would be shown with a circular pulsing image (like a something dropping into calm water).
I have read several forums and have looked specifically how to set the locate pointer option, I have set it in accessibility->pointing & clicking->Locate Pointer, also via cli with "gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface locate-pointer true" and using the gnome tweaks gui.
None of these things work.
Ubuntu 23.10,gnome 45, gdm3, acer aspire V 17 nitro black edition
Description: Ubuntu 23.10
Release: 23.10
Not seemingly specific to any 'package' so package version is not relevant.

Expect the mouse pointer to be highlighted instead only the cursor position is located.
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.27.0-0ubuntu5
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
DisplayManager: gdm3
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 23.10
InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-10-17 (1464 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine" - Release amd64 (20191017)
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
Package: gnome-shell 45.0-1ubuntu2
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.5.0-9.9-generic 6.5.3
RelatedPackageVersions: mutter-common 45.0-3ubuntu3
Tags: mantic
Uname: Linux 6.5.0-9-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to mantic on 2023-10-13 (7 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom debian-transmission dip lpadmin lxd plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True

[Ubuntu Foundations Team Bug Bot (crichton)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. It seems that your bug report is not filed about a specific source package though, rather it is just filed against Ubuntu in general. It is important that bug reports be filed about source packages so that people interested in the package can find the bugs about it. You can find some hints about determining what package your bug might be about at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/FindRightPackage. You might also ask for help in the #ubuntu-bugs irc channel on Libera.chat.

To change the source package that this bug is filed about visit https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/2039801/+editstatus and add the package name in the text box next to the word Package.

[This is an automated message. I apologize if it reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[J Chapman (justinlindsaychapman)]

Had to add package, I am not certain but it is most likely to be gnome shell problem.

[J Chapman (justinlindsaychapman)]

Even on hovering the element that gets focus flashes when the ctrl (left) is pressed. I well take a screencast to show it and attach it.
On a different not, when making a screen cast the mouse pointer can't be seen even when it is selected to be shown, I wonder if the issue is related?
In the attached example you can see how the YT video starts playing when the mouse pointer hovers over the preview thumbnail, when I press the ctrl key it goes back to thumbnail.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Thanks for the bug report. I can't seem to reproduce the issue here. Left Ctrl for pointer location is working in Ubuntu 23.10 for me.

Please execute the following command only once, as it will automatically gather debugging information, in a terminal:

  apport-collect 2039801

When reporting bugs in the future please use apport by using 'ubuntu-bug' and the name of the package affected. You can learn more about this functionality at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs.

See also bug 1875056 and bug 1872230.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Also what output do you get from this command?

gsettings get org.gnome.mutter locate-pointer-key

[J Chapman (justinlindsaychapman)]

apport information

[J Chapman (justinlindsaychapman)]

apport information

[J Chapman (justinlindsaychapman)]

apport information

[J Chapman (justinlindsaychapman)]

apport information

[J Chapman (justinlindsaychapman)]

apport information

[J Chapman (justinlindsaychapman)]

apport information

[J Chapman (justinlindsaychapman)]

Solved, not sure if a bug still exists but the animation for the 'locate pointer' issue is due to the Accessibility->seeing->reduced animation setting being turned on.
The 'show pointer' feature in screencast still does not turn on however I can now press the left cntrl key to highlight the whereabouts of the pointer.
I am not sure if this should be closed as a bug or redirected to reflect the continuing issue with the screen capture 'show pointer' issue.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Fix proposed: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell/-/merge_requests/2986

[J Chapman (justinlindsaychapman)]

Thanks Daniel,
Should I start a new thread regarding the 'show pointer' in the screencast function that is launched via ctrl+shift+alt+r or prntSc?

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Yes a new bug please. It might be reported elsewhere already.