Pressing CTRL key unfocuses URL bar

[realpixelcode]

Captchas

• [x] I have read the instructions.
• [x] I have searched existing issues and avoided creating duplicates.
• [x] I am not filing an enhancement request.
• [x] I have checked that this issue cannot be reproduced on Mozilla Firefox.
• [x] I have checked that this issue can be reproduced once I removed all my Mods and Custom CSS.

What happened?

There's a very annoying bug which prevents me from easily copying the URL from the URL bar using CTRL+C.

Actual behaviour

1. Bring the focus to the URL bar by clicking on it with the cursor.
2. Press CTRL and keep it pressed.
3. The URL bar is immediately unfocused. The URL cannot be copied.

Or:

1. Press CTRL and keep it pressed.
2. Press L and keep it pressed.
3. Release L.
4. Release CTRL. The URL bar is now focused.
5. Press CTRL and keep it pressed.
6. The URL bar is immediately unfocused. The URL cannot be copied.

The exact same thing happens when trying to select the whole URL by pressing CTRL+A instead of CTRL+C. Also, it does not matter whether zen.urlbar.behavior is set to floating-on-type or normal.

Expected behaviour

1. Bring the focus to the URL bar by clicking on it with the cursor.
2. Begin pressing CTRL. The focus remains on the URL bar.
3. Begin pressing C. The focus remains on the URL bar.
4. Release C. The focus remains on the URL bar.
5. Release CTRL. The focus remains on the URL bar.
6. The URL is now present in the clipboard. The focus remains on the URL bar.

And:

1. Press CTRL and keep it pressed.
2. Press L and keep it pressed.
3. Release L.
4. Release CTRL. The URL bar is now focused.
5. Press CTRL and keep it pressed. The focus remains on the URL bar.
6. Press C and keep it pressed. The focus remains on the URL bar.
7. Release C. The focus remains on the URL bar.
8. Release CTRL. The focus remains on the URL bar.
9. The URL is now present in the clipboard. The focus remains on the URL bar.

Workarounds

1. Click on the URL bar with the cursor.
2. Right-click on the URL.
3. Select “copy”.
4. The URL is now present in the clipboard. The focus remains on the URL bar.

Or:

1. Press CTRL and keep it pressed.
2. Press L and keep it pressed. The URL bar is now focused.
3. Release L. The focus remains on the URL bar.
4. Press C and keep it pressed. The focus remains on the URL bar.
5. Release C. The focus remains on the URL bar.
6. Release CTRL. The focus remains on the URL bar.
7. The URL is now present in the clipboard. The focus remains on the URL bar.

Version

1.12.5b (Firefox 138.0.3)

What platform are you seeing the problem on?

Linux (Tarball)

What component is this issue related to?

URL Bar

Relevant log output if applicable

[Propheticus]

I understand how this is very annoying. I cannot reproduce (on Win11) though. (lucky me)

To rule out some possible causes, can you test if you see the same behaviour in troubleshoot mode? All extensions, themes and custom settings disable in this mode. It can be enabled via triple dot menu > help > troubleshoot mode.

[realpixelcode]

I cannot reproduce (on Win11) though.

Right, the issue is not present on my Windows 11 machine either.

same behaviour in troubleshoot mode?

Sadly, the issue persists in troubleshooting mode 😕

[kkkfasya]

i also use linux (Fedora 42 KDE) and cant reproduce this bug, do you mind specifying the distro and the DE/WM?

[realpixelcode]

I use

• Zorin OS 17.3 Core (which is based on Ubuntu 22)
• with Gnome 43.9
• and X11 (X.Org version 1.21.1.4)

[user0-07161]

Can't reproduce on Arch with KDE (Wayland)

[kkkfasya]

Gnome 43 and X11 huh... i think it's time to update gang

[DenisBeliant]

Have you enabled the 'locate pointer' option? I noticed this bug with this.

[realpixelcode]

Gnome 43 and X11 huh... i think it's time to update gang

Yeah, I would if Zorin let me 🥲

Have you enabled the 'locate pointer' option? I noticed this bug with this.

Ah, right! Turning that option off in Gnome Tweaks indeed avoids the bug for me too. Though, since the other browsers (most importantly Firefox itself) don't have the problem when “locate pointer” is enabled, it's still a bug in Zen's scope, I think.

[user0-07161]

Yeah, I would if Zorin let me 🥲

Switch to another distro then?

[realpixelcode]

Switch to another distro then?

Not an option for me currently

[user0-07161]

hm ok, may I ask why?

[realpixelcode]

hm ok, may I ask why?

Sorry, I think that would become off-topic

[user0-07161]

yeah right

[Murat-Karakaya]

Same here, Using cinnamon on linux mint. I installed zen through flatpak. And lastly I am using th x11 session. So far I don't see any fixes but here are some partialy helpful workarrounds:

Shift+Ctrl+C => Copys the current URL no matter which text is selected. Works even if the URL bar is unfocused. Shift+Ctrl+V => Pastes the text to the URL bar from your clipboard. Works only if the URL bar is already focused.

Notice the fact the you should press the keys in these orders to use the keyboard shortcut.

[realpixelcode]

@Murat-Karakaya Can't reproduce this workaround 🤔

1. Begin pressing Shift
2. Begin pressing Ctrl
3. The URL bar is immediately unfocused.
4. Begin pressing C.
5. Release C.
6. Release Ctrl.
7. Release Shift.
8. The clipboard's content didn't change.

[juliaesece]

I have the same issue, using elementary OS 7.1 Horus (built on Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS). Can confirm turning off the locate pointer disables it, which I will do for now, but I do like that feature. Also, I don't have the same problem on Firefox.

[Murat-Karakaya]

I have the same issue, using elementary OS 7.1 Horus (built on Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS). Can confirm turning off the locate pointer disables it, which I will do for now, but I do like that feature. Also, I don't have the same problem on Firefox.

Yeah, you're a life saver. Didn't need to locate my poiner all that often anyways. Disabling it just saved me from so much frustration.

[Murat-Karakaya]

So far I think the issue is about the fact that the zen url-bar never restores its focus when the window itself gets refocused after losing focus. What does that mean? Well I'll try to explain by a video and provide some detailed behind my thought proccess:

https://drive.proton.me/urls/WWYYG63SGG#JeZ5amz3wrDH

As you can see (or can't see due to possible reasons) when I focus the url-bar, then I unfocus the browser window (by clicking on my desktop for example), and then focus back on the browser window; the url automatically focuses. This is the case for other browsers as far as I checked (as shown in the video this is the behaviour of firefox and brave). But zen doesn't behave like that for some reason. When I focus back to the browser window the url bar remains unfocused. That is why if for some reason the zen browser window unfocuses while you were typing, you have to explicitly focus back the url bar to continue typing.

As for me personally, pressing the Ctrl key located my pointer. Which for some reason had the side effect of unfocusing any window momentarily when I started pressing the Ctrl key. Disabling locate pointer fixed that. But if there is some other reason why pressing the Ctrl (or any other key for that matter) temporarily unfocuses your browser window, then you better refocus the url bar and use your mouse to do text operations instead.

For example, I often like to use the Meta+V keyboard shortcut to insert some text from my clipboard history to an input field. But it wouldn't work on Zen because the Meta key also momentarily unfocuses the window. Which is why I can use that shortcut on everything except on zen browser url bar.

If this behaviour in zen browser is on purpose, then I guess this is it. But personally I'd rather prefer the behaviour of other browsers. I want to resume typing from where I left off, and I want to. If this wasn't/isn't how zen browser behaves in the first place, then I'm sorry. I'm wrong.

TLDR

There is probably something that unfocuses your browser window when you start pressing the Ctrl key. Disable that and you'll probably be fine. Disabling the locate pointer is a possible fix.

[psychoSherlock]

Disabling locate pointer works. Even though that feature is of no use for most people zen should still fix it during next patch because no other browsers or windows have the same issue.

[nshkrsh]

am on 1.14.4b on Zorin os 17.3

when trying to edit url or open new tab, ability to paste via ctrl+v or move between words via ctrl+arrow keys or ctrl+shift+arrow keys does not work. when the focus is on the address bar and we click ctrl again, the focus is lost.

its quite frustrating.

this happens on address bar on all three modes: floating mode, multi toolbar mode and normal mode.

hope this fixed soon.

thanks for this awesome and free browser. appreciate it.

edit: disabling "locate pointer" in accessability settings fixes the issue. but this issue is not there on the firefox browser, just zen.

[dosubot[bot]]

Hi, @realpixelcode. I'm Dosu, and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog and am marking this issue as stale.

Issue Summary:

• You reported a bug on Linux (Zorin OS with Gnome 43 and X11) where pressing CTRL causes the URL bar to lose focus, breaking shortcuts like CTRL+C/V.
• The issue is linked to the "locate pointer" accessibility feature in Gnome; disabling it resolves the problem.
• Other users on similar Linux setups have confirmed the bug, but it does not occur on Windows or other Linux distros like Fedora or Arch.
• The problem appears to be a Zen-specific focus handling issue differing from Firefox and other browsers.
• A fix is still desired but has not yet been implemented.

Next Steps:

• Please let me know if this issue is still relevant with the latest version of the Zen desktop browser by commenting here.
• If I don’t hear back within 7 days, I will automatically close this issue to keep the backlog manageable.

Thanks for your understanding and contribution!

[realpixelcode]

Yes, it is still relevant 🙄

[Propheticus]

Ok so the issue is

• On Linux with Gnome desktop environment
• with "locate pointer" enabled (default key: Ctrl)
• any press of Ctrl unfocuses the URL bar > operations like copy/paste are impossible.

Not reproducible in Wayland or KDE. The conflict also does not happen in base Firefox (on Gnome desktop).

[Murat-Karakaya]

This is nitpicking but I just wanted to make sure. This is also relevant in cinnamon and possibly budgie.

[dosubot[bot]]

Hi, @realpixelcode. I'm Dosu, and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog and am marking this issue as stale.

Issue Summary:

• You reported a Linux-specific bug where pressing Ctrl causes the URL bar to lose focus, breaking shortcuts like Ctrl+C/V.
• The issue occurs on Gnome with the "locate pointer" accessibility feature enabled.
• It is not reproducible on Windows, KDE, Wayland, or Firefox.
• Disabling "locate pointer" is a workaround, but a proper fix is still requested.
• You and others have confirmed the bug persists and remains unresolved.

Next Steps:

• Please confirm if this issue is still relevant with the latest version of the desktop repository by commenting here.
• If I do not hear back within 10 days, I will automatically close this issue.

Thank you for your understanding and contribution!

[Murat-Karakaya]

Seems still relevant to me