Black Screen when switching back to initial user

Issues & Assistance Newbies
1

Dear Garudians,

I recently created another user on this PC the first time. It started without any problems, but when I switched back, I got a black screen - my screen couldn’t find any signal anymore.

I thought this may had to do with just creating the user or some changes to the theme I did, but no, even after multiple restarts, changes to the theme and testing it with a new user with no changes, it still stays the same: Switching creates black screens. I’m able to get into the user selection screen, but as soon as I put in the password and press enter, the PC goes into a black screen.

Oddly enough, this only happens when I switch back to users I’ve already used once in this session. Switching to a new user works.

What could be the problem here?

Inxi:

System:
Kernel: 6.13.1-zen1-1-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
root=UUID=190e7cc2-4318-4f40-8d3a-f5f4b453777f rw rootflags=subvol=@
quiet quiet rd.udev.log_priority=3 vt.global_cursor_default=0
resume=UUID=7c8380c2-84ce-492e-b61f-aa22976a6b16 loglevel=3
Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.2.5 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.10.0
wm: kwin_wayland vt: 1 dm: SDDM Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
Type: Desktop Mobo: Gigabyte model: B650 AORUS ELITE AX v: x.x
serial: <superuser required> uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: American
Megatrends LLC. v: F4 date: 03/22/2023
CPU:
Info: model: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Zen 4 gen: 4
level: v4 note: check built: 2022+ process: TSMC n5 (5nm) family: 0x19 (25)
model-id: 0x61 (97) stepping: 2 microcode: 0xA601209
Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 1 cores: 8 threads: 16 tpc: 2
smt: enabled cache: L1: 512 KiB desc: d-8x32 KiB; i-8x32 KiB L2: 8 MiB
desc: 8x1024 KiB L3: 32 MiB desc: 1x32 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 5136 min/max: 400/5573 boost: enabled scaling:
driver: amd-pstate-epp governor: performance cores: 1: 5136 2: 5136 3: 5136
4: 5136 5: 5136 6: 5136 7: 5136 8: 5136 9: 5136 10: 5136 11: 5136 12: 5136
13: 5136 14: 5136 15: 5136 16: 5136 bogomips: 143732
Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA GA102 [GeForce RTX 3090] driver: nvidia v: 570.86.16
alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 550/565.xx+ status: current (as of
2025-01; EOL~2026-12-xx) arch: Ampere code: GAxxx process: TSMC n7 (7nm)
built: 2020-2023 pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: none
off: DP-4 empty: DP-5,DP-6,HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:2204
class-ID: 0300
Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Raphael vendor: Gigabyte
driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: RDNA-2 code: Navi-2x process: TSMC n7 (7nm)
built: 2020-22 pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: none
empty: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, HDMI-A-1, Writeback-1 bus-ID: 11:00.0
chip-ID: 1002:164e class-ID: 0300 temp: 36.0 C
Device-3: Logitech StreamCam
driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid,uvcvideo type: USB rev: 3.2
speed: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1 bus-ID: 4-1:2 chip-ID: 046d:0893
class-ID: 0300 serial: <filter>
Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.15 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.5
compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: amdgpu,nvidia
unloaded: modesetting,nouveau alternate: fbdev,nv,vesa dri: radeonsi
gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch display-ID: 0
Monitor-1: DP-4 model: Dell G2724D serial: <filter> built: 2024 res:
mode: 2560x1440 hz: 165 scale: 125% (1.25) to: 2048x1152 dpi: 109 gamma: 1.2
size: 596x335mm (23.46x13.19") diag: 684mm (26.9") ratio: 16:9 modes:
max: 2560x1440 min: 640x480
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0
drv: nvidia device: 1 drv: radeonsi gbm: drv: radeonsi surfaceless:
drv: nvidia wayland: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia
API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.6 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 570.86.16
glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090/PCIe/SSE2
memory: 23.44 GiB display-ID: :1.0
API: Vulkan v: 1.4.303 layers: 9 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu
name: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 driver: N/A device-ID: 10de:2204
surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland device: 1 type: integrated-gpu name: AMD
Radeon Graphics (RADV RAPHAEL_MENDOCINO) driver: N/A device-ID: 1002:164e
surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland device: 2 type: cpu name: llvmpipe (LLVM
19.1.7 256 bits) driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000
surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland
Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: nvidia-settings,nvidia-smi
wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
Device-1: NVIDIA GA102 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:1aef
class-ID: 0403
Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Rembrandt Radeon High
Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 4
speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 11:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:1640 class-ID: 0403
Device-3: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 17h/19h/1ah HD Audio
vendor: Gigabyte driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s
lanes: 16 bus-ID: 11:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
Device-4: Yamaha AG06/AG03 driver: snd-usb-audio type: USB rev: 2.0
speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-2.1:4 chip-ID: 0499:170d
class-ID: 0103
Device-5: Logitech StreamCam
driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid,uvcvideo type: USB rev: 3.2
speed: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1 bus-ID: 4-1:2 chip-ID: 046d:0893
class-ID: 0300 serial: <filter>
API: ALSA v: k6.13.1-zen1-1-zen status: kernel-api tools: N/A
Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.2.7 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
Device-1: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE vendor: Gigabyte driver: r8169 v: kernel
pcie: gen: 2 speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: e000 bus-ID: 0c:00.0
chip-ID: 10ec:8125 class-ID: 0200
IF: enp12s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Device-2: MEDIATEK MT7922 802.11ax PCI Express Wireless Network Adapter
driver: mt7921e v: kernel pcie: gen: 2 speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1
bus-ID: 0d:00.0 chip-ID: 14c3:0616 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlp13s0 state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-1: virbr0 state: down mac: <filter>
Info: services: NetworkManager, smbd, systemd-timesyncd
Bluetooth:
Device-1: MediaTek Wireless_Device driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 2.1
speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-9:7 chip-ID: 0e8d:0616
class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down bt-service: enabled,running
rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes address: <filter> bt-v: 5.2 lmp-v: 11
status: discoverable: no pairing: no
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 3.64 TiB used: 1.67 TiB (46.0%)
SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 990 PRO 2TB
size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s
lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 3B2QJXD7 temp: 34.9 C
scheme: GPT
ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 maj-min: 259:4 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 980 PRO 2TB
size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s
lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 5B2QGXA7 temp: 36.9 C
scheme: GPT
Partition:
ID-1: / raw-size: 1.79 TiB size: 1.79 TiB (100.00%) used: 1.12 TiB (62.8%)
fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
used: 584 KiB (0.2%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
ID-3: /home raw-size: 1.79 TiB size: 1.79 TiB (100.00%)
used: 1.12 TiB (62.8%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 1.79 TiB size: 1.79 TiB (100.00%)
used: 1.12 TiB (62.8%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 1.79 TiB size: 1.79 TiB (100.00%)
used: 1.12 TiB (62.8%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
Swap:
Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 33.55 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%)
priority: -2 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
ID-2: swap-2 type: zram size: 30.5 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100
comp: zstd avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842 max-streams: 16
dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 46.9 C mobo: 32.0 C gpu: amdgpu temp: 36.0 C
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
Memory: total: 32 GiB note: est. available: 30.5 GiB used: 5.9 GiB (19.3%)
Processes: 482 Power: uptime: 4m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
suspend, test_resume image: 12.11 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
tool: systemctl
Packages: 1700 pm: pacman pkgs: 1652 libs: 450 tools: octopi,paru
pm: flatpak pkgs: 48 Compilers: gcc: 14.2.1 Shell: garuda-inxi default: Bash
v: 5.2.37 running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.37
Garuda (2.6.26-1.1):
System install date:     2023-09-25
Last full system update: 2025-02-06
Is partially upgraded:   No
Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut nvidia-dkms
Windows dual boot:       No/Undetected
Failed units:
1 Like
2

I can confirm that. Due to lack of time only short test via VM:
Garuda Dr460nized (garuda-dr460nized-linux-zen-250214.iso / up to date) switch to one user works → switch back to original user → blackscreen.

Both users completely set to default Breeze (including SDDM and splash screen) → switch to different user and back → blackscreen.

Tested with x11 and wayland. Is a complete freeze every time → Ctrl + ALt + Del → immediate reboot.
Log Out and Log In between different users works without issues but not switching.

Short test with EnOS (VM/up to date): No issues.

2 Likes
3

i can confirm that too guys.

When i logout of other user and login to other main account i got screen back.

On switch music playing but no Screen. :+1:
ps. Dr460nized Gaming Edition

4

Are you guys fully logging out or simply using the KDE “Switch User” option.

There is a KDE bug that has affected me on several KDE installations. If I use the “Switch User” method then the system may freeze or exhibit other weird side effects. Logging out and logging in as another user the system works just fine. I’m pretty sure that this issue is a known KDE bug. I simply remove the “Switch User” option from my applications menu if I have a second account on my system.

Not a fix, but that’s good enough for me. Besides I don’t use a second account much anymore anyways.

3 Likes
5

To be clear, it’s not about the switch user option or the widget - it’s about the log in screen when switching users.

Boot and login as user “test” → switch to user “test1” → switch back to user “test” and enter the PWD + Enter = black screen (full freeze / no tty available).

vm_switch-user_garuda_dr460nized
vm_switch-user_garuda_dr460nized1393×835 102 KB

Testet on:
1 x EnOS/KDE (VM): no issues
1 x KDE neon (VM): no issues
3 x Arch/KDE (bare metal): no issues

2 x Garuda Dr460nized (VM): black screen
2 x Garuda Dr460nized (bare metal): black screen

As soon as I have time, I’ll take a look at the logs from the failed user switch.

EDIT: I had a short time to go through one log and only the section from logging back into the initial user.

On a working system (EnOS) I land (as expected) on VT 1.
On Garuda I land on VT 7 and then everything that is running - closed, stopped, removed, disabled etc. etc. - and finally the journal is stopped.

Can someone check this on their own system?

btw: The same issue also happens if you switch out and do not log in on a different user, but log in directly with the initial user again.

4 Likes
6

ive played a bit arround.just for fun.

main account is logged in switch to test account work after login.
Switch back to main account wich after login give me a blank screen and the Monitor turned off but my music player was running i can hear over the speaker and dont freeze.

ive used CTRL+ALT+ F2 and logged into test account.
Pressed CTRL+ALT+F1 Login again SCREEN is back.

May it helps to switch ttys?

Dont use switch button if logged in and worked i can switch between both account with CTRL+ALT+F 1 and 2 Buttons.If it hang try other F 345.

ps okay didnt work few times it says can not connect to xserver.

... Invalid MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1 key... (on the whole screen) 

xinit:giving up
xinit:unable to connect to X server: Resource temporarily unaviable
waiting for Xserver to shut down (II) Server terminated sucessfully(0)Closing log file.
xinit: server error:

maybe the error helpf for debugs.

7

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