Top bar disappears or loses transparency randomly

Issues & Assistance Latte Dock
1

The top bar in the Plasma desktop randomly loses its transparency and becomes black or sometimes disappears altogether. At times it is fixed by a reboot, at times it's not. Please help me fix this. Thanks!

Output for garuda-inxi

System:
  Kernel: 5.16.10-zen1-1-zen x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
    root=UUID=8dcf10f3-a757-48a0-be6b-617f5baccb56 rw rootflags=subvol=@
    quiet splash rd.udev.log_priority=3 vt.global_cursor_default=0 loglevel=3
  Console: pty pts/1 wm: kwin_x11 DM: SDDM Distro: Garuda Linux
    base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 80QQ v: Lenovo ideapad 100-15IBD
    serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 10 v: Lenovo ideapad 100-15IBD
    serial: <filter>
  Mobo: LENOVO model: Nano 5B6 v: NO DPK serial: <filter>
    UEFI-[Legacy]: LENOVO v: E0CN45WW date: 01/13/2016
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 16.8 Wh (100.0%) condition: 16.8/30.1 Wh (55.7%)
    volts: 16.1 min: 14.4 model: ANYO 15S4A01 type: Li-poly serial: <filter>
    status: Full
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i3-5005U socket: BGA1168 (U3E1) note: check
    bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Broadwell family: 6 model-id: 0x3D (61)
    stepping: 4 microcode: 0x2F
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 tpc: 2 threads: 4 smt: enabled cache:
    L1: 128 KiB desc: d-2x32 KiB; i-2x32 KiB L2: 512 KiB desc: 2x256 KiB
    L3: 3 MiB desc: 1x3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1440 high: 1894 min/max: 500/1900 base/boost: 2000/2000
    scaling: driver: intel_cpufreq governor: schedutil volts: 0.8 V
    ext-clock: 100 MHz cores: 1: 1098 2: 1611 3: 1159 4: 1894 bogomips: 15963
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX unsupported
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion
  Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: spec_store_bypass
    mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1
    mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Full generic retpoline, IBPB: conditional,
    IBRS_FW, STIBP: conditional, RSB filling
  Type: srbds mitigation: Microcode
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 5500 vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:1616 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: IMC Networks Lenovo EasyCamera type: USB driver: uvcvideo
    bus-ID: 2-6:3 chip-ID: 13d3:5744 class-ID: 0e02
  Display: server: X.Org 1.21.1.3 compositor: kwin_x11 driver:
    loaded: intel unloaded: modesetting alternate: fbdev,vesa display-ID: :0
    screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1366x768 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 361x203mm (14.2x8.0")
    s-diag: 414mm (16.3")
  Monitor-1: eDP1 res: 1366x768 hz: 60 dpi: 102 size: 340x190mm (13.4x7.5")
    diag: 389mm (15.3")
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 5500 (BDW GT2)
    v: 4.6 Mesa 21.3.6 direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Broadwell-U Audio vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 00:03.0 chip-ID: 8086:160c class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Intel Wildcat Point-LP High Definition Audio vendor: Lenovo
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:9ca0
    class-ID: 0403
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.16.10-zen1-1-zen running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.0 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.47 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet vendor: Lenovo
    driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 4000 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8136
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp2s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Lenovo
    driver: rtl8723be v: kernel port: 3000 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:b723
    class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8723B Bluetooth type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
    bus-ID: 2-7:4 chip-ID: 0bda:b728 class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
  Report: bt-adapter ID: hci0 rfk-id: 2 state: up address: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 409.89 GiB used: 19.36 GiB (4.7%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Western Digital
    model: WDS120G2G0A-00JH30 family: WD Blue / Red / Green SSDs
    size: 111.8 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B sata: 3.2
    speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 0000 temp: 28 C
    scheme: MBR
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 225d 22h cycles: 2315
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Toshiba model: MK3276GSX
    family: 2.5" HDD MK..76GSX size: 298.09 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B sata: 2.6 speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 5400
    serial: <filter> rev: 1X temp: 27 C scheme: MBR
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED cycles: 229
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 111.79 GiB size: 111.79 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 19.36 GiB (17.3%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/sda1
    maj-min: 8:1
  ID-2: /home raw-size: 111.79 GiB size: 111.79 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 19.36 GiB (17.3%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/sda1
    maj-min: 8:1
  ID-3: /var/log raw-size: 111.79 GiB size: 111.79 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 19.36 GiB (17.3%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/sda1
    maj-min: 8:1
  ID-4: /var/tmp raw-size: 111.79 GiB size: 111.79 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 19.36 GiB (17.3%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/sda1
    maj-min: 8:1
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 3.75 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100
    dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 54.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:
  Processes: 233 Uptime: 5m wakeups: 1 Memory: 3.75 GiB
  used: 1.77 GiB (47.3%) Init: systemd v: 250 tool: systemctl Compilers:
  gcc: 11.2.0 clang: 13.0.1 Packages: pacman: 1487 lib: 362
  Shell: garuda-inxi (sudo) default: Bash v: 5.1.16 running-in: alacritty
  inxi: 3.3.12
Garuda (2.5.4-2):
  System install date:     2022-02-13
  Last full system update: 2022-02-19
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       NetworkManager
  Windows dual boot:       No/Undetected
  Snapshots:               Snapper
  Failed units:
2

Consider that you can reset latte (panel and dock) to the default setting from the Garuda Assistant + log off/on.
Did you happen to add widgets to your panel?
If so, you could try removing them and check if the panel becomes stable. Then you add them one-by-one to try and find a possible culprit.

2 Likes
3

Hi, I haven't added any widgets to the panel. I'm resetting it to the default setting and trying again. Thanks!

4

Tried resetting the configs but I still get a black bar

5

you probably played a game and your composiiting was disabled.
go to plasma systemsettings -> screens -> compositor and enable it

3 Likes
6

Hi, I just checked, the compositor is turned on. I didn't play a game, although I've noticed this occurs frequently after I full screen a window.

7

This might be a mix of properties and themes, e g. for color scheme. Maybe try to give a look here:

1 Like
8

I also have a similar problem to yours. From a fresh install from ISO the top latte panel's translucency is erratic. This happens on 1 physical machine and 1 VM, but very very very rarely happens on my primary machine (thank god).

I believe this has something to do with inconsistencies in latte's features. Now how do I paste a picture again so I don't get fired at by doing it the wrong way.... ha, funny, I didn't find anything searching the forums nor the wiki, I must be looking in the wrong place. Oh well let's use some elbow grease then:

Right-click on Latte's top bar, APPEARENCE tab and then at the bottom Prefer opaque background when touching any window + Hide background when not needed + Busy Opacity slider a little bit up.

These settings will play a role on how the panel's translucency behaves.
See if any change there suits your needs. If it still doesn't behave as it should, I suggest to open an issue at latte's github page. Oh no wait, they moved it to KDE bugtracker now Log in to KDE Bugtracking System

2 Likes
9

Hi, all of the options you mentioned are turned on by default in my install. I think I'll open an issue, maybe?

10

Try turning them off. If it gets stable when off (of course it will have a black or-so background all the time then) and when you re-enable it gets unstable, then yes opening an issue would be what I'd do in that situation.

4 Likes
11

Turning them off does make the bar stable. Though I don't get the dynamic color changing, I still get the transparent bar whether there are apps opened or not. Works for me. Thanks for the suggestion!

12

Same behaviour for me as well at that other machine I have.

13

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