element-hq / element-hq/element-web

Cannot type anywhere in app on Linux; logs show "Events queue growing too big, will start to drop"

Open
#34,003 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
A-Electron O-Uncommon S-Critical T-Defect
Dominant language
TypeScript
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Description

### Steps to reproduce

On Linux, text input is completely dead, no characters appear in any input field (message composer, search, settings, login, ...). When launching in the terminal, the logs repeatedly print: `Events queue growing too big, will start to drop.` when I do a keystroke.

1. Open app in ubuntu 24.04 I guess?
2. Notice that you can't do any typing. Only `select all text + pasting` works.
3. Inspect the logs and see the line `Events queue growing too big, will start to drop.` appear a few time for every keystroke that I try.

### Outcome

#### What did you expect?

Typing text in any field works.

#### What happened instead?

Can't type anything anywhere.

## Workaround
Setting `GTK_IM_MODULE=xim` before launching fixes it. I added it to the `.desktop` launcher's Exec line:

```ini
Exec=env GTK_IM_MODULE=xim /opt/Element/element-desktop %U
```

Same root cause / fix as this older Firefox-in-Firejail report:
https://askubuntu.com/questions/972693/no-text-entry-or-keyboard-capabilities-in-firefox-browser-when-running-in-fireja

Note that I was not using firejail.

Because I found a workaround (setting the env var) feel free to close this but it still is an issue. Also I just installed element desktop for the first time so can't say how long it's been here.

### Operating system

Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS

### Application version

1.12.22

### How did you install the app?

apt

### Homeserver

_No response_

### Will you send logs?

No

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Reproduce on Ubuntu 24.04 with app version 1.12.22, first with the default GTK input settings and then with GTK_IM_MODULE=xim. Trace the Linux desktop keyboard-input path alongside the “Events queue growing too big” warning. Done means typing works in every field without the environment override and the behavior is covered by a regression check.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
linux
Domain
desktop, operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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