Unable to Click inside Windows and Boxes

Lately I have been having trouble clicking inside boxes and windows within windows. This is particularly bad on Telegram but not restricted to it. On Epiphany if I click reply I often can’t type inside the reply box on the Purism website without reloading the page. I have looked in the settings but have not noticed anything that stands out. I have gone through the settings changing anything that makes sense on setting at a time just to see. It hasn’t helped.

I am wondering if since this happens on multiple apps if it could be a problem common to the OS. I would have to have to hook up a mouse just to use apps.

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Which hardware and operating system are you on that has this issue? Is this a Librem 5 with stock PureOS?

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Yes, it is the default debian 10 I think it is, pureOS distro.

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Seems peculiar. Is there any visual clues that you could screenshot and show? For browser, try firefox-esr for comparison.

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The screenshots look normal, but it is sort of like the screen is layered like a cake, the input box for typing is always blinking like it is ready to accept my input typing. The actual text and dialog of the chat window is like a layer below the text input panel and it is almost like the text input box is acting like an invisible glass screen preventing me from clicking on the chat dialog pictures and whatnot if that makes sense.

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Workaround: Use a physical Keyboard with USB or change your keyboard to one with arrows… use that arrows to change the selected options with the keyboard arrow keys and select them by pressing enter.

The bug is about resolution and your finger tips for selecting i suppose. Using keyboard or a virtual one is a workaround.

I have this too on some Webpages with the download dialog. Finger tips selection always select something wrong.

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Is there any difference, if you change the display zoom level and/or browser zoom level (more accuracy for selection)? Same with all apps and browsers?

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No, I tried changing telegram to 190% zoom instead of 200% and got the same results.

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Yeah, agreed, but I am using a telephone here not a laptop, if everytime I want to respond to my wife I have to pull out a keyboard and so on it gets impractical really quickly.

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You are using Telegram app (not Telegram in browser?). Flatpak or which one? If it’s just Telegram (mostly) then I suspect that there is something going on with just that app and how it’s done. I have come across this with some app before (can’t remember which). Not much can be done - you may need to move to an alternative app (or alternative browser).

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Telegram desktop flatpak. It was working until update 5.10.7, can I un-update it somehow? Also Epiphany stopped working this morning, I know it is unrelated but can I flatpak that too and if so what command should I use since one copy is already on the phone? Sudo apt get-install epiphany, I have been concerned about this ever since it was pointed out that by default PureOS uses epiphany 40 and can’t update, I don’t know if that is why it stopped working, all the chatter about it in these forums lately.

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Ay, you can’t do much about epiphany. That’s a separate issue. The flatpak isn’t connected to it (it’s made in a way that it wouldn’t be even if it would need a browser). You should try to install firefox-esr or angelfish and try them as alternative, more up to date browsers.

It’s interesting that the update fudged it, but such things happen with software, in general. This is something that you should make them aware via contacting the app team. There’s not much that can happen from this end other than trying to find a workaround for now - some other app, or maybe using via browser.

I’m not aware of using older flatpak versions, but there seems to be some discussion of it in their forum - maybe something can be done but I’m not sure. Start with: Install an older version of an app - Flathub Discourse and Flatpak Command Reference - Flatpak documentation (select used version)

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The app team for telegram on flathub?

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I haven’t checked if they are directly involved with the app project. Possibly need to make a ticket directly with the app project itself.

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With keyboard chance i - i use the chance to a “terminal” layout… which have the on screen display arrow keys available too. If you change the layout and have the sub message box open in your browser. Like hold your finger down on a download link - you can change your layout and use the on screen display arrow keys do change the option in some boxes - to confirm your chose with “enter”. It is still only a workaround and i hate to use it but - it just works.

Personal i try to capture and parse web pages or chances with wget and curl to automate more interaction to not (have the need for) visit them in person.

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Selection issues, via both trackpad and screen tapping, have been occurring on my L14 and L5 for approx two weeks. Firefox on L14: when clicking on settings and then selecting specific options, won’t work - i have to tab through the options; this does work via screen tapping on my L5). Telegram on my L5: tapping on Telegram links doesn’t work; this does work via my trackpad on my L14.

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