External monitor doesn’t fully take over when laptop lid is closed [Fedora 42 KDE Plasma]

Ask Fedora
1

I recently upgraded to Fedora Linux 42 (KDE Plasma Desktop Edition) and noticed some issues with external monitor handling on my laptop setup:

  • Laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5
  • Built-in Display: 14" CMN1457
  • External Monitor: Samsung C24F390 – 24"

Problem:

  • When I close the laptop lid, I expected all windows to move to the external monitor and the things like panel to be visible there but that is not happening.
  • This used to work fine when i had Fedora 41 with GNOME in this same external monitor setup.

What I’ve tried

  1. Ensured lid close action = Do nothing (under power management settings).
  2. Tried making the external monitor the primary display.

What i am experiencing after the above two were tried.

  • With the lid open, the panel correctly shows up on the external monitor.
  • But as soon as I close the lid, the panel disappears from the external monitor.
  • Even with the lid closed, the laptop’s internal display is still active, I can move windows to it.
2

I have very similar setup to you:

  • Fedora 42 with KDE Plasma
  • Lenovo Thinkpad P53 workstation
  • Lenovo Thunderbolt Gen 3 docking station
  • Two external Dell monitors

My problem is a bit different, but maybe related: I already changed the systemd config to ignore the lid close event, but whenever I close the laptop lid, the external monitors loose the signal. The laptop itself is not going to sleep: when I open the lid, the external displays come back.