Polkit issue on Plasma

WetGeek

I've seen some forum messages about polkit recently, but they didn't mean much to me, because I'd never seen an error related to it. Today I tried to use Etcher to write an .ISO file to a USB key, and got this:

Now, I'm gonna be interested in the progress fixing this. This plasma laptop is fully updated as of today.

WetGeek

WetGeek Now, I'm gonna be interested in the progress fixing this.

In order to get the task done, I changed to root in the terminal and ran Etcher from there. It's flashing the USB key just fine now. So this is a problem that has a workaround, it's not a showstopper. At least, not all the time.

Harvey

Flashed an ISO just then using etcher it worked fine without needing the command line to escalate privileges. The password prompt appeared (which is what polkit does, prompt for authorisation). However the window prompting for the password was thrown to the background as etcher stole focus.

Unsure why its clearly broken for you. Did you reboot after updating?

WetGeek

Harvey Did you reboot after updating?

I always do, but I'll reboot again just to be sure. I'll let you know either way.

It's just possible that I accidentally clicked on the Etcher window, I guess, bringing it to the top and burying the prompt for a password. Slim chance of that, I think, but probably not zero chance.

WetGeek

Harvey Did you reboot after updating?

Yes, apparently I did. But this time, I watched very carefully, and Etcher did what you said you saw.

The password prompt window flashed onscreen for a few miliseconds, then Etcher grabbed focus. I didn't notice that the first time. Probably blinked, or looked away from the screen for a second just at the right time.

By moving Etcher, I uncovered the authentication window. Sounds like Etcher needs a bit of fixin'.

WetGeek

WetGeek By moving Etcher, I uncovered the authentication window.

@Harvey, I forgot to say, "Thanks for helping with this" before I posted that. Without realizing that I needed to look for the flash of that dialog window, I could have spent a LOT of time on this. Please feel free to mark it "Solved" now.