Multi-select variable cannot be deselected using × icon inside Controls menu

[MohanMarimuthu]

I have a dashboard with variables displayed inside a Controls menu.

One of the variables is a multi-select variable (sensor_channel). The selected values are displayed as tags with an × icon.

Issue:

• Clicking the × icon on a selected value inside the Controls menu does not remove or deselect the value.

• The variable selection remains unchanged.

Expected behavior:

• Clicking the × icon should remove the selected value from the multi-select variable.

Comparison:

• For variables displayed outside the Controls menu, clicking the × icon works correctly and the value is deselected.

• The problem only occurs for the variable shown inside the Controls menu.

Has anyone encountered this issue? Is this a known bug or expected behavior?

Grafana Version: 13 >

Thanks.

[infofcc3]

I reproduced this and found that the × button in the Controls menu removes the tag visually but does not persist the deselection when the Controls menu is reopened in the latest version also.

Two working workarounds — both verified:

1 → Use the dropdown instead of ×

• Click the variable name to open the dropdown
• Uncheck the values you want to remove
• Click outside to close
• The deselection persists correctly

2 → Move variable outside Controls menu

• Go to Dashboard Settings → Variables → your variable
• Change Display from Controls menu to Dashboard
• The × button works correctly and persists outside the Controls menu

[yosiasz]

Look into using the business variable plugin for variable list but much more robust