Opening Files/Nautilus crashes the current session

Support GNOME
1

This is the same issue I asked for help with at the end of last year: https://forum.manjaro.org/t/attempting-to-open-folders-crashes-nautilus/171959/2

I haven’t returned for further help as first I wanted to sort the diffs issue, which I’ve finally got round to:    ~  pacdiff -o  ✔    ~ 
I’ve been managing all this time by using Nemo for file management, but every so often there’s a programme that offers me a file browser to chose a save folder etc and it crashes the session when I click on it, presumably because it’s configured to use Files.

Everything else in my system is working fine at the moment (unlike back in December) so it would be good to finally get to the bottom of this glitch. Where should I start?

Here’s my current system info:

    ~  inxi -Farz                                                       ✔ 
System:
  Kernel: 6.12.25-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
    clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.12-x86_64
    root=UUID=505a427c-a786-41e4-a4bc-690a3c072cbc rw quiet splash apparmor=1
    security=apparmor udev.log_priority=3
  Desktop: GNOME v: 48.1 tk: GTK v: 3.24.49 wm: gnome-shell
    tools: gsd-screensaver-proxy dm: GDM v: 48.0 Distro: Manjaro
    base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: PRIME Z370-A v: Rev X.0x
    serial: <superuser required> part-nu: SKU uuid: <superuser required>
    UEFI-[Legacy]: American Megatrends v: 0606 date: 12/12/2017
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i7-8700 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Coffee Lake
    gen: core 8 level: v3 note: check built: 2018 process: Intel 14nm family: 6
    model-id: 0x9E (158) stepping: 0xA (10) microcode: 0xFA
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 6 cores: 6 threads: 12 tpc: 2
    smt: enabled cache: L1: 384 KiB desc: d-6x32 KiB; i-6x32 KiB L2: 1.5 MiB
    desc: 6x256 KiB L3: 12 MiB desc: 1x12 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 800 min/max: 800/4600 scaling: driver: intel_pstate
    governor: powersave cores: 1: 800 2: 800 3: 800 4: 800 5: 800 6: 800 7: 800
    8: 800 9: 800 10: 800 11: 800 12: 800 bogomips: 76831
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling mitigation: Microcode
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: Split huge pages
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT
    vulnerable
  Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed mitigation: IBRS
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
    prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
    sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: IBRS; IBPB: conditional; STIBP: conditional;
    RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds mitigation: Microcode
  Type: tsx_async_abort mitigation: TSX disabled
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel CoffeeLake-S GT2 [UHD Graphics 630] vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-9.5 process: Intel 14nm built: 2016-20
    ports: active: none empty: DP-2, HDMI-A-2, HDMI-A-3, HDMI-A-4
    bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:3e92 class-ID: 0380
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP107 [GeForce GTX 1050 Ti] driver: nouveau v: kernel
    non-free: 550-570.xx+ status: current (as of 2025-04; EOL~2026-12-xx)
    arch: Pascal code: GP10x process: TSMC 16nm built: 2016-2021 pcie: gen: 1
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s ports:
    active: DVI-D-1,HDMI-A-1 empty: DP-1 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1c82
    class-ID: 0300 temp: 46.0 C
  Device-3: Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-13.4.4:8
    chip-ID: 046d:082d class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.16 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6
    compositor: gnome-shell driver: gpu: nouveau display-ID: 0
  Monitor-1: DVI-D-1 model: NEC 20WGX2 serial: <filter> built: 2007
    res: 1680x1050 dpi: 99 gamma: 1.2 size: 433x270mm (17.05x10.63")
    diag: 510mm (20.1") ratio: 16:10 modes: max: 1680x1050 min: 720x400
  Monitor-2: HDMI-A-1 model: LG (GoldStar) W2243 serial: <filter>
    built: 2009 res: 1920x1080 dpi: 102 gamma: 1.2
    size: 477x269mm (18.78x10.59") diag: 548mm (21.6") ratio: 16:9 modes:
    max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel iris drv: nvidia nouveau platforms:
    device: 0 drv: iris device: 1 drv: nouveau device: 2 drv: swrast gbm:
    drv: iris surfaceless: drv: iris wayland: drv: nouveau x11: drv: nouveau
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.3 vendor: mesa v: 25.0.4-arch1.1 glx-v: 1.4
    direct-render: yes renderer: NV137 device-ID: 10de:1c82 memory: 3.89 GiB
    unified: no display-ID: :0.0
  Info: Tools: api: eglinfo,glxinfo x11: xprop,xrandr
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 200 Series PCH HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_avs bus-ID: 00:1f.3
    chip-ID: 8086:a2f0 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP107GL High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 3
    speed: 8 GT/s bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0fb9 class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-13.4.4:8
    chip-ID: 046d:082d class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.12.25-1-MANJARO status: kernel-api with: aoss
    type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off tools: N/A
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.4.2 status: active with: wireplumber
    status: active tools: pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
  Server-3: PulseAudio v: 17.0-43-g3e2bb status: active
    with: pulseaudio-alsa type: plugin tools: pacat,pactl,pavucontrol
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Ethernet I219-V vendor: ASUSTeK driver: e1000e v: kernel
    port: N/A bus-ID: 00:1f.6 chip-ID: 8086:15b8 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp0s31f6 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-1: docker0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Info: services: NetworkManager, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: ASUSTek ASUS USB-BT500 driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 1.1
    speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-11:4 chip-ID: 0b05:190e
    class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 5.1
    lmp-v: 10 status: discoverable: no pairing: no class-ID: 6c0104
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 3.19 TiB used: 1.38 TiB (43.1%)
  SMART Message: Required tool smartctl not installed. Check --recommends
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:4 vendor: Samsung
    model: MZVKW512HMJP-00000 size: 476.94 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: CXA7500Q temp: 46.9 C scheme: MBR
  ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung
    model: SSD 970 EVO Plus 2TB size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 2B2QEXM7 temp: 32.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/nvme2n1 maj-min: 259:1 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 970 EVO 1TB
    size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 2B2QEXE7 temp: 27.9 C
    scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 476.93 GiB size: 468.38 GiB (98.21%)
    used: 54.73 GiB (11.7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:5
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 45.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 46.0 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 1655 pm: pacman pkgs: 1631 libs: 407 tools: gnome-software,pamac
    pm: flatpak pkgs: 24
  Active pacman repo servers in: /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
    1: https://manjaro.ynh.ovh/stable/$repo/$arch
    2: http://ftp.free.org/mirrors/repo.manjaro.org/repos/stable/$repo/$arch
Info:
  Memory: total: 16 GiB available: 15.48 GiB used: 3.87 GiB (25.0%)
  Processes: 363 Power: uptime: 1h 55m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
    avail: s2idle wakeups: 1 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
    suspend, test_resume image: 6.16 GiB services: gsd-power,
    power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
    tool: systemctl
  Compilers: clang: 19.1.7 gcc: 14.2.1 Shell: Zsh v: 5.9
    running-in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.3.38
    ~ 
2

PS: I have tried reinstalling Nautilus:

    ~  sudo pacman -S nautilus                                        1 ✘ 
[sudo] password for nick: 
warning: nautilus-48.1-1 is up to date -- reinstalling
resolving dependencies...
looking for conflicting packages...

Packages (1) nautilus-48.1-1

Total Installed Size:  13,35 MiB
Net Upgrade Size:       0,00 MiB

:: Proceed with installation? [Y/n] 
(1/1) checking keys in keyring                     [######################] 100%
(1/1) checking package integrity                   [######################] 100%
(1/1) loading package files                        [######################] 100%
(1/1) checking for file conflicts                  [######################] 100%
(1/1) checking available disk space                [######################] 100%
:: Running pre-transaction hooks...
(1/1) Creating Timeshift snapshot before upgrade...
==> skipping timeshift-autosnap due skipRsyncAutosnap in /etc/timeshift-autosnap.conf set to TRUE.
:: Processing package changes...
(1/1) reinstalling nautilus                        [######################] 100%
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
(1/4) Arming ConditionNeedsUpdate...
(2/4) Compiling GSettings XML schema files...
(3/4) Updating icon theme caches...
(4/4) Updating the desktop file MIME type cache...
    ~ 

Still crashes when attempt to launch.

3

I’d first create a new user account, log out and log into the new user account and see whether the issue is present there as well.

If it is not - if all is well there - you should probably reset the affected user account to defaults, because in this case it is virtually certain that something with the configuration files has gotten messed up.

You can’t be logged in the graphical session of that account when you do this.
Do it from a TTY while logged in as the affected user:

rm -rf ~/.cache
mv ~/.config ~/.config-backup
cp -r /etc/skel/.config ~/

Then go back to the display manager and log in - the session should now be in it’s default state - just as it was when you first installed.

1 Like
4

Thanks Nachlese. Everything’s fine in the new user account, so on to step 2: resetting the affected account. But I can’t find how to log into the affected account without the GUI. Do I need to log into the GUI then open a terminal from which to close the GUI? Or is there a way of booting straight into the console? Been googling a bit but not found clear guidance - most posts seem to be from people with the opposite problem: finding themselves with only a terminal and wondering how to get the GUI back!

5

It’s called a TTY.
There is more than one - six, usually.
The seventh is where the login manager and the graphical session runs.

You get there using the key combination CTRL+ALT+one of the F keys - F3 fore example.

It’s basically the same as if you where using the terminal - command line only.

You can make your life and specially this task here much easier when you use a file manager which works everywhere - in the TTY as well.
I keep recommending mc (midnight commander).

sudo pacman -S mc

But, on the other hand:
it’s only three short commands - write them down and replicate on the command line in TTY.

The first removes the cache - just to be thorough.
The second moves what was there to a backup in case you need some of it later
The third is restoring the defaults.

The third will not have the desired effect without running the second before it -
do them in this order.

No - you need to be logged out! of the graphical session
The Gnome session can’t be running while you do this.

To get back to the login manager:
ALT and left or right arrow keys - you basically cycle through the seven TTY’s until you arrive back where you started from.

6

Cool! That’s worked - thanks!

I like your suggestion of using midnight commander, which I’ve installed. But it doesn’t show in my list of apps, even after a reboot.

And how do I make it the default file manager?

7

Good! :+1:

It is a program that needs a terminal to run in - or a TTY - as you know.
Apparently in Arch/Manjaro, it doesn’t come with a .desktop file.
You can create one and put it in ~/.local/share/applications

Here is mine, I slightly shortened the content (I'm on Mint and they provide such a `.desktop` file):

cat /usr/share/applications/mc.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Midnight Commander

Comment=File manager
Exec=mc
Icon=MidnightCommander
Terminal=true
Type=Application
Categories=ConsoleOnly;Utility;FileManager;System;FileTools;
Keywords=file manager;console;

I never use it like this. I always start a terminal and type mc …

I don’t think you really want to do that, but that’s of course your choice - and:
I don’t know how to do that in Gnome. :man_shrugging:

8

OK! Thanks for the explanation - I understand a bit better now, and you’re right: I don’t really want to make mc the default file manager!

9

UH! Uh! Further problem: not identical to the OP, but so similar it seemed sensible to continue here, so the history is available, rather than start a new thread.

I became aware of this latest problem with Nautilus/Files a couple of days ago. I’m now questioning whether Nautilus was fully operational after I implemented Nachlese’s remedy, but I’m pretty sure it was and this is a new development. (My partner’s been ill and I’ve not been on the desktop much since the last post eleven days ago.)

This is how I reproduce the problem:

Open Files > open a folder > right click on a file > choose “Copy” from right-click menu > navigate to another folder > right click : right-click menu opens, but the moment the mouse is moved to select “paste”, the screen freezes and session crashes, bringing up the login screen.

10

During the course of this, you created a new user to test this - where everything worked.
Is that still the case?
IOW: is the (new) issue only present in one user account or in both?

11

Hi Nachlese - thanks for coming back to this.

I’ve just checked, and it happens in both user accounts. To investigate further I created a third user account and it happens there too; in fact it’s worse, because it crashed the moment I moved the mouse to select “Copy” after right-clicking a file. In my own account and the second user account I can still copy and open another folder - I just cant paste (or choose any other action from the right-click menu).