Xfce Forum

RyougaLolakie

Member

Registered: 2025-08-17

Posts: 8

[SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

Hello, I'm currently using CachyOs, an Arch linux distro and I'm having an issue where xdg-desktop-portal-gtk/xdg-desktop-portal-app crashes/not loading after a system update from yesterday.

Here's the list of the update from yesterday according to octopi:
btrfs-progs 6.15-1 -> 6.16-1
ell 0.78-1.1 -> 0.79-1.1
fastfetch 2.49.0-1.1 -> 2.50.2-1.1
hwdetect 2025.03.06.1935-1 -> 2025.08.16.1333-1
libgcrypt 1.11.1-1.1 -> 1.11.2-1.1
libinput 1.28.1-1.1 -> 1.29.0-1.1
libkdcraw5 25.04.3-1 -> 25.08.0-1
libxfce4ui 4.20.1-2.1 -> 4.20.2-1.1
libxfce4windowing 4.20.3-1.1 -> 4.20.4-1.1
linux-cachyos 6.16.0-7 -> 6.16.1-2
linux-cachyos-headers 6.16.0-7 -> 6.16.1-2
linux-cachyos-nvidia 6.16.0-7 -> 6.16.1-2
rpcbind 1.2.7-2.1 -> 1.2.8-1.1
scx-scheds 1.0.15-1 -> 1.0.15-3
xfce4-panel 4.20.4-1.1 -> 4.20.5-1.1
xfce4-screensaver 4.20.0-1.1 -> 4.20.1-1.1
xfce4-session 4.20.2-1.1 -> 4.20.3-1.1
xfce4-settings 4.20.1-1.1 -> 4.20.2-1.1

After the update was applied, I encountered some apps not respecting to the dark theme I'm currently using (i.e. firefox, file-roller, and mission center). As I was preparing for a cachyos debug log, I have noticed both XDG-desktop-portal-gtk and xdg-desktop-portal-xapp services stopped working, along with xfce4notifyd and dbus. I dunno if its actually the xfce4 update that caused the desktop portals to crash or is it the desktop portals being outdated (last update was like 3 weeks ago). I would be appreciated if anyone can help me in on this. Thank you very much.

I have noticed these services stopped working logged in on august 13 according to journalctl, but here's the debug log (using cachyos-debug log)

https://paste.cachyos.org/p/8b08d3a.log

Last edited by RyougaLolakie (2025-08-20 01:59:59)

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,123

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

I doubt this is an Xfce problem.

Aug 16 19:23:44 cachyos-x8664 systemd[902]: xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 16 19:23:44 cachyos-x8664 systemd[902]: xdg-desktop-portal-xapp.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'

What does each service say when check its status? (e.g. 'systemctl --user status xdg-desktop-portal-gtk')

---

Mark solved threads as [SOLVED] to make it easier for others to find solutions.
--- How To Ask For Help | FAQ | Developer Wiki  |  Community | Contribute ---

RyougaLolakie

Member

Registered: 2025-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

I doubt this is an Xfce problem.

Aug 16 19:23:44 cachyos-x8664 systemd[902]: xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Aug 16 19:23:44 cachyos-x8664 systemd[902]: xdg-desktop-portal-xapp.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'

What does each service say when check its status? (e.g. 'systemctl --user status xdg-desktop-portal-gtk')

○ xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service - Portal service (GTK/GNOME implementation)
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service; static)
     Active: inactive (dead)

● xdg-desktop-portal-xapp.service - Portal service (XApp implementation)
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/xdg-desktop-portal-xapp.service; static)
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2025-08-17 16:02:58 EDT; 2min 2s ago
 Invocation: 5b36344939c346629f833d57c8ce96c8
   Main PID: 1437 (xdg-desktop-por)
      Tasks: 6 (limit: 37923)
     Memory: 6.9M (peak: 8.1M)
        CPU: 72ms
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/xdg-desktop-portal-xapp.service
             └─1437 /usr/lib/xdg-desktop-portal-xapp

Aug 17 16:02:58 cachyos-x8664 systemd[900]: Starting Portal service (XApp implementation)...
Aug 17 16:02:58 cachyos-x8664 systemd[900]: Started Portal service (XApp implementation).

The xdg-desktop-portal-gtk service seems dead while xdg-desktop-portal-xapp is loaded

● xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service - Portal service (GTK/GNOME implementation)
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service; stat>
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2025-08-17 16:02:58 EDT; 14min ago
 Invocation: d327eec3f8f3425b8efc487a05267c82
   Main PID: 1424 (xdg-desktop-por)
      Tasks: 6 (limit: 37923)
     Memory: 6.7M (peak: 8.2M)
        CPU: 176ms
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/xdg-deskto>
             └─1424 /usr/lib/xdg-desktop-portal-gtk

I checked the status, now xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service says active. O_O

Last edited by RyougaLolakie (2025-08-17 20:20:31)

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,123

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

Does "coredumpctl list" show xdg-desktop-portal-gtk? If so, try:

coredumpctl info <PID>

...where PID is the pid of last xdg-desktop-portal-gtk entry in the list.

You can also try manually starting it to see if it generates a error:

systemctl --user start xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service

---

Mark solved threads as [SOLVED] to make it easier for others to find solutions.
--- How To Ask For Help | FAQ | Developer Wiki  |  Community | Contribute ---

RyougaLolakie

Member

Registered: 2025-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

Does "coredumpctl list" show xdg-desktop-portal-gtk? If so, try:

coredumpctl info <PID>

...where PID is the pid of last xdg-desktop-portal-gtk entry in the list.

You can also try manually starting it to see if it generates a error:

systemctl --user start xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service

I did use the coredumpctl list and it says no coredumps found.

I retry using systemctl --user status xdg-desktop-portal-gtk and xdg-desktop-portal-xapp and both of them are loaded and active.

● xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service - Portal service (GTK/GNOME implementation)
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service; stat>
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2025-08-17 16:02:58 EDT; 20min ago
 Invocation: d327eec3f8f3425b8efc487a05267c82
   Main PID: 1424 (xdg-desktop-por)
      Tasks: 6 (limit: 37923)
     Memory: 6.7M (peak: 8.7M)
        CPU: 185ms
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/xdg-deskto>
             └─1424 /usr/lib/xdg-desktop-portal-gtk

Aug 17 16:02:58 cachyos-x8664 systemd[900]: Starting Portal service (GTK/GNOME >
Aug 17 16:02:58 cachyos-x8664 systemd[900]: Started Portal service (GTK/GNOME i>

● xdg-desktop-portal-xapp.service - Portal service (XApp implementation)
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/xdg-desktop-portal-xapp.service; static)
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2025-08-17 16:02:58 EDT; 20min ago
 Invocation: 5b36344939c346629f833d57c8ce96c8
   Main PID: 1437 (xdg-desktop-por)
      Tasks: 6 (limit: 37923)
     Memory: 8M (peak: 10M)
        CPU: 194ms
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/xdg-desktop-portal-xapp.service
             └─1437 /usr/lib/xdg-desktop-portal-xapp

Aug 17 16:02:58 cachyos-x8664 systemd[900]: Starting Portal service (XApp implementation)...
Aug 17 16:02:58 cachyos-x8664 systemd[900]: Started Portal service (XApp implementation).

Both of them are loaded and active but it didn't fix the apps not respecting dark theme
I did rollback to the previous restore point (before updating), then reapply update again just to see if these services broke..

Last edited by RyougaLolakie (2025-08-17 20:28:43)

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,123

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

Maybe the xdg-desktop-portal stuff is a red herring.

How are you forcing the apps to work in dark mode?

None of the apps you mentioned that are not working are listed in the upgrade list above. Lets use file-roller as an example. Try downgrading it and see if it works again. You can also force dark mode by:

GTK_THEME=Adwaita:dark file-roller

---

Mark solved threads as [SOLVED] to make it easier for others to find solutions.
--- How To Ask For Help | FAQ | Developer Wiki  |  Community | Contribute ---

RyougaLolakie

Member

Registered: 2025-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

Maybe the xdg-desktop-portal stuff is a red herring.

How are you forcing the apps to work in dark mode?

None of the apps you mentioned that are not working are listed in the upgrade list above. Lets use file-roller as an example. Try downgrading it and see if it works again. You can also force dark mode by:

GTK_THEME=Adwaita:dark file-roller

Well, if I use appearance setting while the apps that are I'm white active, I can switch from light to dark, and the apps will respect the dark theme until I close the apps. I launch the apps again, it'll return to light theme.

I tried using the gtk_theme command on file-roller, it didn't work. It just loads up in light theme on it.
I don't know if I can downgrade the app, but I can roll back using timeshift and use the restore point before doing system update. I've done that before and sure enough, apps can respect dark theme again.

Edit: I added the settings.ini in gtk3 and gtk4 folders in the .config folder. I loaded up file-roller again and it loads up dark theme, but after I closed it and launched file roller again, it went back to light theme. Here's the warning for Adwaita: Adwaita-WARNING **: 20:37:32.425: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.

Added later 13 h 39 min 20 s:
So, I just added the settings.ini in gtk3 and gtk4 folders in the .config folder. I loaded up file-roller again and it loads up dark theme, but after I closed it and launched file roller again, it went back to light theme. Its not just file-roller that's not following the dark theme, its gnome apps and firefox. Weird thing is that bottles follows the dark theme, unlike other gnome apps that don't follow it. Any suggestions for that matter, ToZ?

Last edited by RyougaLolakie (2025-08-18 00:39:59)

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,123

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

I'm not sure what else to suggest. I don't use portals nor am I that familiar with them. I'll leave you with this link - perhaps there is some useful info there.

Since this isn't really an Xfce problem - perhaps you might find better answers on your distro forums?

---

Mark solved threads as [SOLVED] to make it easier for others to find solutions.
--- How To Ask For Help | FAQ | Developer Wiki  |  Community | Contribute ---

RyougaLolakie

Member

Registered: 2025-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

I'm not sure what else to suggest. I don't use portals nor am I that familiar with them. I'll leave you with this link - perhaps there is some useful info there.

Since this isn't really an Xfce problem - perhaps you might find better answers on your distro forums?

I did posted my similiar problem in cachyos forums, discord, and reddit, and yield no results.

I put "gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme 'prefer-dark'" on the terminal and that didn't work. As for the env variables, should I put those commands in /etc/environment or somewhere else?

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,123

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

Create a .sh file in /etc/profile.d that contains the environment variable and value:

ADW_DISABLE_PORTAL=1
export ADW_DISABLE_PORTAL

---

Mark solved threads as [SOLVED] to make it easier for others to find solutions.
--- How To Ask For Help | FAQ | Developer Wiki  |  Community | Contribute ---

RyougaLolakie

Member

Registered: 2025-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

Create a .sh file in /etc/profile.d that contains the environment variable and value:

ADW_DISABLE_PORTAL=1
export ADW_DISABLE_PORTAL

That variable makes gnome apps respect the dark theme but firefox is still in light theme, even when I set it to dark in the firefox settings.

I wonder if removing those settings will make firefox go dark theme? (on gtk3/gtk4 settings.ini)

[Settings]
gtk-theme-name=Adwaita-dark
gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme=false

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,123

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

In firefox settings under themes, there is an "auto" theme that will follow the system theme. What theme do you currently have selected? If not auto, try it (or the dark theme).

---

Mark solved threads as [SOLVED] to make it easier for others to find solutions.
--- How To Ask For Help | FAQ | Developer Wiki  |  Community | Contribute ---

RyougaLolakie

Member

Registered: 2025-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

In firefox settings under themes, there is an "auto" theme that will follow the system theme. What theme do you currently have selected? If not auto, try it (or the dark theme).

Mine's currently set to dark. Right now, I switched to auto, and its still white theme and not follow the system theme.

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 12,123

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

And in firefox's about:config section, is "ui.systemUsesDarkTheme" set to 1?

---

Mark solved threads as [SOLVED] to make it easier for others to find solutions.
--- How To Ask For Help | FAQ | Developer Wiki  |  Community | Contribute ---

RyougaLolakie

Member

Registered: 2025-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] xdg-desktop-portal crashes/not loading after XFCE update

And in firefox's about:config section, is "ui.systemUsesDarkTheme" set to 1?

Yeah, ui.systemUsesDarkTheme is set to 1.

Added later 20 h 58 min 07 s:
I have look into settings again, and discovered that I can finally change into dark theme by clicking manage firefox themes in extensions and themes and enable dark theme. So far, it didn't reset to light theme or anything, but colors felt more darker than adwaita-dark. I dunno what have changed on the system update, but having to put adw_disable_portal=1 in the /etc/profile.d/ directory on the file.sh, just feels a bit janky. I still can't decide if its xdg desktop portal not respecting the dark theme in the newest system update or libadwaita....or something. First time I installed xdg desktop portal, it respected the dark theme without adding additional configuration.

Added later 22 h 39 min 37 s:
Additional note, adding xdg-desktop-portal folder (plus portals.conf) in the .config directory finally respects the dark theme. So I guess it needs an additional configuration complared to previous system update where most of the action was put into portals-xfce.conf. While both xdg-desktop-portal folder and portals.conf were created in the .config directory, I added the lines in the portal.conf

[preferred]
default=gtk;

Also I have removed the portal.sh on the /etc/profile.d directory (using sudo rm /etc/profile.d/portal.sh command) which wasn't needed anymore. Now, I can finally relax for once. 

Thank you, ToZ for the info on the link and your help.