Ubuntu 20.04: directory selector window doesn't work as expected

obsidianusr · August 26, 2025, 4:07pm

Once you’ve done the above, delete everything above this line.

Steps to reproduce

On Ubuntu 20.04, from the “Manage Vaults” window open the directory selector popup by doing one of the following (neither of them works):
- Create a new Vault → Location → Browse
- Open folder as vault
- Open vault from Obsidian Sync → Connect → Browse

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y/N]

I tried it both in the initial window after a fresh install from Ubuntu Snap Store, and by opening the “Manage Vaults” window from an already opened Vault

Expected result

The directory selector window should allow you to select a folder, however you cannot select a folder - it only allows you to select a single file.

Actual result

As described above the directory selector window doesn’t allow you to select a folder, hence none of the above operations can be completed (setting the location of an already existing or a new vault).

Environment

SYSTEM INFO:
    Obsidian version: v1.9.12
    Installer version: v1.9.12
    Operating system: #149~20.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Wed Apr 16 08:29:56 UTC 2025 5.15.0-139-generic
    Login status: logged in
    Language: en
    Catalyst license: none
    Insider build toggle: off
    Live preview: on
    Base theme: adapt to system
    Community theme: none
    Snippets enabled: 0
    Restricted mode: on

RECOMMENDATIONS:
    none

Additional information

The following post reports the same issue, but it’s in the Help forum, I have the same problem so I am reposting it as a bug: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/cannot-open-existing-vaults-nor-create-a-new-one-not-able-to-select-directories-as-input-v1-9-10-ubuntu/104320

guihenrry · August 27, 2025, 3:52pm

I can confirm this issue on Ubuntu 20.04 as well.

When trying to open or create a vault, the directory picker does not allow selecting folders — only files can be chosen. This completely blocks key functionality.

rotary-spindrift · August 28, 2025, 2:18pm

I can also confirm this issue on Ubuntu 20.04. The folder selection works as expected in Obsidian v1.8.10, but not in v1.9.12.

WhiteNoise · September 1, 2025, 2:05pm

It seems that is a problem only on older gnome installations.

Obsidian 1.9.x uses Electron 37. Electron 37 uses the gnome native file picker (instead of custom on). This is likely a bug in Electron or in the older version Gnome File Picker.

If you can, update to Ubuntu 24.04, or use Obsidian 1.8.10 appimage.

github.com/electron/electron

dialog.showOpenDialog with openDirectory property shows file picker instead of directory picker in Electron 37

opened 10:39AM - 29 Aug 25 UTC

closed 02:10AM - 14 Sep 25 UTC

Mubramaj

platform/linux bug

component/dialog blocked/need-repro 37-x-y

### Preflight Checklist - [x] I have read the [Contributing Guidelines](https:/…/github.com/electron/electron/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) for this project. - [x] I agree to follow the [Code of Conduct](https://github.com/electron/electron/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md) that this project adheres to. - [x] I have searched the [issue tracker](https://www.github.com/electron/electron/issues) for a bug report that matches the one I want to file, without success. ### Electron Version 37.4.0 ### What operating system(s) are you using? Ubuntu ### Operating System Version Linux Mint 20 Cinnamon ### What arch are you using? x64 ### Last Known Working Electron version 36.0.0 ### Does the issue also appear in Chromium / Google Chrome? No ### Expected Behavior When calling dialog.showOpenDialog() with properties: ['openDirectory'], the dialog should open as a directory/folder picker, allowing users to select directories only. This behavior worked correctly in Electron 36 and earlier versions. ### Actual Behavior In Electron 37.x, when calling dialog.showOpenDialog() with properties: ['openDirectory'], the dialog opens as a file picker instead of a directory picker, forcing users to select files rather than directories. The function returns file paths even when the intention is to select directories. ### Testcase Gist URL _No response_ ### Additional Information ## Steps to Reproduce 1. Create an Electron app with version 37.x 2. Call `dialog.showOpenDialog()` with the following configuration: ```javascript const { dialog } = require('electron'); dialog.showOpenDialog(mainWindow, { properties: ['openDirectory'], title: 'Select Directory' }).then(result => { console.log('Selected paths:', result.filePaths); }); ``` 3. Observe that a file picker dialog opens instead of a directory picker 4. The dialog forces file selection rather than directory selection ## Code Example ```javascript // This worked in Electron 36 but fails in Electron 37 ipcMain.on('open-directory-dialog', (event) => { dialog.showOpenDialog(mainWindow, { properties: ['openDirectory'], title: 'Select Directory' }).then((result) => { if (!result.canceled) { // In Electron 37, this returns file paths instead of directory paths console.log('Selected:', result.filePaths); event.reply('directory-selected', result.filePaths); } }); }); ```

github.com/electron/electron

Regression since v36.2.0: `dialog.showOpenDialog({ properties: ['openDirectory'] })` opens a file picker and returns file paths on Ubuntu 20.04

opened 07:28PM - 20 Sep 25 UTC

efemuratucarli

platform/linux blocked/need-info ❌ bug

component/dialog has-repro-gist 38-x-y 39-x-y

### Preflight Checklist - [x] I have read the [Contributing Guidelines](https:/…/github.com/electron/electron/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) for this project. - [x] I agree to follow the [Code of Conduct](https://github.com/electron/electron/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md) that this project adheres to. - [x] I have searched the [issue tracker](https://www.github.com/electron/electron/issues) for a bug report that matches the one I want to file, without success. ### Electron Version 38.0.0, 36.2.0, 39.0.0-alpha.4 ### What operating system(s) are you using? Ubuntu ### Operating System Version Ubuntu 20.04 ### What arch are you using? x64 ### Last Known Working Electron version 36.1.0 ### Does the issue also appear in Chromium / Google Chrome? No ### Expected Behavior dialog.showOpenDialog({ properties: ['openDirectory'] }) should open a directory picker and return directory paths. ### Actual Behavior A file picker opens and the API returns file paths instead of directory paths. ### Testcase Gist URL https://gist.github.com/406a12fec737a84b6764feea1bdcb114 ### Additional Information **Regression window:** last good **36.1.0** → first bad **36.2.0**; also reproduces on **37.x.x** and **38.x.x**

briz · October 16, 2025, 2:08pm

I can confirm this bug exists on 22.04 as well.

Unfortunately, we can’t downgrade to an earlier Obsidian package, since Obsidian phones home and auto-updates on launch, e.g.

./Obsidian-1.8.10.AppImage
2025-10-16 14:01:49 Loading main app package /tmp/.mount_ObsidiONXWK6/resources/obsidian.asar
Ignored: Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '/home/myusername/.config/obsidian/obsidian.json'
2025-10-16 14:01:50 Checking for update using Github
libva error: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri/iHD_drv_video.so init failed
libva error: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri/i965_drv_video.so init failed
2025-10-16 14:01:50 Success.
2025-10-16 14:01:50 Latest version is 1.9.14
2025-10-16 14:01:50 Downloading update from https://github.com/obsidianmd/obsidian-releases/releases/download/v1.9.14/obsidian-1.9.14.asar.gz
2025-10-16 14:01:50 Verifying hash & signature. Size= 9033685
2025-10-16 14:01:50 Saving file
2025-10-16 14:01:50 Update complete.

WhiteNoise · October 16, 2025, 2:19pm

This a a bug of electron (or gnome), so it doesn’t matter which internal version obsidian updates to.

Using the 1.8.10 appimage and relying on the internal update to get to 1.9.14 will still work.

We have not had any reports of this problem happening in Ubuntu 22.x. Perhaps you have a different problem.