Hi, guys. This is my solution after trying many suggested above. Go to ‘C:\Users\YOUR USER NAMEn\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop’, and then delete the most recent “app-”. I am not an engineer, but my logic is that the reason that you suddenly cannot open it is because you did something bad at the last time. If it does not work, you might try to delete others that you created most recently. Once I delete the “app-” folder, the GitHub Desktop can be opened.

This may be helpful if you see it open in the toolbar like I was, it worked for me: https://github.com/zeit/hyper/issues/1682

TL;DR with the github for desktop window “focused” hit Alt + spacebar to open the window context menu on screen and maximize the window. Not sure if this is related, but may be something with electron.

This may be helpful if you see it open in the toolbar like I was, it worked for me: zeit/hyper#1682

Hi, guys. This is my solution after trying many suggested above. Go to ‘C:\Users\YOUR USER NAMEn\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop’, and then delete the most recent “app-”. I am not an engineer, but my logic is that the reason that you suddenly cannot open it is because you did something bad at the last time. If it does not work, you might try to delete others that you created most recently. Once I delete the “app-” folder, the GitHub Desktop can be opened.

I had the same problem and this solution worked for me. Even without appearing GitHub Desktop on the toolbar.

Hi, guys. This is my solution after trying many suggested above. Go to ‘C:\Users\YOUR USER NAMEn\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop’, and then delete the most recent “app-”. I am not an engineer, but my logic is that the reason that you suddenly cannot open it is because you did something bad at the last time. If it does not work, you might try to delete others that you created most recently. Once I delete the “app-” folder, the GitHub Desktop can be opened.

Thank you very much, this work for me.

My issues solved when I tried to install the latest/existing version (.exe file) again without uninstalling the existing github desktop app and the existing one opened instead of fresh installation and everything worked and they lived happily ever after 😸

My problem is exactly identical except I’m running Windows 7.

C:\Users\urname\AppData\Roaming\GitHub Desktop\window-state.json change the “x”,“y” values done.

having the same issue–it worked literally yesterday and now won’t launch even after a restart, windows 10.

looked per suggestions to clear out app data, but there is nothing to clear out .

UPDATE: i got it to launch by opening a PR in github on the web, and then clicking the “open this file in github desktop” option to the upper right:

and the desktop client launched normally. huh.

I had this issue too in windows 10. First I did was check the version of my github desktop in the Apps in the windows 10 Settings which was 3.0.2 . Then I went to C:\Users\ Your User Name \AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop folder. There I saw other versions of the software which were app-3.0.1, app-3.0.2 and app-3.0.3. So I went into the folder that matched my current version which was 3.0.2 and ran the GitHubDesktop.exe executable. This opened the github normally and then there was a message there saying there is newer version which was 3.0.3. Clicked the message that said to Update Github by restarting and everything started to work fine.

My guess on this is somehow the Update got interrupted and the main executable was trying open the latest version which was not properly downloaded and thus didn’t open GithubDesktop. Hopefully this will help someone later.

K Out!

Alt + Space-bar + x solution by @kevlut worked for me. After maximizing the window, close the application and on restart the app. It opened for me.

After struggling for days and searching internet, I found this and finally got mine to work again.

Workaround 2 worked for me. Removing app 2.5.3 folder was the solution.

I got it to open by running the windows batch file in the \bin folder: C:\Users<user_name>\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop\bin\github

Another MeToo but with a “works for me” solution

• Uninstall
• Reboot
• Remove all traces in
• c:\Users.…\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop and
• C:\Users.…\AppData\Roaming\GitHub Desktop
• reboot (just to be safe)
• reinstall

I just had this issue, version 1.2.6 did not want to open up.

I found that in folder C:\Users\{your_username}\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop there were all previous versions I have installed. I went to the previous version and the GitHubDesktop.exe executable was standing there, and it opened successfully.

Then I proceeded to update the app by going Help -> About Github Desktop.

Everything looks fine so far, I’ve closed it several times and even restarted to see if this weird annoyable issue came back.

Found out today when this happens to me i need to go to C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\GitHub Desktop\IndexedDB And delete everything in there and reopen application and it works perfect.

Hi all,

Description

GitHub Desktop won’t open on Windows 10. When double clicking on the shortcut nothing happens. GitHub Desktop don’t show in the Task Manager > Processes but shows in the Task Manager > Details I tried opening as an administrator and with Windows 8 compatibility, same problem.

Version

GitHub Desktop version: As I cannot open it, I cannot see the version. I downloaded on the 4th of december 2017.

OS version: Microsoft Windows version 10.0.13299.192

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install GitHub Desktop on Windows 10
2. Open GitHub Desktop
3. Close GitHub Desktop
4. Reopen GitHub Desktop

Reproduces how often: Always at the moment, but just after installing I could open it and work. Then I closed it and could not open again. I tried rebooting several times but with no luck. I remember at some point it opened again but this week no way, nothing works.

Logs

• If you are on Windows, attach the most recent log file from: %APPDATA%\GitHub Desktop\logs\*.desktop.production.log

I don’t have any logs folder in this path.

Additional Information

Thanks in advance for your help

Possible solutions to try

Workaround 1 via @kevlut

This may be helpful if you see it open in the toolbar like I was, it worked for me: vercel/hyper#1682

TL;DR with the github for desktop window “focused” hit Alt + spacebar to open the window context menu on screen and maximize the window. Not sure if this is related, but may be something with electron.

Workaround 2 via @cbw1243

This is my solution after trying many suggested above. Go to ‘C:\Users\YOUR USER NAMEn\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop’, and then delete the most recent “app-”. I am not an engineer, but my logic is that the reason that you suddenly cannot open it is because you did something bad at the last time. If it does not work, you might try to delete others that you created most recently. Once I delete the “app-” folder, the GitHub Desktop can be opened.

From the Workaround 2, just open the github desktop exe from “app-” which is one before the latest version did the job for me. Seems the issue was, Github desktop couldn’t locate my current project location.

Running the .exe file (as suggested by @Akhi1 )again worked for me. The shortcut for GitHub Desktop works for me again. Right before the problem started I tried to commit some changes to a repo and I got a fail message I’d never received before, I didn’t manage to take it down but I believe it couldn’t find some git file. I then tried closing GitHub Desktop & opening it again but it refused to open, much like OP’s problem. That’s where re-running the .exe file fixed everything.

same issue and @cbw1243’s fix worked for me

I solved mine by going to C:…AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop\app-2.6.1 {or previous version}. Click on the executable Github file, It opened. The cause should be from updated version

This may be helpful if you see it open in the toolbar like I was, it worked for me: vercel/hyper#1682

Hi, guys. This is my solution after trying many suggested above. Go to ‘C:\Users\YOUR USER NAMEn\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop’, and then delete the most recent “app-”. I am not an engineer, but my logic is that the reason that you suddenly cannot open it is because you did something bad at the last time. If it does not work, you might try to delete others that you created most recently. Once I delete the “app-” folder, the GitHub Desktop can be opened.

I had the same problem and this solution worked for me. Even without appearing GitHub Desktop on the toolbar.

This work for me and have no side effects until now. Thanks.

Deleting the latest app-… folder worked for me. Many thanks for this easy fix. I noticed that it re-created the folder, but GitHub desktop DOES re-open every time now.

This happened to me today on Windows 7. Looking in the folder “app-1.4.3” there were many missing files and there was a corrupted GitHubDesktop.exe (sitting at 4.87 MB rather than the expected 64.5 MB). In my case there were no errors and nothing launched.

So a few things can happen based on the state of the “app-X.X.X” folders which can easily be reproduced as follows:

• If there is no “app-X.X.X” folder the launcher will crash.
• If there is a “app-X.X.X” folder with no GitHubDesktop.exe nothing will launch and there will be no errors.
• If there is a “app-X.X.X” folder with a corrupt exe or corrupt files there can be many errors such as corrupt exe or even no errors at all with nothing launching.

The launcher program needs to have some form of validation of the files in the “app-X.X.X” folder. If the files are invalid then the launcher should do following:

• Find the first folder without any corrupt files and launch that instead (assuming there are no security critical vulns in the older version).
• If there are no valid folders then download the latest version or prompt the user to reinstall the program (assuming the reinstaller cleans any corrupted “app-X.X.X” folders).

As to why there would be corrupt folders in the first place I can only assume there are issues stemming from the extracting of the .nupkg file.

I had the same problem on Windows 10 where the GitHub Desktop app would not open. Frustrating!

But I found a workaround/solution! Don’t use the shortcut! It’s doesn’t work! As soon as I started using the start menu to launch GitHub, it opened every time. Once opened, I selected “Pin to taskbar” and it still opens every time using the taskbar. Hope that helps!

Deleting the most recent app- folder inside AppData worked for me too

work for me I deleted v3.0.1

Same issue, just started. Windows version 2.0.3.

I just updated to 2.0.4 which I see was released yesterday, 6/12/2019. At the end of installation, github opened. I closed github desktop, waited a bit, and then re-launched it. Github desktop successfully opened.

Not sure if the issue is fully resolved but for now the new install appears to have addressed the problem.

enanita commented on 31 Jul: Hi all, I had the same issue and it was due to the fact that I use several monitors. Last time I used on three monitors and then it didn’t work when I used only two monitors. I then switched to using three monitors and I saw it on the third one. Then I could drag it to another screen. Maybe that works for you as well.

Best regards

I can confirm that.

• Try to find out in which direction the “hidden” window is opened / closed when clicking on the task bar. You should be able to see some slight maximize/minimize animation (if you didn’t switch it off).
• Try to get an additional monitor and place it on the side where the animation goes to (display settings, reoder display 1 and 2, if required). In my case I found the window open on the left attached screen. After pulling it back to the main screen, it now opens and closes correctly, even without second screen.

The software should check if the monitor is available, if the stored position points to something else than the main monitor! Hope that helps

I’ve found a really, REALLY wacky workaround:

• Make a new repo from github
• There is the option for “quick setup.” Click the “Set Up in Desktop” tab. It opens github desktop no problem!
• Press “cancel”. You don’t ACTUALLY want to make a new repo. Press ctrl-O to open a new repo and there you go!

OMG!!! Mark you are my life saver, I could finally open GitHub. I’ll inform on this thread if the problems come back.

THANKS!!!

Also having this issue, reboot, reinstall etc. doesn’t seem to help. It starts 3 processes and then just does nothing. Sometimes it opens an entirely blank window and then does nothing.

Logs aren’t showing anything useful to my knowledge.

2018-01-28T09:58:52.526Z - info: [main] Received possible protocol arguments: 2
2018-01-28T09:59:48.437Z - info: [main] Received possible protocol arguments: 1

Go to ‘C:\Users\YOUR USER NAMEn\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop’, you will see a few app folders, open each and open the github exe in it. if the app has ever worked before, one of the versions will be suitable and you can use that for the meantime

Workaround 2 via @cbw1243

This is my solution after trying many suggested above. Go to ‘C:\Users\YOUR USER NAMEn\AppData\Local\GitHubDesktop’, and then delete the most recent “app-”. I am not an engineer, but my logic is that the reason that you suddenly cannot open it is because you did something bad at the last time. If it does not work, you might try to delete others that you created most recently. Once I delete the “app-” folder, the GitHub Desktop can be opened.

The problem started to appear when the GitHub Desktop application was running and the Windows crashed. The Workaround 2, however, came to rescue. Thanks a lot.

Same issue

Problem: The App not execute after updating. Details: Incorrectly updated the App to 2.6.5 (there was no squirrel.exe file among the unpacked ones).

Solution: Delete the files packages\GitHubDesktop-2.6.5-delta.nupkg and packages\GitHubDesktop-2.6.5-full.nupkg, as well as the folder app-2.6.5, and the App execute again. Log: SquirrelSetup.log

You’re welcome for I created the solution.

On Mon, Jun 29, 2020, 11:56 PM Jari Väisänen notifications@github.com wrote:

After struggling for days and searching internet, I found this and finally got mine to work again.

Workaround 2 worked for me. Removing app 2.5.3 folder was the solution.

— You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/3757#issuecomment-651514005, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AKFOO5GHLL77Y6I2WU2XFGDRZFO6FANCNFSM4ELFA3EA .

"Happened to me today. Took a look at the C:\Users\urname\AppData\Roaming\GitHub Desktop\app-xxx folders and noticed that on the last one (app-1.6.1) the GitHubDesktop had 64mb but it was corrupted. Just opened the app-1.6.0, executed the GitHubDesktop on that folder and then proceeded for an update. It worked 😃 "

Posted this in January. Check if it works for you

Confirmed that I had this issue and that @kevlut fix worked.

I don’t feel that closing an application on a second monitor, and then rebooting one’s laptop with one screen is a legitimate bug for any application to have in 2019. Please fix this.

temporary fix, use userscript to change “Open in Desktop” protocol from x-github-client:// to github-windows://

https://github.com/landonth/github-desktop-protocol-fix

Hi all, I had the same issue and it was due to the fact that I use several monitors. Last time I used on three monitors and then it didn’t work when I used only two monitors. I then switched to using three monitors and I saw it on the third one. Then I could drag it to another screen. Maybe that works for you as well.

Best regards

In my case, I can see Github Desktop in the taskbar and mouse-over shows a window preview, but Alt-Space doesn’t work. I use a variable monitor count and sometimes it seems that Github is initialized to appear on a monitor that doesn’t exist, or isn’t connected (I run win10 on a virtual machine). The only fix for me is to “attach” all displays.

My inclination is to blame win10 for this, but then I recall that MS recently bought Github. Therefore, I will continue blaming Microsoft for all that is wrong with the world.

Solution from @kevlut worked for me.

This may be helpful if you see it open in the toolbar like I was, it worked for me: zeit/hyper#1682 TL;DR with the github for desktop window “focused” hit Alt + spacebar to open the window context menu on screen and maximize the window. Not sure if this is related, but may be something with electron.

i can see github desktop window when i hover on taskbar icon. Hover then press Alt + spacebar and click maximize. Simple! i dont know exactly how and why this is happening but it worked for me 👍 !

I’ve had this issue with many versions, and resolved by rebooting or reinstalling.

Most recently with version 1.1.0, I was able to resolve by running Windows 10’s compatibility troubleshooter. Running in Windows 8 compatibility mode resolved the issue for me.

@CecileL there’s no smoking gun in those logs. I’d suggest uninstalling and reinstalling the latest version from desktop.github.com to see if that addresses the issue.