> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/livrasand/desktop/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Troubleshooting

> Common problems and solutions for GitHub Desktop

This guide helps you resolve common issues you may encounter while using GitHub Desktop.

<Note>
  Before troubleshooting, make sure you're running the latest version of GitHub Desktop. Many issues are resolved in newer releases.
</Note>

## General Troubleshooting Steps

<Accordion title="How do I find GitHub Desktop log files?">
  Log files can help diagnose issues with GitHub Desktop. They are located in:

  **macOS:**

  * `~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop/logs/`
  * Organized by date: `YYYY-MM-DD.desktop.production.log`

  **Windows:**

  * `%APPDATA%\GitHub Desktop\logs\`
  * Organized by date: `YYYY-MM-DD.desktop.production.log`
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Where are installer logs located?">
  Installation and update problems are tracked in separate log files:

  **macOS:**

  * `~/Library/Caches/com.github.GitHubClient.ShipIt/ShipIt_stderr.log`
  * Check the end of the file for recent activity

  **Windows:**

  * `%LOCALAPPDATA%\GitHubDesktop\SquirrelSetup.log` (for updates)
  * `%LOCALAPPDATA%\SquirrelSetup.log` (for initial installation)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="How do I completely uninstall and reinstall GitHub Desktop?">
  **macOS:**

  1. Quit GitHub Desktop
  2. Delete the application from `/Applications`
  3. Remove data directory: `~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop/`
  4. Remove cache: `~/Library/Caches/com.github.GitHubClient.ShipIt/`
  5. Download and reinstall from [desktop.github.com](https://desktop.github.com)

  **Windows:**

  1. Uninstall via Control Panel or Settings
  2. Delete `%LOCALAPPDATA%\GitHubDesktop\`
  3. Delete `%APPDATA%\GitHub Desktop\`
  4. Download and reinstall from [desktop.github.com](https://desktop.github.com)
</Accordion>

## macOS Issues

<Accordion title="'The username or passphrase you entered is not correct' error after signing in">
  **Problem:** This error appears even though your credentials are correct.

  **Cause:** The macOS Keychain is in an invalid state. This has been reported from macOS High Sierra 10.13 to macOS Mojave 10.14.5 and later.

  **Solution:**

  1. Open `Keychain Access.app`
  2. Right-click on the `login` keychain and lock it
  3. Right-click on the `login` keychain and unlock it
  4. Sign into your GitHub account again in GitHub Desktop

  Related issue: [#3263](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/3263)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="'Could not create temporary directory: Permission denied' when checking for updates">
  **Problem:** Update checks fail with a permission denied error.

  **Cause:** Missing permissions for the ShipIt cache directory used during updates.

  **Solution:**

  1. Close GitHub Desktop
  2. Open Finder and navigate to `~/Library/Caches/`
  3. Right-click `com.github.GitHubClient.ShipIt` and select **Get Info**
  4. Expand the **Sharing & Permissions** section
  5. If you don't see "You can read and write", add yourself with "Read & Write" permissions
  6. Restart GitHub Desktop and check for updates

  Related issue: [#4115](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/4115)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="GitHub Desktop repeatedly prompts for admin password to install helper tool">
  **Problem:** macOS asks for admin password every time GitHub Desktop starts or updates.

  **Cause:** The application folder ownership is set to `root` instead of your user account. This often happens after using macOS Migration Assistant.

  **Solution:**

  Run these commands in Terminal:

  ```sh theme={null}
  sudo chown -R ${USER}:staff /Applications/GitHub\ Desktop.app
  chmod -R g+w /Applications/GitHub\ Desktop.app
  ```

  Related issue: [#13956](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/13956)
</Accordion>

## Windows Issues

<Accordion title="Window is hidden after detaching secondary monitor">
  **Problem:** GitHub Desktop window is not visible after disconnecting a secondary monitor.

  **Cause:** Desktop remembers the window position on the disconnected monitor.

  **Solution:**

  1. Close GitHub Desktop
  2. Delete `%APPDATA%\GitHub Desktop\window-state.json`
  3. Restart GitHub Desktop

  Related issue: [#2107](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/2107)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Certificate revocation check fails on corporate networks">
  **Problem:** Git operations fail with error:

  ```
  fatal: unable to access 'https://github.com/...': schannel: next InitializeSecurityContext failed: 
  Unknown error (0x80092012) - The revocation function was unable to check revocation for the certificate.
  ```

  **Cause:** Corporate networks may block Windows certificate revocation checks.

  <Warning>
    This workaround should only be used as a last resort on restricted corporate networks. It disables an important security feature.
  </Warning>

  **Solution:**

  Run this command in Git Bash or Command Prompt:

  ```shellsession theme={null}
  git config --global http.schannelCheckRevoke false
  ```

  Related issue: [#3326](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/3326)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Black screen when launching GitHub Desktop">
  **Problem:** Application launches but shows only a black screen.

  **Cause:** Some graphics cards have issues with hardware acceleration.

  **Solution:**

  Disable hardware acceleration by setting an environment variable:

  1. Open PowerShell
  2. Run: `$env:GITHUB_DESKTOP_DISABLE_HARDWARE_ACCELERATION=1`
  3. Launch GitHub Desktop

  To make this permanent, add the environment variable to your system settings.

  Related issue: [#3921](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/3921)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="'Failed to open CA file' error after update">
  **Problem:** Error message like:

  ```
  fatal: unable to access 'https://github.com/.../...git/': schannel: failed to open CA file 
  'C:/Users/.../AppData/Local/GitHubDesktop/app-x.x.x/resources/app/git/mingw64/bin/curl-ca-bundle.crt': 
  No such file or directory
  ```

  **Cause:** A global Git for Windows configuration at `C:\ProgramData\Git\config` contains an `http.sslCAInfo` entry that conflicts with GitHub Desktop's Git installation.

  **Solution:**

  1. Verify the problem by running:
     ```
     git config -l --show-origin
     ```
     Look for: `file:"C:\ProgramData/Git/config" http.sslcainfo=[some value]`

  2. Open `C:\ProgramData\Git\config` with administrator privileges

  3. Remove these lines:
     ```
     [http]
     sslCAInfo = [some value here]
     ```

  Related issue: [#4832](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/4832)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Authentication errors due to modified registry entries">
  **Problem:** "Authentication failed" error when trying to sign in.

  **Cause:** Modified `Command Processor` registry entries.

  **Solution:**

  1. Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
  2. Navigate to:
     * `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor\`
     * `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor\`
  3. Look for an `Autorun` value in either location
  4. Delete the `Autorun` value if present
  5. Restart GitHub Desktop

  Related issue: [#2623](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/2623)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="'Not enough resources' error when signing in">
  **Problem:** "Not enough resources are available to process this command" error.

  **Cause:** Too many credentials stored in Windows Credentials Manager.

  **Solution:**

  1. Open Control Panel
  2. Go to **Credential Manager**
  3. Click on **Windows Credentials**
  4. Review and delete unnecessary credentials
  5. Try signing in again

  Related issue: [#15217](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/15217)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Cygheap errors with Mandatory ASLR enabled">
  **Problem:** Errors like:

  ```
  fatal error - cygheap base mismatch detected - 0x2E07408/0x2EC7408.
  This problem is probably due to using incompatible versions of the cygwin DLL.
  ```

  **Cause:** Windows 10 Fall Creators Edition (1709+) Mandatory ASLR setting affects the MSYS2 core library used by Git for Windows.

  <Warning>
    This is an upstream limitation of MSYS2 and cannot be fixed in GitHub Desktop.
  </Warning>

  **Solution:**

  Either:

  * Disable Mandatory ASLR in Windows Defender Exploit Protection settings, or
  * Add explicit exceptions for all executables under `<Git>\usr\bin`

  Related issue: [#3096](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/3096)
</Accordion>

## Both Platforms

<Accordion title="Repositories configured with Windows Folder Redirection don't work">
  **Problem:** Cloning or using repositories stored on network shares via Folder Redirection fails.

  **Cause:** Git cannot resolve the working directory correctly on redirected network locations.

  <Warning>
    Using GitHub Desktop with Folder Redirection is not supported.
  </Warning>

  **Recommendation:** Clone repositories to a local disk instead of a network location.

  Related issue: [#2972](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/2972)
</Accordion>

## Getting More Help

<Info>
  If your issue isn't listed here, check the [Known Issues](/support/known-issues) page or search the [GitHub Desktop issue tracker](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues).
</Info>

### Still need help?

1. Search [open issues](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues?q=is%3Aopen) and [closed issues](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues?q=is%3Aclosed)
2. If you can't find a match, [open a new issue](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/issues/new/choose)
3. Provide:
   * GitHub Desktop version
   * Operating system and version
   * Steps to reproduce the issue
   * Relevant log files
   * Screenshots if applicable