Miller columns: the right-hand column appears blank

[nawan95]

What Happened?

When I try to open a folder in Miller columns view, the folder's contents don't appear in the right column.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open Files app
2. Change to miller columns view
3. Try open any folder

Expected Behavior

When a folder is opened in Miller columns, its contents should be displayed in the right-hand column.

OS Version

8.x (Circe)

OS Architecture

amd64 (on most hardwares)

Session Type

Secure Session (Wayland, This is the default)

Software Version

Latest release (I have run all updates)

Log Output

** (io.elementary.files:10155): DEBUG: 11:16:09.492: plugin.vala:162: Error opening git repository at file:///home/nawan: could not find repository at '/home/nawan'
** (io.elementary.files:10155): DEBUG: 11:16:09.674: plugin.vala:162: Error opening git repository at file:///home/nawan: could not find repository at '/home/nawan'
** (io.elementary.files:10155): DEBUG: 11:16:09.675: Slot.vala:373: SLOT close file:///home/nawan/Dokumen

(io.elementary.files:10155): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: 11:16:09.675: invalid (NULL) pointer instance

(io.elementary.files:10155): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: 11:16:09.675: g_signal_handlers_disconnect_matched: assertion 'G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)' failed

(io.elementary.files:10155): Gtk-CRITICAL **: 11:16:09.675: gtk_tree_selection_unselect_all: assertion 'GTK_IS_TREE_SELECTION (selection)' failed
** (io.elementary.files:10155): DEBUG: 11:16:09.676: Slot.vala:119: Slot 1 destruct
** (io.elementary.files:10155): DEBUG: 11:16:09.676: AbstractTreeView.vala:30: ATV destruct
** (io.elementary.files:10155): DEBUG: 11:16:09.676: AbstractDirectoryView.vala:417: ADV destruct
** (io.elementary.files:10155): DEBUG: 11:16:09.677: plugin.vala:162: Error opening git repository at file:///home/nawan: could not find repository at '/home/nawan'

Hardware Info

No response

[jeremypw]

@nawan95 Thanks for the report. I could not reproduce this issue using the main branch but noticed the critical messages on closing a slot and pushed a PR to fix those.

Please advise whether the issue occurs when using the new preview facility or not (or both). You will find a new option in the app menu.

Please also clarify what is meant by "right-hand column". Do you mean that the left-most column is displayed as normal but clicking it on a subfolder does not open a second column to the right, but adjacent? Or are you referring to the preview column which appears on the extreme right when a suitable file is selected?

Or is nothing at all displayed?

[nawan95]

Do you mean that the left-most column is displayed as normal but clicking it on a subfolder does not open a second column to the right, but adjacent?

Sorry for the confusion. The leftmost column displays normally, but when I click on a folder, a second column does not open at all. It's completely blank as nothing happens.

Video_2026-05-03_21-24-33.mp4

Please advise whether the issue occurs when using the new preview facility or not (or both). You will find a new option in the app menu.

This only seems to happen when the 'File Preview (Column View)' option is enabled. Disabling it fixes the issue.

Video_2026-05-03_21-34-44.mp4

[jeremypw]

@nawan95 Thanks for the extra info. I can now reproduce this - it only happens when re-opening a folder (or opening a folder that is already open in another tab). Under these circumstances the subfolder icon is in an "open" state. If you click on a subfolder that has a "closed" icon then it opens as expected. I will investigate why this only happens in preview mode and fix.

[jeremypw]

@nawan95 I have now pushed a fix for this issue. It will not make the v7.3.1 release but should be released soon after.