Desktop background resets to default every now and then

[ghost]

System: Linux Mint 17.0: Qiana

Roughly every 7th time I log in, the desktop background has been reset to the default Linux Mint wallpaper. This occurs after regular shutdowns, there are no crashes or errors I am aware of.

EDIT: This is probably related to #3913

[xamino]

Can confirm for Cinnamon version 2.4.6 on Antergos. Unlike above the desktop background resets to a random but default wallpaper (Antergos switches default wallpaper on every boot, this is on purpose).

[ghost]

Almost the same problem with "Rosa". Wallpaper resets sometimes (maybe because of cinnamon crashing) during the system work. Last time it happened when i ran xarchiver.

[rodrigograca31]

It also happens on Linux Mint 17.3. Cinnamon edition, everything updated....

As the title says, now and then I also lose my wallpaper....

[sumanguru]

Happens on up-to-date Arch x64 multilib with Cinnamon installed too

[JosephMcc]

Please try to note what you were doing/did when this happens. Also maybe check your logs and see if anything stands out when it does. This has been around for awhile but there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for it. Without that it's extremely hard to pin down any type of fix.

[akb825]

I have had one reset after processing an update, but also had it reset a few times when typing in Qt Creator. (as in I'm in the middle of typing and notice the background changes on my second monitor) It happens for me about once every 1-3 weeks.

One thing to note is I have three computers at home running Arch with Cinnamon installed for well over a year (January 2015 was the latest), and I have never seen this happen on those computers. I also haven't changed the wallpapers for those computers in a very long time. However, I have seen the bug occur on recent installs both with Ubuntu 16.04 and with Arch. Perhaps an older version was setting the wallpaper settings to some configuration file before that is no longer being set?

[mdumrauf]

Happens also on 17.3 with Cinnamon 2.8.8. It even crashes and sets no wallpaper at all.

[dominichayesferen]

Also happens on 18.0 with Cinnamon Stable (and Unstable) and can confirm it resets the Dconf setting too when it happens...

[akb825]

I've just had it happen on an machine with an old install (but fully up to date) after resuming from suspend, so my previous thought of it only occurring on new installs wasn't correct.

[Odyseus]

Hello, everybody.
This happens to me constantly on Linux Mint 18 Cinnamon 3.0.7 stable. I always set the options Picture aspect to No picture, Background gradient to None and Gradient start color to Black. But it changes itself to Picture aspect > Zoom. It happened hundred of times, and still don't know what triggers it. I'm always doing something different when I realize that the desktop background changed. At first, I thought that the culprit was conky (that's why I don't use a background image), so I disabled all my conky scripts from starting on system start up for a couple of days. It didn't made any difference (the background kept changing randomly to the default). Sometimes, it happens like 5 times in less than an hour. Some other times, it doesn't happen for days. My system never goes into suspend/hibernation mode (but I shut it down every day).

[ghost]

I have this problem too, in that (1) every so often the picture aspect resets, and (though this hasn't happened for a month or so) (2) sometimes my system reverts to a default background.

EDIT: I am sorry I can't be more specific about just when it happens. Problem 1 is fairly subtle, so I don't always notice it.

Linux Mint Cinnamon 18.

[akb825]

On Arch, I just had the background reset when upgrading the following packages:

assimp-3.3.1-1  bluez-libs-5.42-1  chromaprint-1.3.2-1
curl-7.50.3-1  doxygen-1.8.12-1  ffmpeg-1:3.1.3-2
firefox-49.0.1-1  git-2.10.0-1  gnome-online-accounts-3.20.4-1
gtkspell3-3.0.9-1  gvim-8.0.0005-1  hwids-20160801-1
iana-etc-20160921-1  jansson-2.8-1  libass-0.13.3-1
libcups-2.2.0-4  libinput-1.5.0-1  libjpeg-turbo-1.5.1-1
libkeybinder3-0.3.1-1  libmm-glib-1.6.2-1  libphonenumber-7.7.0-1
libtool-2.4.6-6  libva-1.7.2-1  linux-4.7.5-1
linux-firmware-20160915.c4c07a8-1  logrotate-3.10.0-1
mesa-12.0.3-1  mpfr-3.1.4.p5-1  openssl-1.0.2.j-1  pango-1.40.3-1
perl-5.24.0-2  pinentry-0.9.7-3  qt5-3d-5.7.0-2  qt5ct-0.27-1
qtcreator-4.1.0-3  shared-mime-info-1.7-1  sqlite-3.14.2-1
sudo-1.8.18-1  vim-runtime-8.0.0005-1  wayland-1.12.0-1
xf86-input-libinput-0.19.1-1  xproto-7.0.31-1

[akb825]

I had two computers with recent updates (see my post above for a list of packages) have the background reset, and both of those have 2 monitors. I just updated my laptop and the background didn't reset, so it could also be related to having multiple monitors.

[Devnull85]

I have the same problem on my laptop Lenovo z510. I haven't connected any additional monitor. And the background did reset after the last update and it also occurs randomly from time to time.
System:
Linux Mint 18 Cinamon 64-bit
Cinnamon Version 3.0.7
Linux Kernel 4.4.0-21-generic

Last update:
I show if somebody will tell me how to retrieve them from an upgrade manager in a plain text. But the list looks kinda similar to akb825

[Sunderland93]

Same problem in LMDE 2, Cinnamon 3.0.6. Background image resets to default after playing video in fullscreen (sometimes) and working in terminal.

[SolarLune]

+1, I also have had this happen to me.

As a wild guess, I feel like it might be related to the graphics driver crashing and rebooting, as my computer slowed dramatically when it happened...?

Using Linux Mint 18, Cinnamon 3.0.7, and NVIDIA Closed-source Drivers 361.42, with an NVIDIA GTX 660 Graphics Card.

[SolarLune]

Update, it just happened - my computer slowed down again, but I notice that it happened when I plugged my phone in. Perhaps that has something to do with it? Or the fact that the file manager always starts up to open the phone's folder when it plugs in?

EDIT: Re-plugging my phone didn't do anything, so some time or other condition might need to pass first for it to happen...

[dominichayesferen]

When it happens here, it's mostly the lag out where the system tray icons have a black background behind them...

[ghost]

On my system (cf. @SolarLune) the problem seems unconnected to plugging in any external device. Moreover, on my system the problem does not seems associated with any lag (though I do not quite know what @feren means when s/he writes about lag).

[dominichayesferen]

@ACinnamonUserInUK Sometimes when changing the Cinnamon theme, applet set, etc, the system tray icons get a black background behind them whilst Cinnamon is unresponsive...

[tsdtsdtsd]

Happened to me today on Ubuntu 17.04 with Cinnamon 3.4.0

[andreabellitto]

Ubuntu 17.04, Cinnamon 3.4.0 from official unstable ppa:

If I select show desktop icons I can't see desktop backgound, I see white bg instead.
If I disable desktop icons show in cinnamon settings I see my deskto background.
If I press CTRL+ALT+UP_ARROW I can see my bg below the workspace panoramic view with cinnamon desktop icons showing enabled and even disabled

[dominichayesferen]

@belandsoft What GTK theme do you use?

[andreabellitto]

My theme is Mint-XY, Controls are macOS-sierra-master, Icons are MacBuntu-OS, Windows borders are macOS-sierra-master. Just tried to change one by one and the problem seems to be in Controls, if I change macOS-sierra-master to some other I have my desktop background back, but selecting macOS-sierra-master again it disappears immediately, but until some days ago I have never had this problem before, even with the same theme configuration. So it's a theme bug or a cinnamon/nemo bug? 2017-05-22 20:37 GMT+02:00 feren CEO <notifications@github.com>:

…

@belandsoft <https://github.com/belandsoft> What GTK theme do you use? — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#3953 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AC_EMUWPOm8l0gmY3XQRzTyy12_kz1fHks5r8dYDgaJpZM4Ds0eq> .

[dominichayesferen]

@belandsoft That's a GTK Theme Issue for macOS Sierra, report it here:
https://github.com/B00merang-Project/macOS-Sierra/issues/new

[JosephMcc]

@belandsoft
This was an issue in Nemo that I believe should be fixed now by: linuxmint/nemo@77ff741

Hopefully you will see it fixed at the next update.

[Odyseus]

Hello, everybody.

First, sorry for the off-topic.

@belandsoft: Just an FYI. I'm the author of the Mint-XY theme. The Cinnamon part of the Mint-XY theme isn't compatible with Cinnamon 3.4. I will not be adding support for 3.4 directly into the theme because the changes needed for Cinnamon 3.4 will break the theme for all other versions of Cinnamon supported by the theme (3.0 and 3.2).

If you need the 3.4 compatible version of the theme, I already uploaded it to my repository. When Cinnamon 3.4 is officially released, I will publish it in the Spices website.

[logozz]

A while since this thread was updated...I installed Mint 18.x Cinnamon on both my laptop and my wifes. Interestingly, everything on my machine (Lenovo T570) is fine, whereas on my wifes pc (Lenovo Yoga), we seem to experience the same problem as described above (e.g. every now and then the cutom theme switches back to a different one [the default?])...

Installation exactly the same, same personalized theme settings etc.

Only difference is that on the "faulty" one, we first had Ubuntu 16.04 installed, and un-installed it prior to installing Mint...

[tomek320]

Kernel: 4.4.0-21-generic , on Linux Mint "Sarah" with cinnamon desktop same bug of "default" mint background on startup.. problem didnt occured first 3 months of using OS with wine installed. After that 3 months I installed PlayOnLinux, FuriusISO mount and configured Warcraft3 through PlayOnLinux GUI app (and made shortcuts to Frozen Throne). Game runs perfectly , but after few days those "default" backgrounds ( with some icons that were deleted long time ago) started showing up. Also day or two before bugs started occuring i downloaded c++ man pages with [ sudo apt-get install manpages-dev glibc-doc ] and [ sudo apt-get install cppman ]. Here is pic of bugged desktop https://ibb.co/cOk1UF

[rodrigograca31]

@tomek320 I also have PlayOnLinux....
Maybe that's the common thing between all of us? (probably not)

[tomek320]

@rodrigograca31 no idea , I'm kinda new to this Linux community. I love it but im still a newbie. I heard if you install wine you also let Linux OS sort of "waygate" for windows viruses to infect the system.. Also if you delete wine after you've installed it on Linux there is no way you can destroy (clean) package dependancies (not even with [ sudo apt-get purge --auto-remove ] command) it's like it stays there pernament..

[davidspring]

I installed Linux Mint Cinnamon 18 in a new install and set some images for the background slideshow in my Pictures folder. I am not using dual screens or Wine or Play on Linux. Things seem to be OK most of the time. But occasionally, the image will reset itself to an image that is not even in my file manager and turn off the slideshow in Cinnamon background settings. I understand you may think this is not possible. But I have seen it happen a few times and it is pretty upsetting when it does. I really like Cinnamon and I hope this problem can be fixed. As one possible clue, I keep my file manager in a left side panel and open it quite a bit. I think there may be a problem with the Nemo file manager and how it displays background images. I have also checked the Properties and metadata sections of all of my images - thinking that perhaps there was some Javascript virus in some of my images. But everything was clean. So I have no clue as to how this happened. Thanks for looking into this problem. It needs to be fixed.

[davidspring]

I figured out what my problem was. I had somehow downloaded Variety and it loaded itself to my side panel and then took over my background and added the images that were displaying on my desktop. I have now deleted Variety and hopefully everything will be OK. I realize this is not a solution for those who do not have Variety installed. But if you do have Variety, it seems to have a mind of its own and is fully capable of disabling the Mint background without you doing anything.

[silelmot]

Same here, and after EVERY reboot!
Using Cinnamon 3.6.7 on Mint 18.3 with two Monitors

[rodrigograca31]

Humm just noted I commented 2 years ago here....
Still same system but this bug hasn't happened in a while....... I've been doing updates..... but still Linux Mint 17.3 'Rosa' ........
I also havent messed up with drivers in a while..... (probably related) and using the xserver-xorg-video-nouveau.......

[rodrigograca31]

So.........
I've upgraded to Linux Mint 18.3 (what a nightmare...)
and also changed the driver....
then after installing a bunch of stuff I installed nautilus and as soon as I launched it the desktop background changed back to a default image.....
When launch nautilus from the command line I also loose conky..... and this error is given:

(nautilus:24794): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to register client: GDBus.Error:org.gnome.SessionManager.AlreadyRegistered: Unable to register client

If I try to change my background it takes no effect until I CTRL + C the command line... (closing nautilus doesn't really close the process)

[mtwebster]

In 18.3/ubuntu 16.04, nautilus will draw the background when launched, and use its own setting for the image to use.

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background show-desktop-icons false

This will keep the desktop portion of nautilus from running.

To add to this, if nautilus is installed, it is the default file manager launched (regardless of your currently set 'preferred' file manager) when doing some things like "open containing folder" in Firefox, which, as a result, may also have the effect of changing your background. That key will keep nautilus behaving only as a windowed file manager, and prevent this.

I'm not guaranteeing this is everyone's issue here (I don't even know if nautilus is a common variable) I'm just bringing up this as a possible solution to the most recent poster's issue.

[rodrigograca31]

@mtwebster yep that worked.
I also don't know if nautilus was a common variable but thought I'd share my experience...

I don't get why nautilus (supposedly a file manager) can change a desktop background.... Why? Why? Who implemented this? LMAO

[smurphos]

Desktop is a folder which in linux is just another type of file - what better to manage a file than a file manager.

Nemo does the job normally for Cinnamon. Nautilus does the job in Gnome. Like drunken cousins at a wedding they fight when in the same installation unless the user knows the tricks to keep them both well behaved.

[keithterrill]

I cannot correlate why it happens or when, but on my Kernel: 4.4.0-116-generic x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: Cinnamon 3.0.7 my desktop backgrounds revert to the original linux background from the original install.

I have tried to understand the comments, posts, etc. here, but have not found anything useful except that this is an ongoing problem that has not been resolved in years.

Is there something I am missing?

PS: I have Mint 17.3 on my other computer. It has never reset the background.

[powerwagon75]

Running Mint 18 w/4.4.0-119 kernel currently. Through a couple of different kernels over time, noticed that the desktop background would revert to the default Mint Logo. As for repeatability, and although it seemed to happen at random times, when it did happen, it was when I double-clicked a file (such as a conf or text file) to open it for viewing. This was with the default text editor (xed). I’ve since changed my default editor to gedit and have not had the issue.
Inxi.txt

[e-Euler]

I noticed that if my background is set to a picture using a right click in a browser on a picture and then I set the background in the settings to a different picture, I can run the cmd "nautilus $(pwd)" and the bug will happen every time, reverting the picture to the one I set from the browser.

[icarter09]

Checking to see if anyone associated on this thread is still experiencing the issue since some of the last comments are almost a year or two years old now.

[rodrigograca31]

I've been using a new instalation Linux Mint 19.3 and havent had this issue again. I guess it got fixed at some point.... or the starts havent aligned the correct way again... 😂

[vlad0337187]

No, I didn't experience it for a while.

[icarter09]

Thanks @rodrigograca31 and @vlad0337187 for the updates. I'm going to close this issue. If anyone experiences the issue again, please let me know and I'll reopen this ticket or make a new. Thanks.

[mrlinnth]

After my recent Mint 20.2 installation, I selected latest nvidia-driver-470 after installation. I faced similar issue

I am using dual monitors (primary landscape, secondary portrait).
The Picture Aspect setting keeps changing after each reboot.

My specs are as follows:

My workaround is to use nvidia-driver-460. Everything seems ok now.

Hope this helps someone.