Main window missing in Nextcloud Desktop 34.0.0 on Windows 11 (only “Activities” panel shows)

[sylmh]

⚠️ Before submitting, please verify the following: ⚠️

• This is a bug, not a question or a configuration issue.
• This issue is not already reported on Github (I have searched for it).
• Nextcloud Server and Desktop Client are up to date. See Server Maintenance and Release Schedule and Desktop Releases for supported versions.
• I agree to follow Nextcloud's Code of Conduct

Bug description

After updating to Nextcloud Desktop 34.0.0 on Windows 11, the main window no longer appears. Only the “Activities” panel is displayed, with no access to accounts, synced folders, settings, or “Open in browser”.

The issue occurs on multiple Windows 11 machines, even after:
– full uninstall
– deleting AppData (Roaming + Local)
– removing leftover DLLs
– reinstalling
– rebooting
– resetting geometry in nextcloud.cfg
– enabling UAC
The sync engine works, but the Qt main window never loads.
Version 33.x does not have this problem.

This appears to be a regression in 34.0.0.

Thank you.

[Lewis8265]

Can confirm too. If this is an intentional choice, it's a bad one. Makes it hard to see when things fail and why.

[PunchEnergyFTW]

Can confirm aswell. No instant view of recently synchronized items is a bad UX Design if done intentionally.

[disazoz]

Agreed, no instant sync status, and recent activity access.

[koenbokern]

On Windows left click will now show you per account status (icon, and resolve button when there is a conflict). The account flyout menu shows account activities and clicking leads to the activity window.

@Rello Explained the replacement of the prior tray window. Also opening and moving multiple activity windows are benefits of the new design.

My user, non-dev feedback on " issues" with the current design:

Getting to various features may be a confusing the first time, since there are both a left and a right click context menu.
Also 'Open Nextcloud Desktop' will lead to only one of potentially multiple account windows.
And double left click will lead to only of potentially multiple account local folders.
In my experience with 34.0.0. the last added account is selected as unintentional primary account and this is not configurable. It could be another type of sorted prioritization.
So this design may work for most users (with 1 account) and experienced users with multiple accounts, the design does not follow logic on a per element basis.

For this implemented design I would suggest to:

1. Merge left and right context menus for simplicity and removal of duplicate buttons.
2. Add an option to set primary account for double left click on icon tray icon opening on Windows and 'Open Nextcloud Desktop' to maintain a logical design.
3. Add account settings button to account flyout (if possible) to enrich this account flyout.

From the perspective of a user who just wishes an ideal main window I would suggest the following things, that may not be feasible:

1. Merge left and right click context menus.
2. Since open Nextcloud Desktop opens only one activity window of potentially multiple windows, make this the main window with selectable accounts.
3. Open this main window with left double click on icon in Windows icon tray. Current double left click opens only one local account folder of potentially multiple local account folders.
4. Explore making a set of tabs in this main window for account specific activity, search and account settings (if you move account settings from, then, general settings. Use the same tabbed design as for the file specific activity and share window.
5. Add open local folder button next to sync button.
6. Add an apps tab as well.
7. Add an account status (online/away etc.) button (or a tab if the tab icon shows dynamic status).
8. Add a ‘Open activity in new window’ button to the activity window, now tab. This feature may be accessible through the icon tray context menu, but in this way the user will find it through exploring the main window.

The main window would then have:

1. • Selected account
2. • Sync status, sync now button, open local folder button.
3. • Row of tabs: activity, search, apps, account status, account settings.
4. • Tab content

I understand that such a feature rich main window may conflict with technical or organizational limitations.

Edit: A view for each account would conflict with the wish for a single activity window though, unless this is a separate window or sidebar. Or an additional selection with combine accounts and fewer tabs (no apps, account stats or settings, but with combined activity and search) could be added to my concept.

[MegaphoneJon]

This issue isn't limited to Windows - I'm seeing the same thing on Ubuntu 26.04 with Cinnamon. Which also doesn't show the tray icon, so there's no way to change my Nextcloud settings anymore.

[camilasan]

I'm seeing the same thing on Ubuntu 26.04 with Cinnamon.

Gnome + Wayland, correct?
there is already a specific report for this.

[camilasan]

The sync engine works, but the Qt main window never loads.

Share a screenshot.

[camilasan]

For this implemented design I would suggest to:

We had 5 release candidates before the final release.

[sylmh]

When I click on the icon NextCloud, I get the 1 window. When I click on "alert quota...", I get the 2nd window. Never I can access my files on my computer nor on the cloud.