Articles on: Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Flowace on Ubuntu / Linux

Fix common install, launch, background-tracking, screenshot and window-title problems on Ubuntu and other Linux systems.


Item

Details

Feature area

Troubleshooting · Ubuntu / Linux

Where to find it

Terminal


Use this article when the Flowace app on Ubuntu or another Linux system will not launch, only tracks after login, takes black screenshots, or shows blank window titles. Each problem below lists the likely cause and the fix.


Before you start


Run every fix in Terminal. Where a fix is different for the two versions of the app, both full commands are written out. Use the one that matches the version you installed.


Version

App File

Service Name

Flowace app (XUI)

~/.local/flowace/Flowace-x86_64.AppImage

flowace-monitor

Plugin app (XUS)

~/.local/plugin/Plugin.AppImage

plugin-guardian


Terminal on Ubuntu


Problems at a glance


Symptom

Likely cause

Fix

Install failed on Fedora, Arch or openSUSE

Different package manager

The installer supports dnf, yum, pacman and zypper. Run it again; it detects yours.

App / AppImage won’t launch at all

Missing FUSE library

Install the FUSE library for your distribution.

“Permission denied” running the AppImage

Not executable

Make the AppImage executable with chmod +x.

Only tracks after the user logs in

Background service needs lingering

Run loginctl enable-linger $USER so it runs at boot.

Need to see why the service failed

—

Install xdotool and imagemagick.

Screenshots black/empty or activity missing

Missing helper tools

Install xdotool and imagemagick.

Not sure if on Wayland or X11

—

Run echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE. It prints wayland or x11.

Window titles blank on Wayland

GNOME too old, or helper not active

Needs GNOME 45–48. Check with gnome-shell --version



Install and launch


The install failed on Fedora, Arch or openSUSE
The distribution uses a different package manager. The installer supports dnf, yum, pacman and zypper. Run the installer again. It detects your package manager automatically.


The app or AppImage won’t launch at all
The FUSE library is probably missing. Install it with the command for your distribution.

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Paste the command for your distribution. Then press Enter.

Ubuntu

sudo apt install libfuse2

Fedora

sudo dnf install fuse-libs

Arch

sudo pacman -S fuse2



"Permission denied” when running the AppImage
The file is not executable. Make it executable with chmod +x.

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Paste the command for your version. Then press Enter.

Flowace app (XUI)

chmod +x ~/.local/flowace/Flowace-x86_64.AppImage

Plugin app (XUS)

chmod +x ~/.local/plugin/Plugin.AppImage


Example - Flowace App (XUI) - Grant Permission via chmod


Background tracking


The app only tracks after the user logs in
The background service needs lingering. Turn it on so the service runs at boot.

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Run the Command. Then press Enter.
loginctl enable-linger $USER


Turning on lingering so the service runs at boot


You need to see why the service failed
Read the service log with journalctl. Use the command for your version.

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Paste the command for your version. Then press Enter.

Flowace app (XUI)

journalctl --user -u flowace-monitor

Plugin app (XUS)

sudo journalctl -u plugin-guardian


Example - The service log command for the Flowace App (XUI)


Screenshots and window titles


Screenshots are black or empty, or activity is missing
Helper tools are missing. Install them.

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Run the Command. Then press Enter.
sudo apt install xdotool imagemagick


Installing the helper tools

You are not sure whether you are on Wayland or X11

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Run the Command. Then press Enter. It prints wayland or x11.
echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE


The session type command and its output


Window titles are blank on Wayland
GNOME may be too old, or the helper is not active. Window titles need GNOME 45–48.

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Check your GNOME version. Run the command, then press Enter.
  3. Log out and back in. After install on Wayland, log out of Ubuntu and back in once so window tracking can start.
gnome-shell --version


Note: Do not use the old switch-to-Xorg script. It is deprecated.


Checking the GNOME version



Good to know

  • Use the command that matches the version you installed. The Flowace app and the Plugin app have different file paths and service names.
  • On Wayland, log out of Ubuntu and back in once after install so window tracking can start.
  • Do not use the old switch-to-Xorg script. It is deprecated.
  • The installer detects dnf, yum, pacman or zypper on its own, so you can run it again on Fedora, Arch or openSUSE.


FAQs

  • How do I know if I am on Wayland or X11?

Run echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE in Terminal. It prints wayland or x11.

  • Which GNOME versions support window titles on Wayland?

GNOME 45–48. Check yours with gnome-shell --version.

  • The app won’t launch on Fedora or Arch. What do I install?

Install the FUSE library: sudo dnf install fuse-libs on Fedora, or sudo pacman -S fuse2 on Arch.

  • How do I see why the service failed?

Run journalctl for your version: journalctl --user -u flowace-monitor for the Flowace app, or sudo journalctl -u plugin-guardian for the Plugin app.

  • Why does tracking only start after I log in?

The background service needs lingering. Run loginctl enable-linger $USER so it runs at boot.



Need more help? Reach out to support@flowace.ai and our team will be happy to assist.

© Flowace Technologies Pvt Ltd | flowace.ai

Updated on: 03/11/2026

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