Have you ever tried to open System Monitor on your Ubuntu 18.04 system only to see a brief loading animation before it disappears without launching?
This frustrating experience affects many Ubuntu users and can leave you wondering what went wrong with a previously functional tool.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through several proven solutions to fix the Ubuntu System Monitor launch issue. Having faced this problem myself after a routine system update, I understand how important it is to have access to this essential system utility. Let’s dive into why this happens and how to resolve it effectively.
Understanding the Problem: Why Won’t System Monitor Launch?
The System Monitor issue in Ubuntu 18.04 typically stems from package management complexities. With Ubuntu 18.04, Canonical began transitioning many system applications, including System Monitor, to the Snap package format. This transition sometimes creates conflicts or permission issues that prevent the application from launching properly.
When you attempt to launch System Monitor, several behind-the-scenes processes occur:
- The system tries to initialize the Snap container environment
- It attempts to access configuration files in your home directory
- If permissions are incorrect or platform snap connections are missing, the launch fails silently
The good news is that this issue is relatively straightforward to fix once you understand what’s happening.
Read: Troubleshooting Second Monitor Detection in Ubuntu
Diagnosing the System Monitor Issue
Before attempting any fixes, let’s confirm the exact nature of the problem. Open a terminal window (press Ctrl+Alt+T) and try launching System Monitor from the command line:
gnome-system-monitor
If you receive an error message similar to the one below, it confirms you’re experiencing the common Snap-based System Monitor issue:
/snap/gnome-system-monitor/41/bin/desktop-launch: line 23: /home/username/.config/user-dirs.dirs: Permission denied
You need to connect this snap to the gnome platform snap.
You can do this with those commands:
snap install gnome-3-26-1604
snap connect gnome-system-monitor:gnome-3-26-1604 gnome-3-26-1604
Now that we’ve identified the problem, let’s look at the various solutions.
Read: How to fix Ubuntu boot issues
Solution 1: Fix the Snap Version of System Monitor
If you prefer to keep using the Snap version of System Monitor (which is Ubuntu’s default approach), you can resolve the connection issues by following these steps:
- First, install the required GNOME platform snap:
sudo snap install gnome-3-26-1604
- Next, connect the System Monitor snap to the platform snap:
sudo snap connect gnome-system-monitor:gnome-3-26-1604 gnome-3-26-1604
After executing these commands, try launching System Monitor again. In many cases, this resolves the issue by properly establishing the required connections between snap packages.
Read: How to install Snap pack support on Linux
Solution 2: Reinstall the Snap Version of System Monitor
If the first solution doesn’t work, sometimes a clean reinstallation of the Snap package can resolve lingering issues:
sudo snap remove gnome-system-monitor
sudo snap install gnome-system-monitor
This approach removes any potentially corrupted configurations and gives you a fresh installation of the System Monitor snap package.
Solution 3: Switch from Snap to APT Package (Recommended)
In my experience, the most reliable solution is to remove the Snap version completely and install the traditional APT package version instead. This approach avoids the Snap-related complications altogether:
sudo snap remove gnome-system-monitor
sudo apt install gnome-system-monitor
This solution has several advantages:
- The APT version typically has fewer dependencies
- It integrates more seamlessly with the rest of the system
- It avoids permission issues related to Snap’s containerization
- The application launches faster than the Snap version
I personally switched to the APT version and found it to be much more reliable, with no recurrence of the launch issues that plagued the Snap version.
Read: How to use the APT command on Ubuntu/Debian Linux systems
Solution 4: Reinstall the APT Package
If you’re already using the APT version and still experiencing issues, a reinstallation might help:
sudo apt install --reinstall gnome-system-monitor
This command ensures all components of the package are properly installed and configured.
Solution 5: Check for System Dependencies
Sometimes the issue isn’t with System Monitor itself but with missing dependencies. For Ubuntu 18.04, you might need to ensure that rsyslog is properly installed:
sudo apt install --reinstall rsyslog
After running this command, reboot your system to ensure all services start properly:
sudo reboot
Why Does This Issue Occur?
Understanding why this issue happens can help prevent similar problems in the future. The primary factors contributing to System Monitor launch failures include:
Snap Package Transition
Ubuntu 18.04 represented a transition period where Canonical began moving many default applications to the Snap format. This transition wasn’t always seamless, and early Snap implementations sometimes had integration issues with the underlying system.
Home Directory Permissions
The Snap version of System Monitor needs specific permissions to access configuration files in your home directory. If these permissions are incorrect, the application fails to launch.
Platform Snap Dependencies
Snap applications often require specific platform snaps to function correctly. If these dependencies aren’t properly connected, the application can’t initialize its environment.
System Updates
System updates can sometimes change package configurations or dependencies without properly updating all affected applications, leading to launch failures for previously working software.
Preventing Future Issues
To minimize the likelihood of encountering similar issues in the future:
- Keep your system updated: Run regular updates to ensure you have the latest bug fixes:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade - Monitor snap connections: If you use Snap applications, periodically check their connections:
snap connections - Consider your package management strategy: For critical system tools, you might prefer the stability of traditional APT packages over Snap versions.
- Check system logs: If applications fail to launch, check system logs for clues:
journalctl -xe
Verifying Your Solution
After applying one of the solutions above, you should verify that System Monitor now works correctly:
- Launch System Monitor from the Applications menu (press Super+A, then search for “System Monitor”)
- Alternatively, launch it from the terminal:
gnome-system-monitor
If System Monitor opens and displays system resource information, congratulations! You’ve successfully resolved the issue.
Conclusion
The System Monitor launch issue in Ubuntu 18.04 highlights some of the growing pains associated with the transition to Snap packages. While Snaps offer advantages like improved security through containerization and simplified updates, they can sometimes introduce complexity that leads to frustrating issues like applications failing to launch.
By understanding the nature of the problem and applying the appropriate solution—whether that’s fixing Snap connections, reinstalling packages, or switching to traditional APT packages—you can quickly restore this essential system utility to full functionality.
Have you encountered other issues with Snap packages in Ubuntu? Or do you have additional tips for troubleshooting System Monitor problems? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments section below.
FAQ: Ubuntu System Monitor Launch Issues
Q: Will switching from the Snap to APT version of System Monitor affect my system’s functionality?
A: No, switching to the APT version won’t negatively impact your system. In fact, many users find the APT version more reliable and faster to launch. The functionality of System Monitor remains the same regardless of the package format.
Q: Do I need to reboot after applying these fixes?
A: In most cases, rebooting isn’t necessary. However, if you’ve reinstalled system dependencies like rsyslog, a reboot ensures all services start properly with the new configuration.
Q: Why did Ubuntu switch to using Snap packages for system applications?
A: Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu) adopted Snap packages to provide better security through containerization, simplify application updates, and allow developers to ship dependencies with their applications. This transition aims to improve the overall software experience but has occasionally led to issues like the System Monitor launch problem.
Q: I’m using a newer version of Ubuntu. Will these solutions still work?
A: Many of these solutions are applicable to newer Ubuntu versions, though the specific details might differ. The approach of switching from Snap to APT packages remains effective in most cases where Snap applications are causing issues.
Q: Can I have both the Snap and APT versions of System Monitor installed simultaneously?
A: While technically possible, it’s not recommended as it can lead to confusion about which version launches when you click on the System Monitor icon. It’s better to choose one package format and stick with it.
Q: How can I tell if I’m using the Snap or APT version of System Monitor?
A: Run this command in the terminal:
which gnome-system-monitor
If the path includes “/snap/”, you’re using the Snap version. If it shows “/usr/bin/”, you’re using the APT version.
Q: Does this issue affect other system applications in Ubuntu 18.04?
A: Yes, similar issues can affect other applications that were transitioned to Snap format in Ubuntu 18.04. The diagnostic approach and solutions outlined in this article can often be adapted for those applications as well.
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