Bug 2444776 - When logged in as root the gnome panel gnome software icon doesn't work
Summary: When logged in as root the gnome panel gnome software icon doesn't work
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED NOTABUG
Alias: None
Product: Fedora
Classification: Fedora
Component: gnome-software
Version: 44
Hardware: Unspecified
OS: Linux
unspecified
medium
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Milan Crha
QA Contact: Fedora Extras Quality Assurance
URL:
Whiteboard:
Depends On:
Blocks:
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 2026-03-05 07:19 UTC by Jeremy Linton
Modified: 2026-03-05 15:28 UTC (History)
4 users (show)

Fixed In Version:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 2026-03-05 15:27:35 UTC
Type: ---
Embargoed:


Attachments (Terms of Use)

Description Jeremy Linton 2026-03-05 07:19:17 UTC
This is caused by gnome software printing to an invisible terminal "Software should be run as a non-root user. Exiting..."

This also breaks the panel "App Details" option.



Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Log in as root
2. Click Software
3. Note that nothing happens
4. Right click on "App Details" notice that nothing works.

Comment 1 Milan Crha 2026-03-05 07:30:30 UTC
Thanks for a bug report. Running desktop as root is something you usually do not want to do. The gnome-software rejects to run as such on purpose, intentionally, hence it's not a bug, but a feature.

Comment 2 Milan Crha 2026-03-05 07:32:49 UTC
More info here: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-software/-/issues/2851#note_2466163

Comment 3 Jeremy Linton 2026-03-05 15:16:40 UTC
Well circular justification because it allows login, then it should deal with appropriate escalation or remove the icons.

Comment 5 Milan Crha 2026-03-05 15:27:35 UTC
You cannot remove the icon from the GUI just because running as root, that's impossible. You'd also need to return it back when someone else logs in, but those users do not have permission to manipulate system directories, not talking about read-only mounted /usr on image-based distros.

In any case, this is not Fedora decision, it is the upstream gnome-software decision. You can open a bug there [1], if you wish, but from my point of view there is no bug here.

[1] https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-software/-/issues/

Comment 6 Milan Crha 2026-03-05 15:28:16 UTC
Okay, you already opened it. Thank you.


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