x11/gdm: The user cannot log in; the system hangs at the login screen in gdm 47 Many people in our community have encountered this issue. It only occurs on physical machines — GDM works fine in virtual machines. Therefore, I believe it might be related to DRM. Additionally, GNOME 42 and GDM 42 work fine. -------- FreeBSD 14.3-RELEASEE no log in /var/gdm
command startx is fine
only gdm 1166 - - GLib-GIO: g_dbus_proxy_new_for_bus_sync: assertion 'g_variant_is_object_path (object_path)' failed print in TTY
root@ykla:/home/ykla # service gdm onestart Starting gdm. root@ykla:/home/ykla # gdm 1165 - - GLib-GIO: g_dbus_proxy_new_for_bus_sync: assertion 'g_variant_is_object_path (object_path)' failed gdm 1165 - - GLib-GIO: g_dbus_proxy_new_for_bus_sync: assertion 'g_variant_is_object_path (object_path)' failed gdm-password] 1244 - - gkr-pam: unable to locate daemon control file gdm-password] 1244 - - gkr-pam: stashed password to try later in open session gdm-password] 1244 - - gkr-pam: gnome-keyring-daemon started properly and unlocked keyring
root@ykla:/home/ykla # ls -al /dev/dri/card0 lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 8 Jul 2 19:39 /dev/dri/card0 -> ../drm/0
root@ykla:/home/ykla # cat /var/log/gdm/:0 /var/log/gdm/:0-greeter.log /var/log/gdm/:0-greeter.log.4 /var/log/gdm/:0.log.3 /var/log/gdm/:0-greeter.log.1 /var/log/gdm/:0.log /var/log/gdm/:0.log.4 /var/log/gdm/:0-greeter.log.2 /var/log/gdm/:0.log.1 /var/log/gdm/:0-greeter.log.3 /var/log/gdm/:0.log.2 root@ykla:/home/ykla # cat /var/log/gdm/:0-greeter.log dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Activating service name='org.a11y.Bus' requested by ':1.0' (uid=92 pid=1190 comm="/usr/local/libexec/gnome-session-check-accelerated") dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Successfully activated service 'org.a11y.Bus' libmutter-Message: 19:52:36.546: Running GNOME Shell (using mutter 47.8.1) as a X11 window and compositing manager (gnome-shell:1195): libmutter-WARNING **: 19:52:36.757: No cursor theme available, please install a cursor theme dbus-daemon[1193]: Activating service name='org.a11y.atspi.Registry' requested by ':1.1' (uid=92 pid=1195 comm="/usr/local/bin/gnome-shell") dbus-daemon[1193]: Successfully activated service 'org.a11y.atspi.Registry' SpiRegistry daemon is running with well-known name - org.a11y.atspi.Registry dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Activating service name='org.freedesktop.portal.Desktop' requested by ':1.9' (uid=92 pid=1196 comm="/usr/local/libexec/mutter-x11-frames") dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Activating service name='org.freedesktop.impl.portal.PermissionStore' requested by ':1.10' (uid=92 pid=1202 comm="/usr/local/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal") dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.impl.portal.PermissionStore' dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Activating service name='org.freedesktop.portal.Documents' requested by ':1.10' (uid=92 pid=1202 comm="/usr/local/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal") dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.portal.Documents' fuse: unknown option(s): `-o auto_unmount' error: fuse init failed: Can't create fuse session dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Activating service name='org.freedesktop.impl.portal.desktop.gnome' requested by ':1.10' (uid=92 pid=1202 comm="/usr/local/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal") (gnome-shell:1195): GNOME Shell-CRITICAL **: 19:52:37.475: Could not get a proxy for the current session: TypeError: this._proxy.GetCurrentSessionAsync is not a function Stack trace: getCurrentSessionProxy@resource:///org/gnome/shell/misc/loginManager.js:113:52 _getLoginSession@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/screenShield.js:146:55 ScreenShield@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/screenShield.js:107:14 _initializeUI@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/main.js:229:24 start@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/main.js:173:11 @resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/init.js:12:47 @resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/init.js:21:20 dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.impl.portal.desktop.gnome' dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Activating service name='org.gnome.Shell.Screencast' requested by ':1.7' (uid=92 pid=1195 comm="/usr/local/bin/gnome-shell") ** Message: 19:52:37.707: Failed to start camera monitor W: [] caps.c: Normally all extra capabilities would be dropped now, but that's impossible because PulseAudio was built without capabilities support. dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Activating service name='org.gnome.Shell.Notifications' requested by ':1.7' (uid=92 pid=1195 comm="/usr/local/bin/gnome-shell") GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.648: Extension apps-menu@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com already installed in /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/apps-menu@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com. /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/apps-menu@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com will not be loaded GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.649: Extension drive-menu@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com already installed in /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/drive-menu@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com. /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/drive-menu@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com will not be loaded GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.649: Extension launch-new-instance@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com already installed in /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/launch-new-instance@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com. /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/launch-new-instance@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com will not be loaded GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.649: Extension light-style@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com already installed in /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/light-style@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com. /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/light-style@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com will not be loaded GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.649: Extension places-menu@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com already installed in /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/places-menu@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com. /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/places-menu@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com will not be loaded GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.650: Extension screenshot-window-sizer@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com already installed in /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/screenshot-window-sizer@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com. /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/screenshot-window-sizer@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com will not be loaded GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.650: Extension status-icons@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com already installed in /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/status-icons@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com. /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/status-icons@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com will not be loaded GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.650: Extension window-list@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com already installed in /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/window-list@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com. /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/window-list@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com will not be loaded GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.650: Extension windowsNavigator@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com already installed in /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/windowsNavigator@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com. /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/windowsNavigator@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com will not be loaded GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.650: Extension workspace-indicator@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com already installed in /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/workspace-indicator@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com. /usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/workspace-indicator@gnome-shell-extensions.gcampax.github.com will not be loaded (gnome-shell:1195): Gjs-WARNING **: 19:52:49.650: Unhandled promise rejection. To suppress thiswarning, add an error handler to your promise chain with .catch() or a try-catch block around your await expression. Stack trace of the failed promise: _getLoginSession@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/screenShield.js:145:27 ScreenShield@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/screenShield.js:107:14 _initializeUI@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/main.js:229:24 start@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/main.js:173:11 @resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/init.js:12:47 @resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/init.js:21:20 Window manager warning: Failed to parse saved session file: Failed to open file “/usr/local/etc/gdm/home/.config/mutter/sessions/1011e0987bdb3e6003175145715617190300000011880000.ms”: No such file or directory GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.723: Could not get properties from org.freedesktop.locale1 GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.724: Failed to get PolKit permission: Polkit.Error: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.bolt.enroll is not registered dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Activating service name='org.freedesktop.portal.IBus' requested by ':1.22' (uid=92 pid=1224 comm="ibus-daemon --panel disable --xim") GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:49.926: Error looking up permission: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.portal.Error.NotFound: No entry for geolocation dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Activating service name='org.gnome.ScreenSaver' requested by ':1.26' (uid=92 pid=1230 comm="/usr/local/libexec/gsd-power") dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.portal.IBus' dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Successfully activated service 'org.gnome.Shell.Notifications' (/usr/local/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal:1202): xdg-desktop-portal-WARNING **: 19:52:50.014: Failed to load RealtimeKit property: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The nameorg.freedesktop.RealtimeKit1 was not provided by any .service files (/usr/local/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal:1202): xdg-desktop-portal-WARNING **: 19:52:50.015: Failed to load RealtimeKit property: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The nameorg.freedesktop.RealtimeKit1 was not provided by any .service files (/usr/local/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal:1202): xdg-desktop-portal-WARNING **: 19:52:50.015: Failed to load RealtimeKit property: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The nameorg.freedesktop.RealtimeKit1 was not provided by any .service files (gsd-media-keys:1226): media-keys-plugin-WARNING **: 19:52:50.059: Failed to grab accelerator for keybinding settings:playback-repeat (gsd-media-keys:1226): media-keys-plugin-WARNING **: 19:52:50.059: Failed to grab accelerator for keybinding settings:hibernate (gsd-media-keys:1226): media-keys-plugin-WARNING **: 19:52:50.059: Failed to grab accelerator for keybinding settings:screensaver (gsd-media-keys:1226): media-keys-plugin-WARNING **: 19:52:50.059: Failed to grab accelerator for keybinding settings:rotate-video-lock (gsd-media-keys:1226): media-keys-plugin-WARNING **: 19:52:50.059: Failed to grab accelerator for keybinding settings:playback-random ** (gnome-shell:1195): WARNING **: 19:52:50.067: Error checking authorization for action id org.freedesktop.bolt.enroll: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.bolt.enroll is not registered (/usr/local/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal:1202): xdg-desktop-portal-WARNING **: 19:52:50.099: Failed connect to PipeWire: Couldn't connect to PipeWire dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Activating service name='org.freedesktop.secrets' requested by ':1.10' (uid=92 pid=1202 comm="/usr/local/libexec/xdg-desktop-portal") dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Successfully activated service 'org.gnome.ScreenSaver' ** Message: 19:52:50.213: couldn't access control socket: /var/run/xdg/gdm/keyring/control: No such file or directory discover_other_daemon: 0dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.secrets' dbus-daemon[1187]: [session uid=92 pid=1187] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.portal.Desktop' (mutter-x11-frames:1196): Adwaita-WARNING **: 19:52:50.337: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead. (gnome-shell:1195): GNOME Shell-CRITICAL **: 19:52:50.378: Could not get a proxy for the current session: TypeError: this._proxy.GetCurrentSessionAsync is not a function Stack trace: getCurrentSessionProxy@resource:///org/gnome/shell/misc/loginManager.js:113:52 _getGreeterSessionProxy@resource:///org/gnome/shell/gdm/loginDialog.js:1076:56 _init@resource:///org/gnome/shell/gdm/loginDialog.js:614:14 LoginDialog@resource:///org/gnome/shell/gdm/loginDialog.js:491:4 _ensureUnlockDialog@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/screenShield.js:426:28 showDialog@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/screenShield.js:358:14 _initializeUI/<@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/main.js:305:26 _prepareStartupAnimation@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/layout.js:762:18 _loadBackground/signalId</id<@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/layout.js:691:26 @resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/init.js:21:20 GNOME Shell-Message: 19:52:50.928: Registering session with GDM GNOME Shell-Message: 19:53:02.539: Error connecting to the screencast service
I can't find root cause, because on my side gdm worked well before import. Successfully running from 44.0 to 47.0. Rebuild against gnome-shell 47.8 (bug #287933) and mutter 47.9 (bug #287932), gdm is still unable to launch a session. However it starts fine, and I have no significant errors. A possible alternative is to use LightDM (or without login manager).
(In reply to Olivier Duchateau from comment #6) I think this may be related to the file `/var/db/AccountsService/users/ykla`. I believe GDM is not actually reading this file, because the simplified Chinese language setting I configured did not take effect, and the entire GDM interface is still in English. I also think it is strongly related to DRM. Currently, with the pkg package built, GDM works fine on VMware. When FreeBSD is installed as a virtual machine on VMware, GDM inside it can log in to the desktop smoothly.
Created attachment 261854 [details] GDM on FreeBSD in VMware
(In reply to ykla from comment #7) /var/db/AccountsService/users/ykla is required, because we have another bug in gdm. We can't select a desktop. By default, gdm selects the first one (gnome-classic-xorg in your case, except if you choose this one). "List" of available desktops are located in /usr/local/share/xsessions/ x11/gnome-shell → gnome-xorg x11/gnome-shell-extensions → gnome-classic-xorg x11/gnome-flashback → gnome-flashback-metacity If you have these 3 desktops installed on your system, it will always be gnome-classic-xorg. In this file value of Language is used in gnome-control-center for language of each user. For localization, modify /usr/local/etc/gdm/locale.conf. I made also a copy in ~/.config/ Gdm no longer reads/loads .xinitrc (except if you launch your session without a login manager)
I have just experienced this problem after running an update. I have rolled back to the previous ZFS snapshot. I guess there is no fix for this problem at this point in time. I am deeply concerned that FreeBSD is on a precipice concerning desktop graphical interfaces, as are other non-SystemD operating systems. I don't think it is going to be long before Gnome's tight linkage to SystemD and Wayland are going to make it worthwhile maintaining a port on any non SystemD/Wayland operating system. The following web page describing the changes to GDM makes me think that we are approaching the end of the road with Gnome on FreeBSD. https://blogs.gnome.org/adrianvovk/2025/06/10/gnome-systemd-dependencies/
gdm version 42.0_7 works fine with all new gnome-shell etc
(In reply to Ruslan Makhmatkhanov from comment #11) Please share a download place, thank you.
(In reply to Fabio Comolli from comment #12) you may check it out in your /var/cache/pkg, or build it from the repository. but here is mine just for the case (for -CURRENT amd64): https://people.freebsd.org/~rm/gdm-42.0_7~a8314ba612.pkg
(In reply to Ruslan Makhmatkhanov from comment #13) Thanks but I cannot use it as I'm on 14.3. Anyways, is anyone else is willing to share a 14.x copy of gdm-42.0_7 that would be nice.
(In reply to Fabio Comolli from comment #14) I am running: FreeBSD morzine.restart.bel 14.3-STABLE FreeBSD 14.3-STABLE #0 stable/14-n271780-0ee191f2f035-dirty: Tue Jun 24 18:10:07 CEST 2025 root@morzine.restart.bel:/usr/obj/usr/src/amd64.amd64/sys/MORZINE amd64 I make a snapshot of my /usr/ports (thanks zfs) cd /usr/ports git revert 3ed44d9da9a554e59cec3d972c5965d9ac09f028 pkg delete -f gdm cd x11/gdm make install clean reboot when gdm start, the screen is black with the "tty" cursor on the upper left corner :-( Just the same as with gdm-47.0. Henri
(In reply to Henri Hennebert from comment #15) well, don't know then. works here. PS. offtopic: You don't actually need zfs snapshot there. subsequent git pull will align your local repo to HEAD.
(In reply to Ruslan Makhmatkhanov from comment #16) In my case it "somewhat" works. The login with GDM 42 works fine but the gnome shell is not rendered correctly, it always uses the light theme even when the dark theme is enabled and the clock/notification widget is moved to the right side instead of being centered. I haven't found anything else wrong but I didn't test thoroughly.
(In reply to Fabio Comolli from comment #17) pkg info -D gnome-shell explains how to have this desktop. See comment #9 for more details.
(In reply to Olivier Duchateau from comment #18) Indeed removing the "classic" desktop files fixed my issue and now I have GDM 42 working fine. Thank you very much.
(In reply to Fabio Comolli from comment #19) I take it back. It worked a few times but after a reboot I get a completely black screen as reported by Henry in post 15.
I am having the same gdm error. However, I also can't start GNOME with `startx`, so I am not sure if this is the same bug. Is it? Discussion and logs: https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/failed-to-load-module-nvidia-modeset-module-does-not-exist-0-fatal-server-error-no-screens-found.98586/#post-709122
Just for record, automatic login with gdm 47.0 works fine. A session is launched. With LightDM it's ok too.
(In reply to Olivier Duchateau from comment #22) Can you unlock your user once locked? In GDM 42 with autologin enabled I can not.
Has anyone figured out how to solve or work around this issue yet?
same problem here. is there any news? anyone managed to log in?