cryptoadvance / cryptoadvance/specter-desktop
Can't start Specter Desktop
- Dominant language
- Python
- Stars
- 847
- Forks
- 259
- Avg merge
- 6d 18h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 2
Description
I'm trying to run Specter Desktop for the first time, but it can't start and I can't figure out what could be the reason.
I'm on Ubuntu 22.04 and I downloaded Specter Desktop 2.0.1.
I just double click on **Specter-2.0.1.AppImage**, it downloads file from Github and then returns the following error:

Here is the log:
```
2023-03-30T15:25:26.729Z [info] : Updated LoaderMsg: Still waiting for Specter to start ...
2023-03-30T15:25:26.730Z [info] : stderr-SPECTERD: INFO in wallet_manager: Skipping further update because self.working_folder is None (and data_folder = //.specter/wallets)
SPECTERD: WARNING in wallet_manager: Specter seems to be disconnected from Bitcoin Core. Skipping wallets update.
SPECTERD: INFO in checker: Checker health Checking every 600 seconds now
SPECTERD: INFO in checker: Checker health started with period 600
SPECTERD: INFO in checker: Checker price Checking every 600 seconds now
SPECTERD: INFO in specter: Instantiate ServiceEncryptedStorageManager
SPECTERD: INFO in specter: Instantiate ServiceUnencryptedStorageManager
SPECTERD: INFO in hwi_rpc: Initializing HWI...
2023-03-30T15:25:26.730Z [info] : Updated LoaderMsg: Still waiting for Specter to start ...
2023-03-30T15:25:26.731Z [info] : stderr-SPECTERD: INFO in config_manager: Config loaded from file //.specter/config.json
SPECTERD: INFO in checker: Checker health Checking every 20 seconds now
SPECTERD: INFO in specter: Changing checker frequency: Every 20 seconds due to (rpc is None: True or initialblockdownload: True )
2023-03-30T15:25:26.731Z [info] : Updated LoaderMsg: Still waiting for Specter to start ...
2023-03-30T15:25:26.732Z [info] : stderr-SPECTERD: INFO in wallet_manager: starting update of wallet_manager (threading: True , comment: via user)
SPECTERD: INFO in wallet_manager: Skipping further update because self.working_folder is None (and data_folder = //.specter/wallets)
SPECTERD: WARNING in wallet_manager: Specter seems to be disconnected from Bitcoin Core. Skipping wallets update.
SPECTERD: INFO in checker: Checker health executed within 0.002 seconds. This message won't show again until stopped and started.
2023-03-30T15:25:26.732Z [info] : Updated LoaderMsg: Still waiting for Specter to start ...
2023-03-30T15:25:27.114Z [error] : specterd exited with code null
2023-03-30T15:25:27.114Z [info] : Updated LoaderMsg: Specter encountered an error:
Specter exited with exit code null. Check the logs in the menu for more details.
2023-03-30T15:25:27.115Z [info] : child process exited with code null
```
The process seems to hang on HWI initialization, but I never plugged any HW wallet...
So, what could be wrong?
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by reproducing the launch on Ubuntu 22.04 with Specter-2.0.1.AppImage and inspect the provided log, especially the HWI initialization and specterd exit. Done means identifying the cause of the startup failure and confirming that Specter Desktop starts successfully or documenting the required resolution.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python, ubuntu
- Domain
- desktop, operating-systems
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100