[Bug]: Apps sidebar shows phantom "1" update although no app updates exist

⚠️ This issue respects the following points: ⚠️

• This is not a troubleshooting question, general support matter, or webserver/proxy problem, but likely a bug (if unsure, ask the Community Help Forum).
• This issue is not already reported on Github OR solved at the Community Help Forum (I've searched!).
• I'm using a maintained major version of Nextcloud Server and tested against the latest patch level. (Supported major versions and current patch levels).
• I agree to follow Nextcloud's Code of Conduct.
• I've tried my best to provide clear reproduction steps that someone unfamiliar with this bug could use to reproduce it.

Bug description

The Apps settings sidebar shows a permanent 1 next to Updates, even though there are no app updates available.

Opening Settings → Apps → Updates shows:

No matching apps found

The counter remains after refreshing the page, using a private browser window, restarting the Nextcloud container, and running maintenance:repair.

The backend also reports that no updates are available:

php occ app:update --showonly

Steps to reproduce

1. Log in as an administrator.
2. Open Settings → Apps.
3. Observe that the sidebar shows Updates 1.
4. Open Updates.
5. Observe that the page says No matching apps found.
6. Run php occ app:update --showonly and observe that Nextcloud reports no available updates.
7. Refresh/reopen the Apps page; the 1 counter remains.

Expected behavior

When no app updates are available, the Updates sidebar entry should not show a pending-update count.

The UI should be consistent with occ app:update --showonly.

Nextcloud Server version

34

Operating system

Debian/Ubuntu

PHP engine version

PHP 8.3

Web server

Apache (supported)

Database engine version

PostgreSQL

Is this bug present after an update or on a fresh install?

Upgraded to a MAJOR version (ex. 31 to 32)

Are you using the Nextcloud Server Encryption module?

Encryption is Disabled

What user-backends are you using?

• Default user-backend (database)
• LDAP/ Active Directory
• SSO - SAML
• Other

Configuration report

List of activated Apps

Nextcloud Signing status

Nextcloud Logs

Additional info

No response

Start in Settings → Apps → Updates and reproduce the persistent counter, then compare it with php occ app:update --showonly, which reports no available updates. Trace where the Apps sidebar count is produced and make the Updates entry show no pending count when the page has no matching apps; verify by refreshing and reopening the Apps page.