So I just finished updating my laptop to fedora 43 and after entering my password and logging in it just throws me back to the login screen. This happens for Gnome on wayland. Gnome on xorg lets me login but it only displays a black screen.
I am able to login to sway and use the laptop but I mainly use Gnome so I would like to find a way to fix this.
I am using SDDM for logging in due to the default one not letting me switch desktop environments before login.
You will need to provide enough details to allow us to understand the problem. Such issues are often hardware specific, so it could help if you can provide the output from running inxi -Fzxx in a terminal and posted as web searchable pre-formatted text. Look for relevant errors using journalctl to compare between a Gnome boot and one using sway. It may take some effort to find “filters” to select relevant details in journalctl. If you are not familiar with
journalctl, Fedora has an introductory document and there are many web sites with more advanced content.
You should ensure that your system (Fedora packages and vendor firmware) is fully updated to avoid wasting time on a solved issue.
This also makes it simpler for others with similar hardware to reproduce your issue.
I made sure to update all I could think off after getting into sway and restarting but hte issue persists.
I ran journalctl --list-boots to start and the only ones that sem to show up are sway ones
-3 367be9c60b1943b3aa6f0a4b6dc1017c Sat 2026-01-17 11:58:24 CET Sat 2026-01-17 12:02:03 CET -2 2d44879f62114167aab4440af25f00f6 Sat 2026-01-17 12:02:53 CET Sat 2026-01-17 12:05:41 CET -1 0ddcded38af94baabbb33c88c9e588d3 Sat 2026-01-17 12:06:38 CET Sat 2026-01-17 12:13:22 CET 0 1915e84a8bfd40739f119dce3da74c81 Sat 2026-01-17 12:14:20 CET Sat 2026-01-17 14:37:59 CET
I did try booting gnome several times in between these sway ones.
It does show a bunch of lines with teh same error when running journalctl -b -p err..emerg
Jan 17 14:37:50 elitebook-840-g8 systemd[1445]: Failed to start xdg-desktop-portal-gtk.service - Portal service (GTK/GNOME implementation).
Here is the output of inxi -Fzxx
System:
Kernel: 6.18.5-100.fc42.x86_64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.2.1
Desktop: Sway v: 1.11 dm: SDDM Distro: Fedora Linux 43 (Workstation
Edition)
Machine:
Type: Laptop System: HP product: HP EliteBook 840 G8 Notebook PC v: SBKPFV3
serial: Chassis: type: 10 serial:
Mobo: HP model: 880D v: KBC Version 30.57.00 serial:
part-nu: 336G4EA#BED Firmware: UEFI vendor: HP v: T76 Ver. 01.22.00
date: 08/20/2025
Battery:
ID-1: BAT0 charge: 40.9 Wh (99.7%) condition: 41/53 Wh (77.3%) volts: 12.5
min: 11.55 model: Hewlett-Packard Primary serial: charging:
status: not charging cycles: 354
ID-2: hidpp_battery_0 charge: 46% condition: N/A volts: 3.8 min: N/A
model: Logitech G502 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse serial:
charging: status: discharging cycles: N/A
CPU:
Info: quad core model: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 bits: 64 type: MT MCP
arch: Tiger Lake rev: 1 cache: L1: 320 KiB L2: 5 MiB L3: 12 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 400 min/max: 400/4700 cores: 1: 400 2: 400 3: 400 4: 400
5: 400 6: 400 7: 400 8: 400 bogomips: 44851
Flags-basic: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel TigerLake-LP GT2 [Iris Xe Graphics] vendor: Hewlett-Packard
driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Xe ports: active: HDMI-A-1 off: eDP-1
empty: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, DP-4 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:9a49
Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.21 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.9
compositor: Sway v: 1.11 driver: gpu: i915 d-rect: 3840x1080 display-ID: 1
Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 pos: right model: HP LE2202x res: 1920x1080 hz: 60
dpi: 102 diag: 546mm (21.5")
Monitor-2: eDP-1 pos: primary,left model: LG Display 0x06f1 res: 1920x1080
dpi: 158 diag: 355mm (14")
API: OpenGL v: 4.6 vendor: intel mesa v: 25.2.7 glx-v: 1.4 es-v: 3.2
direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa Intel Iris Xe Graphics (TGL GT2)
device-ID: 8086:9a49
API: Vulkan v: 1.4.328 surfaces: N/A device: 0 type: integrated-gpu
driver: mesa intel device-ID: 8086:9a49 device: 1 type: cpu
driver: mesa llvmpipe device-ID: 10005:0000
API: EGL Message: EGL data requires eglinfo. Check --recommends.
Info: Tools: api: glxinfo,vulkaninfo wl: swaymsg x11: xdriinfo, xdpyinfo,
xprop, xrandr
Audio:
Device-1: Intel Tiger Lake-LP Smart Sound Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard
driver: sof-audio-pci-intel-tgl bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a0c8
API: ALSA v: k6.18.5-100.fc42.x86_64 status: kernel-api
Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off
Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.4.9 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
4: pw-jack type: plugin
Network:
Device-1: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel bus-ID: 00:14.3
chip-ID: 8086:a0f0
IF: wlp0s20f3 state: down mac:
Device-2: Realtek RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter driver: r8152 type: USB
rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 2-2.3:3 chip-ID: 0bda:8153
IF: enp0s13f0u2u3 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac:
Bluetooth:
Device-1: Intel AX201 Bluetooth driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 2.0
speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 3-10:10 chip-ID: 8087:0026
Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: up address: bt-v: 5.2
lmp-v: 11
RAID:
Hardware-1: Intel Volume Management Device NVMe RAID Controller driver: vmd
v: 0.6 bus-ID: 00:0e.0 chip-ID: 8086:9a0b
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 931.51 GiB used: 742.92 GiB (79.8%)
ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Crucial model: CT1000P2SSD8 size: 931.51 GiB
speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 serial: temp: 33.9 C
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 901.3 GiB used: 742.5 GiB (82.4%) fs: btrfs
dev: /dev/nvme0n1p4
ID-2: /boot size: 1.89 GiB used: 335.8 MiB (17.4%) fs: ext4
dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
ID-3: /boot/efi size: 387.2 MiB used: 89.9 MiB (23.2%) fs: vfat
dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
ID-4: /home size: 901.3 GiB used: 742.5 GiB (82.4%) fs: btrfs
dev: /dev/nvme0n1p4
Swap:
ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 8 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100
dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 59.0 C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
Memory: total: 16 GiB note: est. available: 14.91 GiB used: 3.13 GiB (21.0%)
Processes: 289 Power: uptime: 2h 13m wakeups: 0 Init: systemd v: 258
target: UNIT LOAD ACTIVE SUB DESCRIPTION default: graphical
Packages: pm: rpm pkgs: N/A note: see --rpm pm: flatpak pkgs: 47
Compilers: clang: 21.1.8 alt: 20 gcc: 15.2.1 Shell: Bash v: 5.3.0
running-in: kitty inxi: 3.3.40
The error message you have posted is truncated, but I suppose it’s referring to xdg-desktop-portal-gnome. If so, there have been issues reported in the past with KDE Plasma and xdg-desktop-portal-gnome, which makes me wonder if it is not an SSDM - GNOME session issue.
I tried disabling SDDM and going back to GDM and that was even worse. It would just boot into a black screen with _ at the top left. Had to reenable SDDM to be able to use it again.
Do you have another system where you can login to the Fedora system using ssh? This would allow you to use journalctl —follow while trying login options. Otherwise you can use journalctl -b [n] … to search for errors related to the login issue.
PS: there are terminal apps for tablets. I often use termius on an ipad because my Fedora systems are in other buildings.
Would it be possible to do it from a phone via a terminal app? Otherwise I can probably requisition someone else’s laptop for a bit.
journalctl generates very long lines, so not well suited to most phones. If the system boots to the login there should be lines like systemd-login[N]: New session [N] of user <username>. Are you selecting sway at login (been a while since I used sway, but I do switch to cinnamon on an old machine with Nvidia GPU at login). If I boot and chose Gnome, then logout and chose cinnamon, both sessions appear in the journal. Try journalctl --no-hostname -b -g gnome-session for a boot where gnome was tried.
Okay so I logged into sway ran the command and got nothing. Then loggd out and tried gnome twice and back to sway. I then got this back.
Jan 18 22:12:15 sddm-helper[2891]: Starting Wayland user session: "/etc/sddm/wayland-session" "/usr/bin/gnome-session"
Jan 18 22:12:15 systemd[1464]: Created slice app-gnome\x2dsession\x2dmanager.slice - Slice /app/gnome-session-manager.
Jan 18 22:12:15 systemd[1464]: Reached target gnome-session-wayland.target - GNOME Wayland Session.
Jan 18 22:12:15 systemd[1464]: Starting gnome-session-monitor.service - Monitor Session leader for GNOME Session...
Jan 18 22:12:15 systemd[1464]: Started gnome-session-monitor.service - Monitor Session leader for GNOME Session.
Jan 18 22:12:15 systemd[1464]: Reached target gnome-session-pre.target - Tasks to be run before GNOME Session starts.
Jan 18 22:12:15 systemd[1464]: Starting gnome-session-manager@gnome.service - GNOME Session Manager (session: gnome)...
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App liveinst-setup.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App gnome-initial-setup-copy-worker.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.A11ySettings.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Color.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Datetime.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Housekeeping.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Keyboard.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.MediaKeys.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Power.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.PrintNotifications.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Rfkill.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.ScreensaverProxy.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Sharing.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Smartcard.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Sound.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.UsbProtection.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Wacom.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Wwan.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.XSettings.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App xdg-user-dirs.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App at-spi-dbus-bus.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App gnome-keyring-pkcs11.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App gnome-keyring-secrets.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App gnome-keyring-ssh.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App xapp-sn-watcher.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 gnome-session-service[3030]: App spice-vdagent.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:15 systemd[1464]: Started gnome-session-manager@gnome.service - GNOME Session Manager (session: gnome).
Jan 18 22:12:15 systemd[1464]: Reached target gnome-session-manager.target - GNOME Session Manager is ready.
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Stopped target gnome-session-wayland.target - GNOME Wayland Session.
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Stopped target gnome-session-manager.target - GNOME Session Manager is ready.
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Stopping gnome-session-manager@gnome.service - GNOME Session Manager (session: gnome)...
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Stopped gnome-session-manager@gnome.service - GNOME Session Manager (session: gnome).
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Stopped target gnome-session-pre.target - Tasks to be run before GNOME Session starts.
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Reached target gnome-session-shutdown.target - Shutdown running GNOME Session.
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Stopping gnome-session-monitor.service - Monitor Session leader for GNOME Session...
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Starting gnome-session-restart-dbus.service - Restart DBus after GNOME Session shutdown...
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Stopped target gnome-session-shutdown.target - Shutdown running GNOME Session.
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Started gnome-session-restart-dbus.service - Restart DBus after GNOME Session shutdown.
Jan 18 22:12:17 systemd[1464]: Stopped gnome-session-monitor.service - Monitor Session leader for GNOME Session.
Jan 18 22:12:23 sddm-helper[3426]: Starting Wayland user session: "/etc/sddm/wayland-session" "/usr/bin/gnome-session"
Jan 18 22:12:23 systemd[1464]: Reached target gnome-session-wayland.target - GNOME Wayland Session.
Jan 18 22:12:23 systemd[1464]: Starting gnome-session-monitor.service - Monitor Session leader for GNOME Session...
Jan 18 22:12:23 systemd[1464]: Started gnome-session-monitor.service - Monitor Session leader for GNOME Session.
Jan 18 22:12:23 systemd[1464]: Reached target gnome-session-pre.target - Tasks to be run before GNOME Session starts.
Jan 18 22:12:23 systemd[1464]: Starting gnome-session-manager@gnome.service - GNOME Session Manager (session: gnome)...
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App liveinst-setup.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App gnome-initial-setup-copy-worker.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.A11ySettings.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Color.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Datetime.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Housekeeping.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Keyboard.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.MediaKeys.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Power.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.PrintNotifications.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Rfkill.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.ScreensaverProxy.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Sharing.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Smartcard.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Sound.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.UsbProtection.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Wacom.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.Wwan.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App org.gnome.SettingsDaemon.XSettings.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App xdg-user-dirs.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App at-spi-dbus-bus.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App gnome-keyring-pkcs11.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App gnome-keyring-secrets.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App gnome-keyring-ssh.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App xapp-sn-watcher.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 gnome-session-service[3555]: App spice-vdagent.desktop sets X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase, but gnome-session no longer manages session services
Jan 18 22:12:23 systemd[1464]: Started gnome-session-manager@gnome.service - GNOME Session Manager (session: gnome).
Jan 18 22:12:23 systemd[1464]: Reached target gnome-session-manager.target - GNOME Session Manager is ready.
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Stopped target gnome-session-wayland.target - GNOME Wayland Session.
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Stopped target gnome-session-manager.target - GNOME Session Manager is ready.
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Stopping gnome-session-manager@gnome.service - GNOME Session Manager (session: gnome)...
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Stopped gnome-session-manager@gnome.service - GNOME Session Manager (session: gnome).
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Stopped target gnome-session-pre.target - Tasks to be run before GNOME Session starts.
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Reached target gnome-session-shutdown.target - Shutdown running GNOME Session.
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Stopping gnome-session-monitor.service - Monitor Session leader for GNOME Session...
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Starting gnome-session-restart-dbus.service - Restart DBus after GNOME Session shutdown...
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Stopped target gnome-session-shutdown.target - Shutdown running GNOME Session.
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Stopped gnome-session-monitor.service - Monitor Session leader for GNOME Session.
Jan 18 22:12:24 systemd[1464]: Started gnome-session-restart-dbus.service - Restart DBus after GNOME Session shutdown.
``So I waited about a week and an update fixed everything.