‘Folder path missing’ error

Support
1

Hello everyone,

I have been using Syncthing on a Raspberry PI for years as a small central server to which my home devices are connected. MX Linux 25 is installed on all PCs, Syncthing-Fork on Android smartphones, all running Syncthing version 2.0.13.

Six folders are synchronised with the Raspberry on my desktop PC. For about a week now, for no apparent reason, I have been getting this error when starting up:

Log2.txt (8.2 KB)

2026-01-26 19:55:42: Failed initial scan (error=‘folder path missing’ folder.label=FV-Immagini-Famiglia folder.id=rc5hd-pk9a9 folder.type=sendreceive log.pkg=model)

2026-01-26 19:55:42: Failed initial scan (error=‘folder path missing’ folder.label=FV-Music folder.id=rekuw-uqssv folder.type=sendreceive log.pkg=model)

2026-01-26 19:55:42: Failed initial scan (error=‘folder path missing’ folder.label=FV-Smartphone-DCIM folder.id=p5y1d-8mdzq folder.type=sendreceive log.pkg=model)

2026-01-26 19:55:42: Failed initial scan (error=‘folder path missing’ folder.label=FV-VDR folder.id=h6lgg-xi6mg folder.type=sendreceive log.pkg=model)

2026-01-26 19:55:42: Failed initial scan (error=‘folder path missing’ folder.label=FV-Video-Family folder.id=vwvvj-aeqix folder.type=sendreceive log.pkg=model)

So, 5 out of 6 directories are not synchronising with the Raspberry.

I tried recreating the folders without success.

Where can I start to solve the problem? I am attaching a file with the logs.

Thank you

2

Assuming the folders exist, maybe a permission problem?

(TIL we don’t actually print the folder path as part of the startup logs, going to fix that…)

1 Like
3

Hi Jacob, thanks for your reply.

Ah, you’re a developer? Congratulations!

Yes, I assure you that the folders exist :wink: and they are all in my /home, so the permissions are the same (I was sure of it, but I just checked). I’m really speechless, I don’t understand why “~/Sync/All_devices” syncs everything perfectly, while “~/Immagini/DCIM”, “~/Musica”, “~/VDR”, “~/Video/Famiglia” and “~/Immagini/Famiglia” can’t no longer be found.

When I get home from work, I’ll try removing Syncthing and all its configurations in ~/.local/state and reinstalling everything from scratch.

4

I really recommend that instead of assuming , you troubleshoot:

  • Existence of directories.
  • Permissions.
5

Hello martinleben, thank you for your reply.

I assure you that before asking others for help, I checked that the folders exist and the permissions are correct.

Tonight I’ll try deleting all the configuration files and restoring everything from scratch (hoping that works); I would have preferred to understand what happened, but the important thing is that Syncthing is back up and running.

6

Solution to the problem found; the problem is not Syncthing.

Today I wanted to download a file with Firefox and put it directly in the Desktop folder, but I could only see the Downloads folder. I mentioned it at dinner and my son told me that a few days ago he installed Firejail, configuring it for my user as well, so Syncthing starts in a sandbox that only allows the use of the ~/Sync folder and cannot access the others. Once the configuration was removed, the error disappeared, and Syncthing resumed synchronising all folders.

I had to laugh (little nerds grow up :wink: ), but I apologize for the time you wasted with my problem. I really didn’t expect this. He’s new to Linux, and… he’s playing with it. I’ll change the root password and my account password, and I’ll give him an old laptop where he can experiment with whatever he wants.

Thank you and sorry again.

1 Like
7

Haha! I laughed as well when I read this post. :smiley:

No worries! Glad you solved it. Good luck with the young one!