Arduino IDE fails to start (with solution)

[matthijskooijman]

Due to a server-side issue yesterday (June 10th), the Arduino IDE failed to start due to downloading corrupt board files. The server-side issue has since been fixed, but if you ran into this problem, some manual action is required to make the IDE start again.

UPDATE Jun, 17

We've now released Arduino IDE 1.8.13 that should fix this problem without manual intervention.
After opening the "Board manager" with the IDE 1.8.13 a "normal" working condition is recovered and the previous IDE releases should be working again too.

PREVIOUS SOLUTION (before Jun, 17)

Elsewhere, @cmaglie wrote the following message (adapted with some extra tips):

The solution

We had a problem on our package_index.json that caused the error and prevented the IDE to start.
Now the package_index has been fixed, but to recover a working installation you must delete once again the package_index.json with the cache folder and restart the IDE as usual.

Windows (regular version)

• remove file C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json
• remove folder C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Arduino15\cache

Note that Windows hides the AppData folder by default. The easiest way to find the right folder is to copy-paste %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Arduino15 into the location bar of an explorer window.

Windows (Windows Store version)

• remove file C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\ArduinoData\package_index.json
• remove folder C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\ArduinoData\cache

Mac

• remove file /Users/YourUsername/Library/Arduino15/package_index.json
• remove folder /Users/YourUsername/Library/Arduino15/cache

Linux

• remove file /home/YourUsername/.arduino15/package_index.json
• remove folder /home/YourUsername/.arduino15/cache

Please note that the problem that prevents the IDE to start has already been fixed and it's ready for the next release, that's the reason why the Nightly/Beta Builds are not affected, and also the reason why we did not detect this problem earlier, sorry about that!

This also means that instead of deleting the above files, upgrading to the latest nightly build or beta build will also allow the IDE to start again (even if you downgrade later).

---

@cmaglie, @facchinm, @per1234, I'm creating yet another issue about this, so we can pin this and hopefully prevent further issues from being created about this and to let people find the solution quickly (and all of the other issues had a lot of distracting comments before the solution, so I did not want to pin any of those).

@cmaglie, would upgrading to the nightly version also fix this? Or would you then stil need to remove the corrupt files?

[cmaglie]

would upgrading to the nightly version also fix this? Or would you then stil need to remove the corrupt files?

the nightly should work without removing the corrupted files.

[ilvento]

Hi,
Installing the latest Hourly Build (1.8.13 2020-06-03 04:33) fixed the problem for me.
Cheers
Ben

[robschaap242]

I've got the IDE on linux, mac, windows. On windows, I had the issue, and did nothing to try to fix it till now. I deleted the files as noted above, it still doesn't open past the "initializating packages" splash message. I downloaded the hourly build separately, it does work, separately. Is this what the solution is? Is there a new release forthcoming?

[brunorchaves]

Thanks! I removed these file and directory using cmd prompt on windows and it is working again!

[matthijskooijman]

@robschaap242

I downloaded the hourly build separately, it does work, separately. Is this what the solution is? Is there a new release forthcoming?

AFAIU, the hourly build should clean up the AppData directory, and it should allow the stable build to run again as well.

On windows, I had the issue, and did nothing to try to fix it till now. I deleted the files as noted above, it still doesn't open past the "initializating packages" splash message.

If you run arduino_debug.exe in a terminal, do you get any error messages? Are you maybe using a portable install (then it might save the files elsewhere, I think)?

[robschaap242]

I am not primarily a Windows user, but when I run the debug.exe, itll start up the nightly build that I have in my downloads folder. So there was no error. I'm fine with abandoing the stable version if I'm clear on where the libraries/boards are stored - is anything local to this hourly build folder in IOW.

For Linux, today, deleting those files DID work and now I have 1.8.12 running on Ubuntu again. It didn't work last night, but if it was a server issue, that would explain why not. Plugged in the ESP board that started my journey with Board Manager, and was able to add the board and upload sketch to it.

Likewise, Mac that didn't have the issue, but didn't run at all yesterday, just fired it up and I didn't have the issue (again, it's def the server issue).

[robschaap242]

Also, for Ubuntu snap installs, I tried to fix on my laptop by doing a snap refresh, it refreshed, but bombed the same. I deleted the same files under:

/home/user/snap/arduino/32/.arduino15

and it worked as the other instructions above did.

the way the nightly build organized the boards was nice... great to see a stable release with it in there.

thanks for help guys!
Rob

[matthijskooijman]

I am not primarily a Windows user, but when I run the debug.exe, itll start up the nightly build that I have in my downloads folder.

Are you running the arduino_debug.exe from the stable installed version then? That would be weird.

I'm fine with abandoing the stable version if I'm clear on where the libraries/boards are stored - is anything local to this hourly build folder in IOW.

If you are not using the portable version (which I think entails creating a "portable" directory next to the .exe), then nothing should be stored in the install/nightly directory (everything should be in AppData and the "Sketchbook directory", as configured in the preferences).

[Gustavomurta]

Official Correction:
#10335 (comment)
IDE 1.8.12 running again!

[kachine]

Thank you for your information.
I'm using Microsoft Store App version of Arduino IDE.
In this version, remove target path is slightly different from regular windows version.
After removing those file and directory, the IDE started again!

Update
I made a typo, the file and folder is written vice versa, sorry.
@matthijskooijman @bill-orange @brunorchaves

Wrong:

remove file C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\ArduinoData\cache
remove folder C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\ArduinoData\package_index.json

Correct:

remove file C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\ArduinoData\package_index.json
remove folder C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\ArduinoData\cache

[matthijskooijman]

In this version, remove target path is slightly different from regular windows version.

Thanks, I've added this to the initial post.

[bill-orange]

This fix did not work for me. I do not nave a cache file to delete. At least it is not in the expected location.

remove file C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json
remove folder C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Arduino15\cache

What should I try next?

[brunorchaves]

This fix did not work for me. I do not nave a cache file to delete. At least it is not in the expected location.

remove file C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json
remove folder C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Arduino15\cache

What should I try next?

I had this same doubt, try navigating through the terminal (in my case i used windows cmd) and you'll find theses directories.

[bill-orange]

@brunorchaves and it still will still not run. The beta works fine however.

[photoncatcher]

I had tonight the same nasty problem on my linux Ubuntu 16 32 bit system. Thanks to your above comments and with some fiddling, and reinstalling support for ESP8266 boards, the Arduino IDE on my machine is up and running again.
Thanks guys!

[MIKE1106]

Thanks much!!! I'm back in business today again.

[bshambaugh]

Thanks. It worked. For me the syntax was a bit different:

rm /home/ubuntu/.arduino15/package_index.json
rm -r /home/ubuntu/.arduino15/cache/

I made backups just in case:

cp /home/ubuntu/.arduino15/package_index.json /home/ubuntu/.arduino15/package_index.json.backup
cp -r /home/ubuntu/.arduino15/cache/ /home/ubuntu/.arduino15/cache_backup/

[cmaglie]

We've now released Arduino IDE 1.8.13 that should fix this problem without the need to manually delete anything.

After opening the "Board manager" with the IDE 1.8.13 at least once, a "normal" condition is recovered and the previous IDE releases should be working again too.

[RAJensen]

I have just downloaded and installed 1.8.13 from Arduino.cc on a Windows 10 Pro.
Sorry to say, but the problem persist.
First time IDE starts, next time, just splash scrren and it close.
Only way to get it start again is to delete preferences.txt in /Arduino15.
I have tried with 1.8.9 and it do the same thing.
Really wierd, as i have 1.8.9 running on Windows 10 Home edition with no trouble at all.

[matthijskooijman]

@RAJensen, I suspect you're having a different issue with similar symptoms that looks the same. If you can still reproduce the problem, could you create a new issue describing your problem? You should probably also run arduino_debug.exe from a terminal and include any output in your issue, that might offer some insight in what the problem is.

[RAJensen]

@RAJensen, I suspect you're having a different issue with similar symptoms that looks the same. If you can still reproduce the problem, could you create a new issue describing your problem? You should probably also run arduino_debug.exe from a terminal and include any output in your issue, that might offer some insight in what the problem is.

When IDE won't start, arduino_debug.exe won't either. It just to the same, start up and close.
I found a guide on the net. He used CC Cleaner, so i run it too and now IDE 1.8.9 is running.
Maybe it is something in some Windows installations that create the error?
But for now, i'm a happy camper. :-)

https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=362507.0;attach=201430

[nicholasglazer]

For Archlinux users you should install "arduino-avr-core", this will solve the issue.

[Nikakz]

Acabei de baixar e instalar 1.8.13 do Arduino.cc em um Windows 10 Pro.
Desculpe dizer, mas o problema persiste.
A primeira vez que o IDE é iniciado, da próxima vez, basta abrir o scrren e fechá-lo.
A única maneira de começar de novo é excluir o arquivo preferences.txt em / Arduino15.
Eu tentei com 1.8.9 e ele faz a mesma coisa.
Muito estranho, pois tenho 1.8.9 rodando no Windows 10 Home edition sem nenhum problema.

Agradeço. vc está correto, deletei a preferences.txt e a IDE abriu. Obrigada já não sabia mais o que fazer.