Public bug reported:

Desktop Icons NG spawns ghost application windows in Activities overview and 
overlays real apps (Ubuntu 25.04 GNOME)
Package affected: gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng
Version: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2 (Ubuntu 25.04 "Plucky" updates repo)

Description:

When using Ubuntu 25.04 with the Desktop Icons NG (DING) extension
enabled, “ghost” application windows named Desktop Icons n (e.g.,
Desktop Icons 1, Desktop Icons 2) intermittently appear in the
Activities overview / app switcher.

These fake windows are spawned by the extension’s rendering process and
are not real user applications. Occasionally, these "ghosts" also render
above actual application windows, partially covering them and
obstructing normal use.

This creates visual clutter and interferes with workflow.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Start a fresh session on Ubuntu 25.04 GNOME (Wayland session).
2. Ensure the Desktop Icons NG extension is enabled 
(gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng).
3. Open the Activities overview (Super key).
 - One or more windows named “Desktop Icons” appear in the app switcher.
4. Sometimes, after login or a shell refresh, these “Desktop Icons” windows are 
drawn over running applications.
5. Disabling the extension clears them.
6. Re-enabling the extension restores the bug.

Expected result:

Desktop icons are visible on the desktop but do not appear as extra
windows in the Activities overview. They should never float above or
obscure normal application windows.

Actual result:

Extra “Desktop Icons” windows appear in the overview, sometimes layered
above other applications (see screenshot).

Workarounds tested:

- Restarting GNOME Shell (Alt+F2 → r) or logging out/in resolves the issue 
until it reoccurs.
- Disabling the extension via gnome-extensions disable [email protected] 
removes the ghost windows.
- Disabling Desktop Icons NG entirely prevents the bug.


System Info:

```
lsb_release -rd
Description:    Ubuntu 25.04
Release:        25.04

apt-cache policy gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng
gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng:
  Installed: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
  Candidate: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
  Version table:
 *** 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2 500
        500 http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky-updates/main amd64 
Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     48.0.0-3 500
        500 http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky/main amd64 Packages
```

Bug Report:

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 25.04
Package: gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.14.0-29.29-generic 6.14.8
Uname: Linux 6.14.0-29-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.32.0-0ubuntu5.3
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Tue Sep  9 12:16:49 2025
InstallationDate: Installed on 2025-09-08 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 25.04 "Plucky Puffin" - Release amd64 (20250415.3)
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 TERM=xterm-256color
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
RebootRequiredPkgs: Error: path contained symlinks.
SourcePackage: gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

** Affects: gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug plucky wayland-session

** Attachment added: "Overview of bug"
   
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2122408/+attachment/5907994/+files/Screenshot%20From%202025-09-09%2012-01-09.png

** Description changed:

- Desktop Icons NG spawns ghost application windows in Activities overview and 
overlays real apps (Ubuntu 25.04 GNOME)  
+ Desktop Icons NG spawns ghost application windows in Activities overview and 
overlays real apps (Ubuntu 25.04 GNOME)
  Package affected: gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng
  Version: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2 (Ubuntu 25.04 "Plucky" updates repo)
- 
  
  Description:
  
  When using Ubuntu 25.04 with the Desktop Icons NG (DING) extension
  enabled, “ghost” application windows named Desktop Icons n (e.g.,
  Desktop Icons 1, Desktop Icons 2) intermittently appear in the
  Activities overview / app switcher.
  
  These fake windows are spawned by the extension’s rendering process and
  are not real user applications. Occasionally, these "ghosts" also render
  above actual application windows, partially covering them and
  obstructing normal use.
  
  This creates visual clutter and interferes with workflow.
  
- 
  Steps to reproduce:
  
  1. Start a fresh session on Ubuntu 25.04 GNOME (Wayland session).
  2. Ensure the Desktop Icons NG extension is enabled 
(gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng).
  3. Open the Activities overview (Super key).
-       - One or more windows named “Desktop Icons” appear in the app switcher.
+  - One or more windows named “Desktop Icons” appear in the app switcher.
  4. Sometimes, after login or a shell refresh, these “Desktop Icons” windows 
are drawn over running applications.
  5. Disabling the extension clears them.
  6. Re-enabling the extension restores the bug.
- 
  
  Expected result:
  
  Desktop icons are visible on the desktop but do not appear as extra
  windows in the Activities overview. They should never float above or
  obscure normal application windows.
  
- 
  Actual result:
  
  Extra “Desktop Icons” windows appear in the overview, sometimes layered
  above other applications (see screenshot).
- 
  
  Workarounds tested:
  
  - Restarting GNOME Shell (Alt+F2 → r) or logging out/in resolves the issue 
until it reoccurs.
  - Disabling the extension via gnome-extensions disable [email protected] 
removes the ghost windows.
  - Disabling Desktop Icons NG entirely prevents the bug.
  
  
+ System Info:
+ 
  ```
  lsb_release -rd
  Description:    Ubuntu 25.04
  Release:        25.04
  
  apt-cache policy gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng
  gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng:
-   Installed: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
-   Candidate: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
-   Version table:
-  *** 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2 500
-         500 http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky-updates/main amd64 
Packages
-         100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
-      48.0.0-3 500
-         500 http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky/main amd64 Packages
+   Installed: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
+   Candidate: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
+   Version table:
+  *** 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2 500
+         500 http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky-updates/main amd64 
Packages
+         100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
+      48.0.0-3 500
+         500 http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky/main amd64 Packages
  ```
+ 
+ Bug Report:
  
  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 25.04
  Package: gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.14.0-29.29-generic 6.14.8
  Uname: Linux 6.14.0-29-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.32.0-0ubuntu5.3
  Architecture: amd64
  CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
  CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
  Date: Tue Sep  9 12:16:49 2025
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2025-09-08 (0 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 25.04 "Plucky Puffin" - Release amd64 (20250415.3)
  PackageArchitecture: all
  ProcEnviron:
-  LANG=en_US.UTF-8
-  PATH=(custom, no user)
-  SHELL=/bin/bash
-  TERM=xterm-256color
-  XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
+  LANG=en_US.UTF-8
+  PATH=(custom, no user)
+  SHELL=/bin/bash
+  TERM=xterm-256color
+  XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
  RebootRequiredPkgs: Error: path contained symlinks.
  SourcePackage: gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop
Packages, which is subscribed to gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng
in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2122408

Title:
  Desktop Icons NG creates ghost application windows in app switcher and
  overlays other apps (Ubuntu 25.04 GNOME)

Status in gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Desktop Icons NG spawns ghost application windows in Activities overview and 
overlays real apps (Ubuntu 25.04 GNOME)
  Package affected: gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng
  Version: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2 (Ubuntu 25.04 "Plucky" updates repo)

  Description:

  When using Ubuntu 25.04 with the Desktop Icons NG (DING) extension
  enabled, “ghost” application windows named Desktop Icons n (e.g.,
  Desktop Icons 1, Desktop Icons 2) intermittently appear in the
  Activities overview / app switcher.

  These fake windows are spawned by the extension’s rendering process
  and are not real user applications. Occasionally, these "ghosts" also
  render above actual application windows, partially covering them and
  obstructing normal use.

  This creates visual clutter and interferes with workflow.

  Steps to reproduce:

  1. Start a fresh session on Ubuntu 25.04 GNOME (Wayland session).
  2. Ensure the Desktop Icons NG extension is enabled 
(gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng).
  3. Open the Activities overview (Super key).
   - One or more windows named “Desktop Icons” appear in the app switcher.
  4. Sometimes, after login or a shell refresh, these “Desktop Icons” windows 
are drawn over running applications.
  5. Disabling the extension clears them.
  6. Re-enabling the extension restores the bug.

  Expected result:

  Desktop icons are visible on the desktop but do not appear as extra
  windows in the Activities overview. They should never float above or
  obscure normal application windows.

  Actual result:

  Extra “Desktop Icons” windows appear in the overview, sometimes
  layered above other applications (see screenshot).

  Workarounds tested:

  - Restarting GNOME Shell (Alt+F2 → r) or logging out/in resolves the issue 
until it reoccurs.
  - Disabling the extension via gnome-extensions disable [email protected] 
removes the ghost windows.
  - Disabling Desktop Icons NG entirely prevents the bug.

  
  System Info:

  ```
  lsb_release -rd
  Description:    Ubuntu 25.04
  Release:        25.04

  apt-cache policy gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng
  gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng:
    Installed: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
    Candidate: 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
    Version table:
   *** 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2 500
          500 http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky-updates/main amd64 
Packages
          100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
       48.0.0-3 500
          500 http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky/main amd64 Packages
  ```

  Bug Report:

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 25.04
  Package: gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng 48.0.0-3ubuntu0.2
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.14.0-29.29-generic 6.14.8
  Uname: Linux 6.14.0-29-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.32.0-0ubuntu5.3
  Architecture: amd64
  CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
  CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
  Date: Tue Sep  9 12:16:49 2025
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2025-09-08 (0 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 25.04 "Plucky Puffin" - Release amd64 (20250415.3)
  PackageArchitecture: all
  ProcEnviron:
   LANG=en_US.UTF-8
   PATH=(custom, no user)
   SHELL=/bin/bash
   TERM=xterm-256color
   XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
  RebootRequiredPkgs: Error: path contained symlinks.
  SourcePackage: gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-shell-extension-desktop-icons-ng/+bug/2122408/+subscriptions


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