[Windows] Stickers won't load without focus

[Zakor11]

• [x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [x] I am using Signal-Desktop as provided by the Signal team, not a 3rd-party package.

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Bug Description

While using Signal on Windows, if you receive a sticker while the app is not focused, the sticker won't download. I mainly use Signal for Desktop on my second monitor and it grows annoying to always switch the active window just so that the stickers load. It worked as expected until a few weeks ago.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open a chat on desktop
2. Change focus to another application, e.g. a browser on another monitor
3. Receive a sticker in that chat

Actual Result: The received sticker only shows the very blurry preview and the download button.

Expected Result: The received sticker is downloaded and shown to me.

Screenshots

Platform Info

Signal Version: 6.38.0

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 22H2

Linked Device Version: Android 13

Link to Debug Log

https://debuglogs.org/desktop/6.38.0/eba85bf3045d7459e2c4c0a39ec183acf5ccba0141190f6061c42d3430c99408.gz

[ashemedai]

This is still (again?) a problem on 7.19.0. And even when you press the download button, it does nothing.

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

@ashemedai I'm sorry this behavior has come back - would you consider providing a debug log? A log would greatly help us in tracking down the issue. Ideally we could also get a 'sent id' for one of those messages (available on the number next to the Sent: header on the message details screen). Thanks!

[ashemedai]

@scottnonnenberg-signal Managed to reproduce, here's the debug log: https://debuglogs.org/desktop/7.19.1/afd9aa25ef6efc11a64ace26f427142d9ad8d968d032da0b7a95dcbef241bb5d.gz

These showed up when I opened the chat as they came in via notifications, but became like this when I switched to another chat and back. I cannot get them to display again.

Sent id for those two:

• 1723551212495
• 1723551217512

[if-shouldrs]

For those with this problem, do you also have this issue when the application is closed? Meaning, Device B is offline and you receive a sticker on Device A, once you load Device B the sticker refuses to download.

I'm asking because I'm running Signal Desktop on a RedHat based system, and any stickers received, regardless of the circumstance, fail to load like the provided screenshots. The only stickers that work are the ones I send from that device and the ones that were downloaded when syncing a new device and choosing the option to sync previous messages

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

@if-shouldrs Please provide your log (View -> Debug Log) and we can take a look. If it's only sent stickers that work for you, then it could be a network problem when trying to download the stickers.

[if-shouldrs]

hey @scottnonnenberg-signal thanks for the reply, I just submitted a support request on the website, attached the log there and included this issue id in the subject to be easy to find

[Imp0815]

I have the same issue, but I couldn't pinpoint it to anything in particular. Stickers just won't download anymore on my Signal Desktop - Started about time frame this issue was created. Reconnecting the device didn't change it.

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

@Imp0815 Have you done anything interesting with your filesystem? In particular, have you moved/symlink'd your attachments directories somewhere that isn't the default?

[Imp0815]

@scottnonnenberg-signal I indeed did that, as the default was filling up my system partition: "mklink /d "C:\Users[User]\AppData\Roaming\Signal" "M:\Progamme\Signal"" The folder is too big for my system partition.

[hstock]

I have the same problem since a few releases. I did not change anything regarding my filesystem, however my app data is also symlinked to a different directory for quite some time.

Platform: Debian 12 x86 Flatpak install

Edit: Other received images work fine, btw.

[if-shouldrs]

After having used my OS for a while, I've realised it is most likely related to how it handles the home directory. I have a fedora based immutable OS, which means home is actually at /var/home, and /home automatically links to it. So even though it's basically outside my control, my whole home folder is symlinked and some programs do not play nice with that, including Signal and its stickers