[GNC] longtime user suddenly unable to open gnucash

[R Losey]

I run GnuCash on my Mac as well; I have an M1 Mac running Sequoia 15.5 -
there was a discussion here about some people having problems with 15.6 --
what are you running?

When GnuCash starts, it first looks for a .LCK file; if one exists, you get
the error message; otherwise, GnuCash creates the .LCK file and opens your
data file.  When you shut down GnuCash, it closes your data file, and
deletes the .LCK.

So, when GnuCash is running, there should always be a .LCK file. If GnuCash
is shut down, there should be no .LCK file.

If GnuCash crashes, it doesn't go through the normal exit process, and the
.LCK file can stick around. The choice to "Open Anyway" is the right choice
when you only and always use GnuCash from one computer. (I have my data
files stored on a network storage device, and I can access it from multiple
computers, so I have to make sure that if I get the error message that I
really don't have it running elsewhere).

>From what you wrote, it sounds as if your data file has something in it
that is causing a crash.  To verify this,
1) Shut down GnuCash
2) Delete the .LCK file
3) Open GnuCash; you shouldn't get a warning, but Gnucash will probably go
away (that is, "crash").

This is almost certainly an issue with your data file. So...
1) Delete the .LCK file
2) Rename your existing data file to something - perhaps
JAW.gnucash-CORRUPT and then create a copy of the most recent backup file
and rename it to JAW.gnucash
3) Open GnuCash - you should not get any warning; if GnuCash opens, you're
good. If it crashes, delete the lock file, and try the next oldest backup
file.  Repeat this until GnuCash opens without crashing. If you get to a
file that you KNOW was good, then there is something else going on - the
log files may be able to help you.

Best wishes!


On Mon, Aug 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM Jacob Wegelin <jacobwegelin at fastmail.fm>
wrote:

> I have been using gnucash for about 20 years on macos for personal
> bookkeeping.
> Suddenly today, it refuses to open with the following message:
>
>         GnuCash could not obtain the lock for
> /Users/qg/u/Household/GnuCash/wip/JAW.gnucash (which is my file which it
> also opens).
>
>         The database may be in use by another user, in which case you
> should not open the database.  What would you like to do?
>
> When I clicked "open anyway," the application looked like it was loading
> and then it went away---the application was not open.
>
> I tried deleting gnucash.LCK and it just made another one.
>
> I reinstalled gnucash, updated my macos and rebooted the computer.
>
> I changed the permissions on JAW.gnucash so it is readable and
> writeable by everybody. Exactly the same message.
>
> I tried reinstalling it again after the macos reboot,
> as follows:
>
> https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Installation
>
> https://sourceforge.net/projects/gnucash/files/gnucash%20%28stable%29/
> click: download latest version Gnucash-Arm-5.12-1.dmg (184.3 MB)
>
> I made gnucash.LCK read,write,execute by everybody, but the same result.
>
> How do I get GnuCash working again? I use it every day.
>
> Thank you
>
> Jacob Wegelin
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-- 
_________________________________
Richard Losey
rlosey at gmail.com
Micah 6:8