How to report bugs

Ubuntu uses Launchpad to keep track of bugs and their fixes. This page will guide you through the steps required to file a good and detailed report.

Create a Launchpad account

If you don’t already have one - you need to create a Launchpad account. This will allow you to file new bugs and comment on existing ones.

Determine if the bug is really a bug

You should not file a bug if you are:

• Requesting new software: you should follow the guidelines at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuDevelopment/NewPackages

• Requesting support: there are a multitude of ways you can get help using Ubuntu, such as the Launchpad answer tracker, the Ask Ubuntu site, the Ubuntu forums, the #ubuntu channel on the Freenode IRC server, and the ubuntu-users mailing list.

• Discussing features and existing policy: this belongs to the ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list.

• Proposing features and ideas: you should submit your idea to the ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list.

• Filing a bug against a program not provided by an Ubuntu package: You should file a bug in that program's bug tracking interface. Instructions are generally available on the program's web site.

If you want to file a translation or misspelling bug, follow the instructions here.

Perform a survey of your problem

First, check the release notes for your version of Ubuntu:

• Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx)

• Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin)

• Ubuntu 14.04 (Trusty Tahr)
  

Second, check Launchpad for any duplicates, and make note of this.

Desktop Applications

For desktop applications, if you find an already reported bug that is exactly like the problem you have, please feel free to add this information to the existing report, rather than opening a new one. However, if you have any doubt as to it being the same or not, please file a separate report.

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Reporting an application crash in the development release

Please report an application crash via the methods outlined below and at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingProgramCrash.

If an application crashes, and you're using a development release, Apport should start automatically, raising an appropriate bug report for you to complete in Launchpad. This report is subsequently processed by Apport Retracing Service, in order to provide developers with debugging information that make it easier to fix the problem.

Reporting an application crash in the stable release

Apport may come disabled by default. To enable it, edit the file:

/etc/default/apport

and change:

enabled=0

to:

enabled=1

Even when enabled, apport will not upload crash reports to Launchpad for a stable release (see bug #994921). Instead, crash reports are uploaded to http://errors.ubuntu.com. To file a report on Launchpad anyway, one may open the following file via a command line:

gksudo gedit /etc/apport/crashdb.conf

and change:

'problem_types': ['Bug', 'Package'],

to:

# 'problem_types': ['Bug', 'Package'],

Save, close, and try to file the crash report again via:

ubuntu-bug /var/crash/_my_crash_report.crash

apport will appear to upload a crash report, but only actually does so if whoopsie is installed. Whoopsie is installed by default for users of ubuntu-desktop, but for users of alternative desktops, or for server users, whoopsie has to be installed manually with apt-get install whoopsie. See bug #1001630 for details.

Reporting a system crash

If your system lockups up, freezes, logs you out, etc., then this is not an application crash, but a system crash. Please see below, and consult the following article for these types of problems https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DebuggingSystemCrash.

Reporting non-crash hardware and desktop application bugs

The method for reporting bugs in Ubuntu is by using the tool “ubuntu-bug”, otherwise known as Apport. When reporting a bug, you must tell Apport which program or package is at fault.

Collecting information from a specific package

Press Alt+F2 to open the “Run Command” screen:

Then, type ubuntu-bug <package name> and press Enter. If you’re not sure which package has the problem, refer to the instructions for finding the right package.

Collecting information about a program with a window open

If you want to file a bug about an application but you don't know what that application's package name is, if it has an open window you are in luck.

In a terminal execute the command 'ubuntu-bug -w'.

After you close the dialog the next window that you click on will have a problem report created for the package that created the window.

Collecting information from a currently running program

To file a bug against a program that is currently running, open the System Monitor application and find the ID of the process.

Then type "ubuntu-bug " followed by the process ID into the “Run Command” screen.

Filing a general bug against no particular package

If you’re not sure which package is affected by the bug, type ubuntu-bug in the “Run Command” screen and press Enter. This will guide you through a series of questions to gather more information about the bug and help you assign it to the appropriate package.

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Complete the bug report filing process

After running one of the above commands, Apport (the Ubuntu bug reporter) will gather information about the bug.

A window will then pop up, asking you if you want to report the bug. Click "Send Report" if you wish to proceed, or click "Content of the report" if you want to review the information Apport collected.

Apport will then upload the problem information to Launchpad, and a new browser window will then open to inform you that the bug report is being processed.

After the bug report data has been processed, a new page will open that will ask you for the bug report's title. The bug title will appear in all bug listings so make sure it represents the bug well. When you're done, click "Next".

A search will then occur based on the title you gave to the bug report, and will show potentially similar ones. If one of these seems to be the exact bug you're reporting, click its title, then "Yes, this is the bug I'm trying to report". If not, click "No, I need to report a new bug".

Launchpad will then ask you for further information. It's important that you specify three things:

1. What you expected to happen
2. What actually happened
3. If possible, a minimal series of steps necessary to make it happen, where step 1 is "start the program"

Fill in the description field with as much information as you can, it is better to have too much information in the description than not enough.

At then bottom of the page, there are some extra options you can use to make your bug report more complete:

• This bug is a security vulnerability: Please check this only if your bug report describes a behaviour that could be exploited to compromise your security or safety, as well as cause issues such as identity theft or "hi-jacking".

• Tags: You can add here tags that pertain to your bug report. The predefined values should be left alone.

• Include an attachment: Using this option, you can add supporting attachments to explain or help others reproduce the bug. This might include a screenshot, a video capture of the problem or a sample document that triggers the fault. If necessary, additional attachments can be added after the bug is reported via Add a comment/attachment at the bottom of the page. Please check https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingProcedures for anything further information to provide. It is vital for developers to get this information, as it contains the minimum requirement information necessary for a developer to begin working on your bug.

  • Please note that if one files a bug against the linux kernel package, you do not need to add as an attachment the terminal command:

lspci -vvnn
lspci -vnvn

This is due to how Launchpad automatically generates this as an additional attachment.

When you're done, click "Submit bug report".

Warn about a critical bug

If the bug you just reported causes data corruption or renders the system temporally or permanently unusable, please warn the Ubuntu Bug Control team about it.

Tips and tricks

Filing bugs when off-line

In the event that you have an issue with your Internet connection or want to file a bug for another system you can still do this using apport.

First, on the target system, gather the information in a file:

• For a bug report about a system crash:
  apport-cli -p <package name> --save bug.crash

• For a bug report about any other issue:
  apport-cli -f -p <package name> --save bug.apport

You will need to answer a few questions, which will vary depending on which package the bug report is about. Relevant system information, including the package name, is then saved on the target system, in the current directory. The extension indicates if it is a crash report or another kind of report. If you decide to rename the report file, please keep the .apport or .crash extension.

When the file is ready, copy it to the system you intend to use for filing the report. There you can then file the report:

• ubuntu-bug -c <apport_file.extension>

'ubuntu-bug -c x.crash' does not work for crash reports from stable Ubuntu releases (see note about stable releases above).

If this is to be added to an existing bug report, also use the -u option:

• ubuntu-bug -c <apport_file.extension> -u <bug number>

You will need to answer a few questions, and a web browser will be launched to complete the bug report. Please do not attach the .apport or .crash file to the report, as this is not the same as performing the above mentioned steps.

Filing bugs at Launchpad.net

If for some reason you cannot file a bug using the Apport tool you can file one via Launchpad's own bug report form. When doing so it is best if you have determined which package it should be filed against. Read 'finding the right package' for guidance or use Launchpad's package search feature. We don't recommend this method for most bug reports because they will likely be missing crucial information, use ubuntu-bug if you can!

To file a bug against a specific package you can also use a URL like the following:

• http://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/PACKAGENAME/+filebug?no-redirect

where PACKAGENAME is the name of the source package about which you want to file the bug report.

In the event that you want to request a piece of software be packaged for Ubuntu please follow the instructions in the wiki.

Crashes

If an application crashes, Apport will start automatically, raising an appropriate bug report for you to complete in Launchpad. This provides developers with rich debugging information that will make it easier to fix the problem.

Error: The launchpadlib Python module is not installed

If one gets the following error while trying to perform apport-collect:

ERROR: The launchpadlib Python module is not installed. This functionality
is not available.

please install the following package:

sudo apt-get -y install python-launchpadlib

Package libreoffice not installed and no hook available, ignoring

If one attempts to apport-collect and gets the error message:

Package libreoffice not installed and no hook available, ignoring

one has to install the following package:

sudo apt-get -y install libreoffice

Crash reports

If your attachment is a crash report (ex. found in directory /var/crash), please do not attach it to an existing report. Instead, file a new report via a terminal so that Apport Retracing Service may process it:

ubuntu-bug my_crash_report.crash

Non-crash userspace bugs

Sometimes it is useful to take a picture (with a camera or via PrtSc button), or screencast of the problem to demonstrate how you reproduced it, what the bug specifically shows, and the impact it has.

Filing a translation bug

You should file a translation bug if you are experiencing one of the following issues:

• Wrong translations or spelling mistakes for languages other than English in applications
• Errors in spellcheckers or language support

• A string from an application not available for translation in Launchpad Translations

• An application from the Ubuntu main repository not available for translation in Launchpad Translations

• A translation made in Launchpad Translations and not updated in the Ubuntu language packs

• A duplicate translation template (the same application can be translated in two different places) in Launchpad Translations

• A template/translation no longer used in Ubuntu and that should be disabled from Launchpad Translations

In case of doubt, you can always contact the Translations team.

All translation issues should be filed against the Ubuntu Translations project. From there the bugs will be triaged and assigned to the right person and package.

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Getting advice

Still have doubts about the bug report filing process? You can ask someone on #ubuntu-bugs on the Freenode IRC server or on the bugsquad mailing list.

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Bug reporting etiquette

Thank you for reading this article. This will guide you on how best to present your bug report so that it gets addressed as soon as possible. While this is targeted to the new bug reporter, experienced reporters would find these tips invaluable in getting their bugs looked at by a developer and ultimately fixed.

All bug reports

• Please do not speculate on what you think is or isn't a duplicate report.
  For example, "I googled around and found bug report number..." This is largely unhelpful as it tends not to be a duplicate, and already has been or easily done by triagers and developers. Instead, if you are the original reporter, ensuring the report has all the requested testing information performed would be the fastest way to ensure your bug is resolved as soon as possible. If you are not the original reporter, it's best to file a new report, so that necessary debugging attachments are reviewed. It is a common misconception that filing a potential duplicate report is wasteful. Filing a new report is quite helpful, and is preferred to ease triaging.

• Please do not quote Wikipedia and other non-primary resource information as fact on Launchpad.

• Please do not complain because someone sent what one perceives to be a automated or "canned" response.
  If the response is asking you to do something that you have't done (ex. test the latest development release, file a new report, etc.) do it, as it would get you closer to having your bug fixed faster. Complaining about this is inconsiderate of the Ubuntu triagers and developers who are saving time in comparison to hand typing every single character in an e-mail that goes out their inbox.

• Please test the latest version of the package that is considered responsible for the problem.
  For bugs in the Linux (Ubuntu) package, unless the upstream maintainer or kernel developer notes otherwise, if a new mainline kernel comes out, and you haven't tested with it, you run the strong risk of it not being attended to upstream.

• Please do not post comments such as “Me too!”, “+1”, “bump”, “same here”, etc., as it is largely unhelpful, produces spammy e-mail traffic to everyone subscribed to the report, and quite often turns out not to be the same root cause. Instead, please follow the below mentioned procedures.

• Please do not post URLs of requested information.
  For example, links to pastebin.com, paste.ubuntu.com, dropbox.com, etc. If a triager or developer asks you for some information on reproducing or testing, please do not make them dumpster dive by just posting a URL, or saying you already did something in some other report. Instead, put the full reproduction or testing results into the report itself, and if you have to, then post the link.

• Please do not stack multiple issues into one report.
  For example, jamming suspend and hibernate into one report, reporting multiple hotkey problems into one report (ex. Fn+F3 doesn't turn off my laptop WiFi, Fn+Right doesn't turn the brightness on my backlight down, my brightness settings are not remembered after reboot, etc.). Please make one report for each individual problem.

• Please do not complain about how long it takes to fix a bug.
  This goes along with saying things like severity of your bug is high so it should be fixed immediately, “I cannot believe it’s not fixed…”, XYZ person(s) do not care about fixing bugs, etc. Especially, if you have not followed the directions mentioned in this article, let alone contributed code upstream. This type of behavior is unconstructive, irritating to others who read your e-mail, and spammy. We all want to see every bug fixed as soon as possible! Naturally, bugs being fixed is limited to reproducibility and clarity of the bug report, the actual impact the bug has on the community, and available developer resources.

• Please keep the bug report as objective as possible.
  It is desired for you to provide a fact based, technical impact statement on you, your environment, and the potential or actual impact on the community at large.

• Please provide all relevant information from https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingProcedures when you first report your bug.
  This is one of the top reasons why bugs do not get marked Triaged, as the minimum requirements for triaging, and dealing with the problem by a developer are not provided.

• Please avoid arguing with triagers and developers.
  If a triager or developer asks you to provide information, just provide the information as requested. An example of this is claiming exemption because you or someone else filed a bug report upstream or downstream (which is publicly viewable, and has no restrictions on who can file). You are being asked for this information so that it would provide more information on how to fix the problem. Also, not everyone has access to the hardware you are reporting against, or reproduce the problem as advised in the report. Having you provide the information helps eliminate the difficulty in fixing your bug. If you have a strong disagreement with what a triager or developer is asking of you, please resolve it with them directly via personal message, not on the bug report. This avoids turning a bug development report into a “let’s talk about talking about the problem” tangent, distracting from having your bug solved. The Ubuntu community takes a favor to objective, technical discourse.

• Please do not report bugs about software in PPAs.
  This is because software in PPAs are not provided by the official Ubuntu repositories. Instead, the PPA homepage would have a contact point and preference of the PPA provider. The exception is LibreOffice as per this mail, as LibreOffice is too big to be tracked via email: as described in the mail, file a bug on Launchpad with tag ppa.

• Please do not add project tasks to bug reports that are invalid because they are not supported.
  For example, if you were using the LibreOffice PPA and reported a bug against the package libreoffice (Ubuntu), which would be marked Status Invalid, please do not add the Launchpad Project df-libreoffice to the report, or change the package libreoffice (Ubuntu) to the project df-libreoffice. The purposes of adding the upstream project to a report is to track valid bugs in Ubuntu that are valid upstream, and may have been reported upstream, not to start another upstream bug tracker.

• When posting new comments to a Launchpad report, please do not reply and include every past comment made.
  Doing so makes it onerous to read a report, and is wasteful. Instead just make your new comment, or just include the relevant portion of a previous comment you are responding to.

• Please do not announce in a report you did not file, that you filed a new report.

• Many of the triagers and developers who are providing support to you, are volunteers doing so out of altruism. Please keep this in mind when making your comments.

• Please do not compress attachments when posting them to a bug report.
  Launchpad doesn't have the same attachment size restriction as other bug reporting platforms. Hence, one may attach large files without fear of rejection. While it is appreciated that one is being considerate and efficient regarding reducing network bandwidth traffic, and storage requirements, this is counteracted by hindering the speed with which a triager or developer may begin analyzing the logs you provide.

• Please test the latest version of the software from upstream.
  Testing the latest upstream release helps in finding out if the issue is a downstream (Ubuntu) issue, or an upstream one as well. If an upstream, then they may also be engaged in seeking support for the problem.

• Please check to see if you problem is a regression.
  If your bug is a regression, it is most helpful to have it bisected. If it is a linux kernel issue, one would consult the article on bisection. Report your bisect results in the report.

• Please do not run apport-collect more than once per release tested.
  For example, if you originally reported a bug in Trusty via Apport, and then could reproduce it in Utopic, only run apport-collect once in Trusty. This minimizes unnecessary E-Mail traffic to those subscribed to your report and keeps the report efficient.

Hardware bug reports (linux kernel, xorg, sound, etc.)

• Before filing your report, please update your BIOS, and hardware firmware (CF card readers, SSDs, USB 3.0 controllers, DVD/CD drives, external USB drives, etc.) to the newest available from your vendor.
  Outdated and buggy BIOS and firmware is a common cause of a variety of hardware issues (ex. freezing after lightDM login, intermittent wireless, suspend/hibernate not working, intermittent touchpad, certain keys on keyboard not working correctly, card readers not working, and kernel panics after plugging USB drive in). Also, please don't make the invalid argument that because it works in Windows, but doesn't in linux, this isn't caused by an outdated BIOS. This is due to how buggy BIOS problems may manifest themselves in linux, but not in Windows, and vice versa. As well, because BIOS vendors typically test to Windows only and make release notes commenting on results to it, it wouldn't advise on if a problem in linux is resolved by it. Hence, one should update anyways, even if your problem isn't specifically mentioned. In addition, BIOS updates are for collateral damage avoidance. For more about BIOS updates, please see here.

• One report, per person, per hardware combination, per bug.
  Many Linux package, hardware, and other non-user space bugs are hardware dependent on both the hardware itself, and what other hardware the problematic hardware is connected to. For more on this please see here, and further below in this article.

• Please do not post comments to another persons report, claiming you have the same or similar hardware or problem.
  Instead, please file a separate report, and make comments there. This is because no one can verify if you would have the same problem or not, because your hardware can not be analyzed. Also, vendors can have different parts under the hood of the same model line.

• Please do not attempt to apport-collect to another persons report.
  Running apport-collect when not specifically asked by a triager or developer creates spammy E-Mail traffic for those subscribed, clutters up the bug report with undesired attachments, and hinders the bug getting addressed quickly. As well, your attachments are subject to immediate deletion at the discretion of developers and triagers. Instead, please open a new report via ubuntu-bug. Please note that attempting to run apport-collect bug_number against a linux package bug report, while booted into a mainline linux kernel will not work. This is due to how Ubuntu does not provide support for mainline kernels. For more on this, please see here.

• Please do not solicit non-original reporters to post comments, attachments, etc.

• Please do not attach anything to another persons report.
  Adding undesired attachments when not asked by a triager or developer creates spammy E-Mail traffic for those subscribed, clutters up the bug report with undesired attachments, and hinders the bug getting addressed quickly. As well, your attachments are subject to deletion at the discretion of developers and triagers.

Other languages

• Español

• Русский

• 简体中文（中国）－－ 建设中

• 正體中文（台灣）－－ 建置中

• Italiano

• Deutsch

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See Also

• Netiquette Guidelines - http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1855.txt

• If you use Kubuntu, you are welcome to view the Kubuntu variant of this page here.

• A screencast on using these tools by Jono Bacon

• How to Report Bugs Effectively, by Simon Tatham

• Debugging Procedures