Nemo file manager crashes and system unresponsive when phone is connected in USB Debugging Mode

When I have my USB phone connected and in USB Debugging Mode, nemo will often become unresponsive and cause my system to crash. It will hang and prevent any file manager activity in the system. When shutting down the system the system shows "Nemo Unresponsive" messages.

This has occurred with the same USB phone device across multiple systems and after reinstalling the OS. System info:

https://termbin.com/l27o

Using Linux Mint 21.3 Ubuntu Edition

System:
Kernel: 6.5.0-35-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: N/A Desktop: Cinnamon 6.0.4 tk: GTK 3.24.33
wm: muffin vt: 7 dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 21.3 Virginia base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy

I have tried multiple kernels, reinstalling the OS. Other users on reddit reporting this issue is present with phones connected in this mode but it wont occur for them if the phone device gets ejected. I can confirm this is happening for me too. This is my error when I try to launch nemo from command prompt when it is not responding:

https://imgur.com/q38qAWT

When my phone screen slept and my screen went dark. No response from nemo. Ejecting or unplugging my device allowed nemo to respond immediately.

https://old.reddit.com/r/linuxmint/comments/1cblxaj/file_manager_not_opening_crashing_or_not/?ref=share&ref_source=link

I can confirm this problem on updated Mint 20.3, Cinnamon 6.0.4 and 6.5.0-28-generic kernel with a Pixel6 phone when connecting via USB-C.

EDIT: In my case, Developer Mode / USB Debugging was NOT enabled.
Phone screen sleeps -> nemo freezes.

i have the same problem.
but its only with nemo nautilus works perfekt. may be the nemo people could make a diff to nautilus?

I confirm too. I am using LMDE6 and USB debugging was not enabled.

Same issue. Pixel 8a, Linux Mint 22.1 Cinnamon.

I plugged in the phone to charge and all was well. Nemo became unresponsive, so I killed it from System Monitor. If I tried again, the process would open but no GUI would appear. Once I unplugged the phone, all was well.

Got me freaked out for a minute. :)

This is still happening to me on Mint 22.1, Nemo 6.4.3 when Pixel 6 sleeps while connected via USB.

@Not-Sure-Whats-Going-On

@Not-Sure-Whats-Going-On will not be solved i think... mint-developer have iphones (or even mint-phones (using FOSH riscVs)) :)

nautilus is working

I wrote this in the Linux Mint forum:

I had the problem of Nemo sometimes hanging/being unresponsive for a long time ( > 10 minutes). In the end, it seems that this is related to an attached smartphone to an USB port. As soon as I remove the smartphone or eject it, Nemo is immediately fine again. Specifics: the smartphone is set to "charge only". As soon as it is attached with "File sharing" no problem occurs.

I have this too on Ubuntu 24.04 with Nemo as the default file manager. If I lock the screen with the phone connected, the desktop seems to die and I'm unable to log back in.

we should trow this apple shit away and use linux phones...

Well, it works perfectly well on my old Samsung mobile, also fine on a Kobo ebook.

@Jeremy7701

@Jeremy7701 sure, but google isnt really an alternative for apple... but i agree: also nautilus has no problem using iphones. its really a nemo problem. but i want a linux phone, its only to expensive, and i dont think this will change soon...

I have this problem with Linux Mint 22.1 Cinnamon Version 6.4.8 using a Samsung S24. Using a Google phone is not a solution.

@olisnr

@olisnr This is not an Apple issue; I've had the same problem with two Pixel phones, and still have it. I can elaborate a bit, though: If I start Nemo, nothing happens, but if I then pull the cable from the phone, Nemo pops up immediately. I think Nemo is doing some kind of interrogation of mounted things, and for some reason can't get the appropriate response from the connected phone, but is unable to stop trying while the phone is connected.

@martindholmes

@martindholmes yes somthing stucks. can You debug it?

@olisnr

@olisnr What do you need me to do?

The phone must be unlocked for this to work properly. Increase its activity time without having to re-authenticate.

Same issue here with a Pixel 4a, Linux Mint 22.2, Cinnamon 6.4.8, and Nemo 6.4.5 It immediately opened right after unplugging the phone.

@martindholmes

@martindholmes sorry, i didnt see Your post. i would like You to verify how the nautilus and the nemo filemanager differ in handling the iphone file-system.

something differs. in nautilus i never noticed a blocking of the program. maybe the nautilus-way of handling could be used also in nemo.

I only connect the phone to charge it; I don't mount the filesystem. Nautilus doesn't have the problem at all.

@martindholmes

@martindholmes Yes the problem is from mounting the filesystem, and in nautilus i never saw this. but nemo i also have blocked if i have an sshfs folder open, and loos the connection to the ssh server. then nemo remains blocked until i force a umount via sudo.

i think nemo has a probelm when a filesystem dont react. maybe nautilus has a timout-logic that nemo is missing. or a better error-handling...

Still happening in 2026 with a Pixel 9a simply connected...

Not in developer or debugging mode
Mint 22.3

I am also having this issue on

Device: Samsung Galaxy S23
OS: Android
USB Port type: USB-C to USB-C
Mint 22.2, but if it's Nemo specific that may or may not matter.

To reiterate, my phone is charging only, and I think that's the cable type I'm using, it's not a "data cable".

I'm also having this extremely frustrating issue. Whenever I plug the phone in, after a while, Files hangs. As soon as I unplug the phone, Files works again normally.

Phone: Motorola g84 5G
Phone OS: e/OS
Connection: Type C to Type C, Via a hub
Computer: HP EliteBook 845 G8
OS Version: Linux Mint 22.3 - Cinnamon 64-bit
Kernel Version: 7.0.0-30-generic

When a phone is plugged in via USB, Nemo becomes unresponsive. Unplugging the phone returns functionality. Doesn't seem to be particular to a certain phone or pc, as it happens on my work machine as well as my personal machine. Both are running Linux Mint.

PC:

OS: Linux Mint 22.3 x86_64
Host: [redacted]
Kernel: 6.17.0-1033-oem
Shell: bash 5.2.21
Resolution: 1920x1200, 2560x1440, 2560x1440
DE: Cinnamon 6.6.9
WM: Mutter (Muffin)
WM Theme: Windows-10 (Mint-Y)
CPU: Intel Ultra 7 268V (8) @ 4.900GHz
GPU: Intel Graphics]
Memory: 8529MiB / 31611MiB

Phones:

(happens with all)
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google Pixel 10
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Latest Android version on all

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Nemo file manager crashes and system unresponsive when phone is connected in USB Debugging Mode #3394

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Nemo file manager crashes and system unresponsive when phone is connected in USB Debugging Mode #3394

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Not-Sure-Whats-Going-On commented on Apr 25, 2024

olisnr commented on Jun 7, 2024

olibac commented on Jan 11, 2025

joegiglio commented on Feb 8, 2025

Not-Sure-Whats-Going-On commented on Feb 8, 2025

olisnr commented on Feb 8, 2025

jjberk commented on Feb 8, 2025

martindholmes commented on Apr 10, 2025

olisnr commented on Apr 10, 2025

Jeremy7701 commented on Apr 10, 2025

olisnr commented on Apr 10, 2025

NeverGivinUp commented on Jun 12, 2025

martindholmes commented on Aug 3, 2025

olisnr commented on Aug 17, 2025

martindholmes commented on Aug 19, 2025

claudiux commented on Aug 19, 2025

Robolta commented on Oct 29, 2025

olisnr commented on Oct 29, 2025

martindholmes commented on Oct 30, 2025

olisnr commented on Oct 30, 2025

SMerrony commented on Jan 21, 2026

FibroJedi commented on Mar 27, 2026

eburger01 commented on Aug 27, 2026

Fortypoundhead commented on Oct 14, 2026

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