Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: NX "Could not find shadowed session" error

NX "Could not find shadowed session" error on Ubuntu, FreeNX installation and NoMachine nxclient issues.

Quick Answer: Check the NX server configuration and ensure that the shadowed sessions are correctly set up.

The 'Could not find shadowed session' error is an issue that affects users of FreeNX, a remote access and virtual desktop technology. This error occurs when the NX client cannot locate a shadowed session for a user, preventing them from accessing their virtual desktop.

This error can be frustrating for users who rely on FreeNX for work or personal purposes. The good news is that this issue is usually resolved by checking the root cause and applying one of the primary fix methods.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The NX client may not have been able to find a shadowed session due to an incorrect configuration or missing files in the /var/lib/nxserver/shadow directory. This directory contains a database of user sessions, and any errors here can prevent the NX client from locating a valid session.
  • Another possible reason for this error is if the ShadowFS plugin has not been properly configured or installed. The ShadowFS plugin is responsible for managing shadowed sessions, and any issues with its configuration can lead to this error.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Check and correct the /var/lib/nxserver/shadow directory

  1. Step 1: 1. Open a terminal as the root user: sudo -i
  2. Step 2: 2. Navigate to the /var/lib/nxserver/shadow directory: cd /var/lib/nxserver/shadow
  3. Step 3: 3. Check for any errors or missing files in the directory using the 'ls' command and verify that all required files are present.
  4. Step 4: 4. If necessary, restore the original configuration of the ShadowFS plugin by running the following command: nxserver config update

Reinstall the ShadowFS plugin

  1. Step 1: 1. Open a terminal as the root user: sudo -i
  2. Step 2: 2. Run the following command to uninstall the ShadowFS plugin: apt-get remove shadowfs-plugin
  3. Step 3: 3. Once uninstalled, run the following command to reinstall the ShadowFS plugin: apt-get install shadowfs-plugin

✨ Wrapping Up

To resolve the 'Could not find shadowed session' error in FreeNX, first check the /var/lib/nxserver/shadow directory for any errors or missing files. If necessary, restore the original configuration of the ShadowFS plugin or reinstall it to ensure proper operation.

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