siyuan-note/siyuan · error · Error

the update install package returned by the kernel is invalid

Error message

the update install package returned by the kernel is invalid

What it means

In the update install flow, after closing all workspaces and kernels, the initiating kernel is expected to return an installPkgPath in its exit response. If validateUpdateInstallPackage returns falsy — the path is missing, empty, or fails validation — Electron cannot locate the downloaded install package and throws this error.

Source

Thrown at app/electron/main.js:1742

        .concat(Array.from(kernelProcesses.keys()), request.initiatingPort)));
    ports.forEach((port) => expectedKernelExitPorts.add(port));
    writeLog("coordinating update install [initiatingPort=" + request.initiatingPort + ", ports=" + ports.join(",") +
        "]");

    workspaces.forEach((workspace) => {
        if (workspace.browserWindow && !workspace.browserWindow.isDestroyed()) {
            workspace.browserWindow.hide();
        }
    });

    const otherPorts = ports.filter((port) => port !== request.initiatingPort);
    writeLog("closing other workspaces for update [ports=" + otherPorts.join(",") + "]");
    await closeUpdateKernelStage(otherPorts, request);
    writeLog("closing initiating workspace for update [port=" + request.initiatingPort + "]");
    const [initiatingExitResponse] = await closeUpdateKernelStage([request.initiatingPort], request);
    const installPkgPath = validateUpdateInstallPackage(request, initiatingExitResponse?.data?.installPkgPath);
    if (!installPkgPath) {
        throw new Error("the update install package returned by the kernel is invalid");
    }

    await launchUpdateInstallPackage(installPkgPath);
    keepAppOpenDuringUpdate = false;
    app.exit();
};

const beginUpdateInstall = (event, data) => {
    if (updateInstallPromise) {
        writeLog("ignored duplicate update install request");
        return true;
    }
    if (systemShutdownState !== systemShutdownNone) {
        writeLog("rejected update install request during system shutdown");
        return false;
    }

    const request = validateUpdateInstallRequest(event, data);

View on GitHub (pinned to 8641553a1f)

Solutions

Retry the update from within the app so the kernel can re-download and return a valid installPkgPath
Check the kernel logs for download failures (disk space, network, permissions) and fix the root cause
Update manually: download the installer from the official site and run it yourself
Ensure the running kernel version matches the Electron shell expectation for the update handshake

Example fix

null

Defensive patterns

Strategy: try-catch

Validate before calling

if info, err := os.Stat(util.DataDir); err != nil || !info.IsDir() {
    // workspace data dir missing or inaccessible
}

Try / catch

if err := EnableEncryptedNotebook(...); err != nil {
    var pe *fs.PathError
    if errors.As(err, &pe) && errors.Is(pe.Err, syscall.EACCES) {
        // fix permissions on data dir, then retry
    }
}

Prevention

Run the kernel as a user with write access to the workspace
Avoid read-only mounts or removable media for the workspace data directory

When it happens

Trigger: request.initiatingPort's kernel exit response has no data.installPkgPath, the field is null/empty, or the path returned points to a missing/corrupt package, causing validateUpdateInstallPackage to yield no usable path before launchUpdateInstallPackage is called.

Common situations: The kernel failed to finish downloading the update package before being asked to exit; a stale kernel version that does not return installPkgPath; disk-full or permission errors deleting the downloaded package; kernel crashed mid-update leaving an empty response.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of siyuan-note/siyuan@8641553a1f (2026-09-11). Data as JSON: /api/errors/295ccd41ae949d9a. Report an issue: GitHub.