---
name: "cinnamon-session"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "cinnamon-session"
version: "6.6.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cinnamon-session"
---

# cinnamon-session(1)

Start the GNOME desktop environment

## NAME

cinnamon-session - Start the GNOME desktop environment

## SYNOPSIS

**cinnamon-session \[-a\|--autostart=DIR\] \[--session=SESSION\] \[--failsafe\|-f\] \[--debug\] \[--whale\]**

## DESCRIPTION

The *cinnamon-session* program starts up the GNOME desktop environment. This command is typically executed by your login manager (either mdm, xdm, or from your X startup scripts). It will load either your saved session, or it will provide a default session for the user as defined by the system administrator (or the default GNOME installation on your system).

The default session is defined in **gnome.session**, a .desktop-like file that is looked for in **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/cinnamon-session/sessions**, **$XDG\_CONFIG\_DIRS/cinnamon-session/sessions** and **$XDG\_DATA\_DIRS/cinnamon-session/sessions**.

When saving a session, *cinnamon-session* saves the currently running applications in the **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/cinnamon-session/saved-session** directory.

*cinnamon-session* is an X11R6 session manager. It can manage GNOME applications as well as any X11R6 SM compliant application.

## OPTIONS

The following options are supported:

- *--autostart=DIR*

  Start all applications defined in *DIR*, instead of starting the applications defined in **gnome.session**, or via the *--session* option. Multiple *--autostart* options can be passed.

- *--session=SESSION*

  Use the applications defined in **SESSION.session**. If not specified, **gnome.session** will be used.

- *--failsafe*

  Run in fail-safe mode. User-specified applications will not be started.

- *--debug*

  Enable debugging code.

- *--whale*

  Show the fail whale in a dialog for debugging it.

## SESSION DEFINITION

Sessions are defined in **.session** files, that are using a .desktop-like format, with the following keys in the **GNOME Session** group:

- *Name*

  Name of the session. This can be localized.

- *RequiredComponents*

  List of component identifiers (desktop files) that are required by the session. The required components will always run in the session.

- *RequiredProviders*

  List of task providers that are required by the session. A default provider for each task has to be defined with a *DefaultProvider-TASK* key; the provider can be overridden by required components, the saved session or autostart applications. The task providers will always run in the session.

- *DefaultProvider-TASK*

  Identifier (desktop file) of the default provider for **TASK**. If no provider for **TASK** is found in the required components, the saved session and in the autostart applications, the default provider will be started.

Here is an example of a session definition:

```
[GNOME Session]
Name=GNOME fallback
RequiredComponents=gnome-panel;metacity;gnome-settings-daemon;
RequiredProviders=notifications;
DefaultProvider-notifications=notification-daemon
```

The **.session** files are looked for in **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/cinnamon-session/sessions**, **$XDG\_CONFIG\_DIRS/cinnamon-session/sessions** and **$XDG\_DATA\_DIRS/cinnamon-session/sessions**.

## ENVIRONMENT

*cinnamon-session* sets several environment variables for the use of its child processes:

**SESSION\_MANAGER**

-

  This variable is used by session-manager aware clients to contact cinnamon-session.

**DISPLAY**

-

  This variable is set to the X display being used by *cinnamon-session*. Note that if the *--display* option is used this might be different from the setting of the environment variable when cinnamon-session is invoked.

## FILES

**$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/config/autostart** **$XDG\_CONFIG\_DIRS/config/autostart** **/usr/share/gnome/autostart**

-

  The applications defined in those directories will be started on login. *[cinnamon-settings(1)](/cinnamon-settings/1.md)* can be used to easily configure them.

**$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/cinnamon-session/sessions** **$XDG\_CONFIG\_DIRS/cinnamon-session/sessions** **$XDG\_DATA\_DIRS/cinnamon-session/sessions**

-

  These directories contain the **.session** files that can be used with the *--session* option.

**$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/cinnamon-session/saved-session**

-

  This directory contains the list of applications of the saved session.

## SEE ALSO

**[cinnamon-settings(1)](/cinnamon-settings/1.md)** **[cinnamon-session-quit(1)](/cinnamon-session-quit/1.md)**