FreeRDP Flatpak Fails RDP Connection Test Due to Missing tsclient\home\.local\share\winapps Directory Mount

[Frickeldave]

What happened?

Summary
The automated RDP connection test in setup.sh (ECRDPFAIL, exit status 14) fails when using FreeRDP Flatpak (flatpak run com.freerdp.FreeRDP), despite manual xfreerdp connections working perfectly. The root cause is that the test file cannot be created at \tsclient\home.local\share\winapps\FreeRDP_Connection_Test because the tsclient home drive mount doesn't exist or isn't accessible within the Flatpak sandbox.

Environment
OS: Linux Mint 22 (min22/Podman backend)

FreeRDP: Flatpak com.freerdp.FreeRDP (detected by setup.sh as FREERDP_COMMAND="flatpak run --command=xfreerdp com.freerdp.FreeRDP" in winapps.conf)

WinApps: Latest from bash <(curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/winapps-org/winapps/main/setup.sh)

Backend: Podman Windows container (min22)

RDP: Manual connections work ✓, automated test fails ✗

Error Details
text
Attempting to establish a Remote Desktop connection with Windows... Failed!
ERROR: REMOTE DESKTOP PROTOCOL FAILURE.
Exiting with status '14'.
Log channel (FreeRDP_Test_20260119_0921_852946507.log):

text
[09:21:28:066] [WARN][com.freerdp.crypto] - Certificate verification failure 'self-signed certificate (18)'
/dev/fd/63: line 1661: 79603 Killed $FREERDP_COMMAND ... /app:"C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe",cmd:"/C type NUL > \tsclient\home.local\share\winapps\FreeRDP_Connection_Test && tsdiscon"
Root Cause (from setup.sh analysis):

bash
readonly TEST_PATH_WIN="${USER_APPDATA_PATH_WIN}\FreeRDP_Connection_Test"
readonly USER_APPDATA_PATH_WIN='\tsclient\home.local\share\winapps'
The +home-drive flag should mount Linux $HOME as tsclient\home, but Flatpak sandbox blocks this directory creation/access when using FREERDP_COMMAND="flatpak run --command=xfreerdp com.freerdp.FreeRDP".

Steps to Reproduce
Add to ~/.config/winapps/winapps.conf: FREERDP_COMMAND="flatpak run --command=xfreerdp com.freerdp.FreeRDP"

Install FreeRDP Flatpak: flatpak install flathub com.freerdp.FreeRDP

Configure valid RDP credentials in winapps.conf

Run bash <(curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/winapps-org/winapps/main/setup.sh)

Select "Install" → "Current User" → "Manual"
→ Fails at RDP test with status 14

Manual Verification
xfreerdp ... (system-wide) → ✅ Creates tsclient mount, test passes

FREERDP_COMMAND="flatpak run --command=xfreerdp com.freerdp.FreeRDP" → ❌ No tsclient\home.local\share\winapps, cmd.exe killed

Workarounds Tested
flatpak override --filesystem=home com.freerdp.FreeRDP → Partial help, but tsclient mount still unreliable

Manual directory creation in Windows → Directory exists, but RDP session can't access via Flatpak

System FreeRDP3-x11 → ✅ Works perfectly (recommended fix)

Suggested Fix
Detect Flatpak in setup.sh and warn/suggest system freerdp3-x11 installation

Add Flatpak-specific flags: --filesystem=~/.local/share/winapps --filesystem=host

Fallback test path: Use C:\temp\ instead of tsclient for Flatpak compatibility

Enhanced logging: Show FREERDP_COMMAND expansion and tsclient mount status

Setup.sh Context
bash

Line ~1661 - Failing command:

$FREERDP_COMMAND $RDP_FLAGS_NON_WINDOWS /cert:tofu ... +home-drive /app:"C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe",cmd:"/C type NUL > $TEST_PATH_WIN && tsdiscon" /v:"$RDP_IP"
This is a common Flatpak sandbox limitation affecting WinApps/min22 users who set FREERDP_COMMAND="flatpak run --command=xfreerdp com.freerdp.FreeRDP" in their config. System freerdp3-x11 resolves it completely.

Your FreeRDP version and where you got it from

FreeRDP 3.20.2 Flatpack

Your Linux distribution and version

Min22

Your winapps.conf

RDP_USER="xxx"

RDP_PASS="xxx"

RDP_DOMAIN=""

RDP_IP="127.0.0.1"
# - Only applicable when using 'libvirt'. The libvirt VM name must match so that WinApps can determine VM IP, start the VM
VM_NAME="RDPWindows"

# VALID VALUES: 'docker', 'podman', 'libvirt', 'manual'
WAFLAVOR="docker"

# VALID VALUES: '100', '140', '180'
RDP_SCALE="100"

REMOVABLE_MEDIA="/run/media"

# DEFAULT VALUE: '/cert:tofu /sound /microphone +home-drive'
# VALID VALUES: See https://github.com/awakecoding/FreeRDP-Manuals/blob/master/User/FreeRDP-User-Manual.markdown
RDP_FLAGS="/cert:tofu /sound /microphone +home-drive"

# DEFAULT_VALUES: ''
# VALID_VALUES: See https://github.com/awakecoding/FreeRDP-Manuals/blob/master/User/FreeRDP-User-Manual.markdown
RDP_FLAGS_NON_WINDOWS=""

# DEFAULT_VALUES: ''
# VALID_VALUES: See https://github.com/awakecoding/FreeRDP-Manuals/blob/master/User/FreeRDP-User-Manual.markdown
RDP_FLAGS_WINDOWS=""

# - Creates and appends to ~/.local/share/winapps/winapps.log when running WinApps.
# DEFAULT VALUE: 'true'
# VALID VALUES: 'true', 'false'
DEBUG="true"

# VALID VALUES: 'on', 'off'
AUTOPAUSE="off"

# DEFAULT VALUE: '300'
# VALID VALUES: >=20
AUTOPAUSE_TIME="300"

# DEFAULT VALUE: '' (BLANK)
# VALID VALUES: The command required to run FreeRDPv3 on your system (e.g., 'xfreerdp', 'xfreerdp3', etc.).
FREERDP_COMMAND="xfreerdp3"

# - Corresponding error: "NETWORK CONFIGURATION ERROR" (exit status 13).
# DEFAULT VALUE: '5'
PORT_TIMEOUT="5"

# - Corresponding error: "REMOTE DESKTOP PROTOCOL FAILURE" (exit status 14).
# DEFAULT VALUE: '30'
RDP_TIMEOUT="30"

# - Corresponding error: "APPLICATION QUERY FAILURE" (exit status 15).
# DEFAULT VALUE: '60'
APP_SCAN_TIMEOUT="60"

# DEFAULT VALUE: '120'
BOOT_TIMEOUT="120"

# FREERDP RAIL HIDEF
# - This option controls the value of the `hidef` option passed to the /app parameter of the FreeRDP command.
# - Setting this option to 'off' may resolve window misalignment issues related to maximized windows.
# DEFAULT VALUE: 'on'
HIDEF="on"

Logs

Terms

• I am running the latest version.
• To the best of my knowledge, this is a bug and not a setup nor a FreeRDP problem.
• I have checked for duplicate issues.
• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct.