Bug: Unknown error on startup (Anki 25.02)

I recently received 2 reports from (Windows 10) users that sent me nearly identical bug reports, saying that Anki wouldn’t start with an “Unbekannter Fehler” (unknown error) from time to time. It seems like the newer version of Anki isn’t able to tell what exactly crashed in one of these addons, see below.

I will try to find out which addon is responsible for the crash.

Report #1

Anki 25.02.4 (a5c33ad0)  (ao)
Python 3.9.18 Qt 6.6.2 PyQt 6.6.1
Platform: Windows-10-10.0.26100

Unbekannter Fehler===Add-ons (active)===
(add-on provided name [Add-on folder, installed at, version, is config changed])
'' ['druck_plugin_fuer_die_jura_vorlagen', 0, 'None', '']
'' ['no_sameday_spacing_for_siblings', 0, 'None', '']
Add Hyperlink ['318752047', 2023-06-18T13:39, 'None', '']
Add Table ['1237621971', 2023-06-18T13:37, 'None', mod]
Basic Printing Support ['1025789669', 2023-10-19T04:57, 'None', '']
Browser Search Highlights ['browser_search_highlight_results', 0, 'None', '']
Butler-Addon ['1439937507', 2025-02-19T21:53, 'None', '']
CSS Injector (2.1.41-2.1.49) ['css_injector', 2021-10-05T00:29, 'None', '']
CSS Injector - Change default editor styles ['css_injector2', 2023-02-21T22:15, 'None', '']
Customize Editor Stylesheet (bis 2.1.44) ['editor_custom_stylesheet', 2018-11-17T10:06, 'None', '']
Full Screen Toggle ['1612375712', 2019-11-14T22:45, 'None', '']
Mini Format Pack (2.1.45+) ['295889520_2-1-45+', 2018-11-17T10:06, 'None', '']
Mini Format Pack (bis 2.1.44) ['295889520_bis_2-1-44', 2018-11-17T10:06, 'None', '']
Refocus Card when Reviewing 21 ['1642550423', 2019-11-14T23:00, 'None', '']

===IDs of active AnkiWeb add-ons===
1025789669 1237621971 1439937507 1612375712 1642550423 318752047

===Add-ons (inactive)===
(add-on provided name [Add-on folder, installed at, version, is config changed])

Report #2

Anki 25.02.1 (234fa0c2)  (ao)
Python 3.9.18 Qt 6.6.2 PyQt 6.6.1
Platform: Windows-10-10.0.26100

Unbekannter Fehler===Add-ons (active)===
(add-on provided name [Add-on folder, installed at, version, is config changed])
'' ['druck_plugin_fuer_die_jura_vorlagen', 0, 'None', '']
'' ['no_sameday_spacing_for_siblings', 0, 'None', '']
Add Hyperlink ['318752047', 2023-06-18T13:39, 'None', '']
Add Table ['1237621971', 2023-06-18T13:37, 'None', mod]
Browser Search Highlights ['browser_search_highlight_results', 0, 'None', '']
Butler-Addon ['1439937507', 2025-02-19T21:53, 'None', '']
CSS Injector (2.1.41-2.1.49) ['css_injector', 2021-10-05T00:29, 'None', '']
CSS Injector - Change default editor styles ['css_injector2', 2023-02-21T22:15, 'None', '']
Customize Editor Stylesheet (bis 2.1.44) ['editor_custom_stylesheet', 2018-11-17T10:06, 'None', '']
Full Screen Toggle ['1612375712', 2019-11-14T22:45, 'None', '']
Mini Format Pack (2.1.45+) ['295889520_2-1-45+', 2018-11-17T10:06, 'None', '']
Mini Format Pack (bis 2.1.44) ['295889520_bis_2-1-44', 2018-11-17T10:06, 'None', '']
Refocus Card when Reviewing 21 ['1642550423', 2019-11-14T23:00, 'None', '']

===IDs of active AnkiWeb add-ons===
1237621971 1439937507 1612375712 1642550423 318752047

===Add-ons (inactive)===
(add-on provided name [Add-on folder, installed at, version, is config changed])

See Troubleshooting Checklist #2. Troubleshooting - Anki Manual

You’ve got some very old add-ons – you should consider if you need them anymore at all.

Anki used to handle this “Uknown error” by catching and ignoring it, but it appears this is no longer the case after this change. @dae was this intended?

3 Likes

I reported a similar issue here a few days ago, with a suggestion to make such issues easier to debug: Include "terminal output" in Copy Debug Info

2 Likes

@Danika_Dakika: The issue here is not really that some addons lead to a crash in Anki, but that Anki doesn’t show the location in the addon that caused the crash. It used to do that as @abdo mentioned.

1 Like

I understand, and that’s a separate issue. My interest is helping you getting past whatever add-on is blocking you, regardless of whether Anki tells you which one it is, or you have to figure it out on your own.

1 Like

That is nice of you, but in this case it is two other users reporting to me. Both already know that you can get Anki to start without problems if you disable some or all of the addons. :+1:

1 Like

Yes, the developers who posted after me had additional advice – that’s what we count on them for! I can see their messages just fine, so I’m not sure why you’re explaining this to me (twice).

Well, I was trying to clear up a misunderstanding on what my intentions for this post were, nothing more.

Got it. Thank you for clarifying. We appreciate you posting about any issues you see, because that’s how we find out about things that need fixes. If you don’t need my (or anyone else’s!) suggestions for how to work around the problem, you can feel free to disregard them! :+1:t4:

1 Like

Looks like a mistake. Thanks for catching it! I’ve pushed a fix.

3 Likes

Awesome, thanks, Damien! And of course also, @abdo !