Atom Not Opening or Won't Start

How to fix it

// try these in order, the most common fix is first

1. FIX 1Launch in safe mode

   Copy steps
   1. 01Quit every Atom process completely
   2. 02Run: atom --safe
   3. 03If it opens, a package is the cause: disable them one at a time
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. FIX 2Check PATH and reinstall

   Copy steps
   1. 01Verify the Atom install folder is on your Windows PATH
   2. 02Uninstall Atom, keep a backup of ~/.atom, reinstall and test
   3. 03Running as administrator did not help in reports
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. FIX 3Give up on Atom

   Copy steps
   1. 01Install Pulsar, which is maintained
   2. 02Copy your ~/.atom config into ~/.pulsar
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Atom does nothing when launched, the window never appears, or it closes right away.

Why it happens

• C-01A broken or incompatible package
• C-02Corrupt ~/.atom config
• C-03Environment or PATH problems on Windows
• C-04OS updates the unmaintained app no longer supports

// this guide also covers

• atom not opening
• atom editor not starting
• atom won't open windows 10
• atom editor not working

The same problem in other apps

All crashes, freezes & blank screens guides →

• Pulsar Blank Screen or Crash on Linux (Pulsar)
• Sublime Text Crashing or Misbehaving: Use Safe Mode (Sublime Text)
• Zed Blank or Invisible Window on Linux (Zed)

Other Atom errors

• Atom Shut Down: What to Use Instead
• Is Atom Editor Dead? Can You Still Use It
• How to Migrate From Atom to VS Code
• How to Migrate From Atom to Pulsar
• Atom "The Editor Has Crashed" Error
• Atom Package Install Fails (apm Error)
• Atom "Failed to Load" or "Failed to Activate" Package Error
• Why Is Atom So Slow or Using High CPU