Error: (0 , h.requestMetadata) is not a function

[wegank]

• Etcher version: 1.18.13 - 1.19.3
• Operating system and architecture: NixOS, x86_64-linux
• Image flashed: Arbitrary image
• What do you think should have happened: Image selected successfully, being able to select target
• What happened: Can't select any image
• Do you see any meaningful error information in the DevTools? No, same error as above.

In Nixpkgs we package Etcher on the basis of the official deb. The procedure no longer works as of 1.18.13.

Likely a continuation of #4138. Probably that issue should be reopened? @dfunckt

[Sargeanthost]

Also having this issue on Manjaro

[devM7MD]

Like you but I'm using ArchLinux :(

[polsvoice]

I'm getting this with version 1.18.14 on Garuda.

[myxor]

Same for me on ArchLinux.

[OffsetMonkey538]

Getting this on Nobara 38

[Sargeanthost]

Was initially trying on Hyprland, which is on Wayland. I download Cinnamon to test and Xorg environment and it worked for me. I used 1.8.13. Is anyone else on Wayland?

[OffsetMonkey538]

I was on wayland

[TerrorBite]

I'm getting this issue on Manjaro with the 1.18.14 version from the AUR and I'm on X11. However, it lools like 1.18.14 released just a couple of days before #4132 was merged, meaning that the fix for #4138 wasn't included in that version. So any Arch/Manjaro issues (@Sargeanthost, @devM7MD, @myxor) should hopefully be fixed when 1.19.x lands on the AUR. Maybe I can try and manually build a 1.19 package and see if it works?

[TerrorBite]

It looks like the move to building with electron-forge causes build issues on Arch, and this is why the AUR package is still on version 1.18.

[TobiPeterG]

I have the same issue on openSUSE using the RPM and appimage

[LITUATUI]

Same problem here with EndeavourOS.

[slagathor69]

Same issue on Ubuntu 22.04 with X11 using balenaEtcher-1.19.3-x64.AppImage but no error when using balenaEtcher-1.18.11-x64.AppImage

[shunkica]

Same issue with balena-etcher-1.19.3-1.x86_64.rpm on Fedora 39

[wthubhub]

also have same issue with balena-etcher-1.19.3-1.x86_64.rpm on Fedora 39

[eternallfrost]

This issue does not occur on the appimage version of Etcher

[closetruth]

I use archlinux ,balenaEtcher-1.18.8-x64.AppImage can use

[aethernet]

Thanks for the reports guys.
This basically means the sub-process etcher-utils could not be spawned properly (or is not yet ready).
There might be more infos in the debug console.
Can you check what it says ( Ctrl + Shift + I should open it) ?

[ClassANetwork]

Thanks for the reports guys. This basically means the sub-process etcher-utils could not be spawned properly (or is not yet ready). There might be more infos in the debug console. Can you check what it says ( Ctrl + Shift + I should open it) ?

Getting the same on Fedora 39 with version v1.19.3. Tried both RPM and AppImage formats. Same result.
-1706048290684.log

[Kaiddd]

Same on Arch on both x11 and wayland, installed with yay from aur (since people above were talking abt wayland)

AppImage works fine

[pamo22]

Thanks for the reports guys. This basically means the sub-process etcher-utils could not be spawned properly (or is not yet ready). There might be more infos in the debug console. Can you check what it says ( Ctrl + Shift + I should open it) ?

node:events:491 Uncaught Error: spawn /usr/lib/balena-etcher/generated/etcher-util ENOENT
    at __node_internal_captureLargerStackTrace (node:internal/errors:490:5)
    at __node_internal_errnoException (node:internal/errors:620:12)
    at ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:283:19)
    at onErrorNT (node:internal/child_process:476:16)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:82:21)
(anonymous) @ gui.js:3
gui.js:3 TypeError: requestMetadata is not a function
    at gui.js:278:1759
    at SourceSelector.selectSource (gui.js:278:2719)
    at SourceSelector.openImageSelector (gui.js:278:3117)

Unfortunately console does not have much info

[JBlackCat]

OS: Fedora 39
pkg: balena-etcher-1.19.4-1.x86_64.rpm

Looking at the inspector the error is thrown in the source-selector component here... https://github.com/balena-io/etcher/blob/v1.19.4/lib/gui/app/components/source-selector/source-selector.tsx#L425

requestMetadata which is imported from app is still undefined.

https://github.com/balena-io/etcher/blob/v1.19.4/lib/gui/app/app.ts#L139-L157

Since requestMetadata is initially defined as undefined there needs to be an additional check in selectSource to know that requestMetadata has been defined. It appears the only way to know this is listening for the emitted scan event, but I didn't deep dive on a solution.

[nath1as]

still an issue on arch

[kdh8219]

Archlinux, Is this same problem?

[harperbolic]

same problem, archlinux

[Niskeletor]

Experiencing the same issue here on Manjaro and Garuda Linux with balena-etcher-2:1.18.14-1.

Just as @Kaiddd commented, I can confirm that the balenaEtcher-1.5.109-x64.AppImage version works fine on both systems.

[wasantosfi]

Same issue here on ElementaryOS and Zorin OS with balenaEtcher-1.19.5-x64.AppImage.
Confirmed that balenaEtcher-1.18.11-x64.AppImage worked on both systems.

[dmophir]

Experiencing this problem on my Dell XPS 9520 running Arch Linux. This is with balenaEtcher v1.18.14 from AUR, v1.18.12 AppImage, and v1.19.5 AppImage. Running GNOME 45.4 on Wayland with Intel GPU.

[rdouma]

I ran into this issue on a Raspberry Pi 5 and could resolve it with this:

sudo usermod -aG disk $USER
sudo usermod -aG plugdev $USER

Maybe this helps some other poor soul.

[lenkinster]

I had the problem on windows. running belenaEtcher as admin helped.

[alMubarmij]

I have the same issue on Windows 10.
I tried many working ISO files.

[NikitaWeW]

restarting etcher worked

[firewiremb]

Same issue with:
balenaEtcher-1.19.25-x64.AppImage
Kernel: 6.8.0-49-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.2.0 clocksource: tsc
Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.2.9 tk: GTK v: 3.24.41 wm: Muffin v: 6.2.0 vt: 7 dm: LightDM v: 1.30.0
Distro: Linux Mint 22 Wilma base: Ubuntu 24.04 noble

Working for me without issues:
balenaEtcher-1.18.11-x64.AppImage

[RodrickM]

I have the same issue on Windows 10. I tried many working ISO files.

You may need to run it as Administrator.

[brettsy]

As @RodrickM says - RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR

[bahodirovich00]

Guys just open balena etcher with administrator

[SamuelBanya]

Guys just open balena etcher with administrator

Dude, this is a Linux based GitHub issue. Not the same OS.

[mokhov07]

This problem also applies to Mac OS.
I found a workaround to get the result
The terminal runs sudo /Applications/balenaEtcher.app/Contents/MacOS/balenaEtcher.

[ajmoroney]

Same problem on MacOS as well, sudo didn't help in my case, but reinstalling the latest version did.

[Polynices100]

This issue persists from 1.18.3 onwards and is affected by your security as well as 1.19 further perpetuates the issue by making your normal windows security complain. I would recommend also clearing %temp% when changing to a different version as it doesn't seem to clear itself automatically when the program is deleted. I think that sums up the issue.

[yaboidillon]

Guys just open balena etcher with administrator

Dude, this is a Linux based GitHub issue. Not the same OS.

I got redirected to this thread and I'm on Windows. It seems it's an issue arising for all operating systems.

[unes0111]

Etcher version: 1.19.25
OS & Architecture: Linux 6.11.0-108013-tuxedo x86_64

I had the same issue. This method worked for me.

Removing all file systems from USB device using wipefs (I don't know if this step has any effect or not!):

wipefs -a /some/usb

Reinstalling etcher:

rm -rf /home/USER/.config/balenaEtcher/
unzip balenaEtcher-linux-x64-1.19.25.zip
sudo chown root:root ./balenaEtcher-linux-x64/chrome-sandbox
sudo chmod 4755 ./balenaEtcher-linux-x64/chrome-sandbox

Run ecther:

./balenaEtcher-linux-x64/balena-etcher --no-sandbox

[github12101]

Not fixed since 2023? I am still experiencing this in 2025.
Reverted back to old version and magically it works, WITHOUT ADMINISTRATOR.

[dimtoneff]

Had to revert to 1.18.11 on Windows. Same error on 1.19+ with admin rights or not. Couldn't open ANY ISO.

[adriy-be]

Had to revert to 1.18.11 on Windows. Same error on 1.19+ with admin rights or not. Couldn't open ANY ISO.

That solve the problem. Thanks

[joshiors]

Same. Installed the 1.18.11 on Windows after the problem, and flashed correctly the usb.

[De-Been-Tech-Solutions]

This doesn't even work with Administrator.

[PrantsOP]

its random, if i close and open the app like 5 times it fixes

[axelsimon]

This still happens with the just released balenaEtcher-2.0.0-x64.AppImage.