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[GH-ISSUE #7204] [Bug]: Desktop app "Domain" field in "Configure your server" screen is not editable #92636

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opened 2026-05-26 03:54:48 -05:00 by GiteaMirror · 8 comments
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-26 03:54:48 -05:00
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Originally created by @seathwolf on GitHub (Mar 14, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues/7204

What happened?

I was trying to connect the Windows desktop app to my self-hosted Actual Budget server when setting up the app for the first time.

Expected: The Domain field on the "Configure your server" screen should be editable so I can enter my server IP address.

Actual: The Domain field cannot be clicked, focused, or typed into at all. Only the Port field accepts input. This makes it impossible to connect to a non-localhost server through the UI.

Workaround: Manually editing the server-url value in %AppData%\Actual\global-store.json works, but the field reverts to localhost on next launch.

How can we reproduce the issue?

  1. Install Actual Budget desktop app on Windows 11
  2. Launch the app for the first time
  3. On the "Configure your server" screen, attempt to click and type in the Domain field
  4. Expected: Field accepts input
  5. Actual: Field is completely unresponsive to clicks and keyboard input. Port field works fine.

Where are you hosting Actual?

NAS

What browsers are you seeing the problem on?

Desktop App (Electron)

Operating System

Windows 11

Originally created by @seathwolf on GitHub (Mar 14, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues/7204 ### What happened? I was trying to connect the Windows desktop app to my self-hosted Actual Budget server when setting up the app for the first time. Expected: The Domain field on the "Configure your server" screen should be editable so I can enter my server IP address. Actual: The Domain field cannot be clicked, focused, or typed into at all. Only the Port field accepts input. This makes it impossible to connect to a non-localhost server through the UI. Workaround: Manually editing the server-url value in %AppData%\Actual\global-store.json works, but the field reverts to localhost on next launch. ### How can we reproduce the issue? 1. Install Actual Budget desktop app on Windows 11 2. Launch the app for the first time 3. On the "Configure your server" screen, attempt to click and type in the Domain field 4. Expected: Field accepts input 5. Actual: Field is completely unresponsive to clicks and keyboard input. Port field works fine. ### Where are you hosting Actual? NAS ### What browsers are you seeing the problem on? Desktop App (Electron) ### Operating System Windows 11
GiteaMirror added the bug label 2026-05-26 03:54:48 -05:00
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-26 03:54:52 -05:00
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@youngcw commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026):

Correct. The desktop app can only listen on localhost

<!-- gh-comment-id:4063072951 --> @youngcw commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026): Correct. The desktop app can only listen on localhost
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-26 03:54:53 -05:00
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@seathwolf commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026):

Thank you for the response. I understand the desktop app
listens on localhost, however the issue is that the "Domain"
field in the "Configure your server" screen does not accept
any keyboard input on Windows 11, making it impossible to
enter a remote server URL through the UI.

The documentation at actualbudget.org/docs/getting-started/sync
states that users can connect to a self-hosted server. If the
Domain field is intentionally read-only, how are Windows users
expected to connect to a remote self-hosted server?

Workaround used: manually editing global-store.json, however
the value reverts to localhost on next launch.

Please consider reopening this issue.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4063086034 --> @seathwolf commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026): Thank you for the response. I understand the desktop app listens on localhost, however the issue is that the "Domain" field in the "Configure your server" screen does not accept any keyboard input on Windows 11, making it impossible to enter a remote server URL through the UI. The documentation at actualbudget.org/docs/getting-started/sync states that users can connect to a self-hosted server. If the Domain field is intentionally read-only, how are Windows users expected to connect to a remote self-hosted server? Workaround used: manually editing global-store.json, however the value reverts to localhost on next launch. Please consider reopening this issue.
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-26 03:54:54 -05:00
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@youngcw commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026):

You can host a server via docker, the cli tool, or from source. The desktop app can be accessed externally if you use some sort of proxy to forward external traffic to localhost to access the server inside the desktop app.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4063105908 --> @youngcw commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026): You can host a server via docker, the cli tool, or from source. The desktop app can be accessed externally if you use some sort of proxy to forward external traffic to localhost to access the server inside the desktop app.
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-26 03:54:55 -05:00
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@seathwolf commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026):

I think there may be a misunderstanding. I am not trying
to host a server on my Windows machine.

My setup:

  • Actual Budget server is already running on my self-hosted
    NAS at 192.168.0.199:31012
  • Server is working correctly — I can access it via browser
    with no issues
  • I want the Windows DESKTOP APP to connect to my existing
    NAS server as a CLIENT

The documentation states the desktop app can
"connect to a server" — this is exactly my use case.

The Domain field in the desktop app's "Configure your server"
screen does not accept keyboard input on Windows 11, making
it impossible to enter my server's IP address through the UI.

This is not a hosting question. This is a Windows UI bug
preventing the desktop app from connecting to an existing
remote server.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4063112863 --> @seathwolf commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026): I think there may be a misunderstanding. I am not trying to host a server on my Windows machine. My setup: - Actual Budget server is already running on my self-hosted NAS at 192.168.0.199:31012 - Server is working correctly — I can access it via browser with no issues - I want the Windows DESKTOP APP to connect to my existing NAS server as a CLIENT The documentation states the desktop app can "connect to a server" — this is exactly my use case. The Domain field in the desktop app's "Configure your server" screen does not accept keyboard input on Windows 11, making it impossible to enter my server's IP address through the UI. This is not a hosting question. This is a Windows UI bug preventing the desktop app from connecting to an existing remote server.
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-26 03:54:57 -05:00
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@youngcw commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026):

If you already have a hosted server, then I recommend against using the desktop app. You run into version issues that way. Install the PWA via your browser if you want an app like client. You can connect the desktop app to a server but you need to tell it to use an existing server and not say to start your own from the desktop app.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4063169220 --> @youngcw commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026): If you already have a hosted server, then I recommend against using the desktop app. You run into version issues that way. Install the PWA via your browser if you want an app like client. You can connect the desktop app to a server but you need to tell it to use an existing server and not say to start your own from the desktop app.
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-26 03:54:58 -05:00
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@seathwolf commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026):

Thank you for the PWA suggestion — I already have that
installed and working.

However I want to address your comment directly:

"You can connect the desktop app to a server but you need
to tell it to use an existing server"

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO FROM THE
BEGINNING OF THIS ISSUE.

The Domain field in the "Configure your server" screen
does not accept keyboard input on Windows 11.

I cannot "tell it to use an existing server" because
THE FIELD WILL NOT LET ME TYPE IN IT.

To summarize this entire issue in one sentence:

The Domain input field in the Windows desktop app's
server configuration screen is completely unresponsive
to mouse clicks and keyboard input, making it impossible
to enter a remote server address through the UI.

This is a Windows UI bug. Nothing more, nothing less.

I am sorry, but I don't know how else to explain this problem,
especially since your last reply just described the exact bug I am
trying to report.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4063188926 --> @seathwolf commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026): Thank you for the PWA suggestion — I already have that installed and working. However I want to address your comment directly: "You can connect the desktop app to a server but you need to tell it to use an existing server" THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS ISSUE. The Domain field in the "Configure your server" screen does not accept keyboard input on Windows 11. I cannot "tell it to use an existing server" because THE FIELD WILL NOT LET ME TYPE IN IT. To summarize this entire issue in one sentence: The Domain input field in the Windows desktop app's server configuration screen is completely unresponsive to mouse clicks and keyboard input, making it impossible to enter a remote server address through the UI. This is a Windows UI bug. Nothing more, nothing less. I am sorry, but I don't know how else to explain this problem, especially since your last reply just described the exact bug I am trying to report.
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-26 03:54:59 -05:00
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@youngcw commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026):

Image

Click "use an external server"

Is that not working? I just did it and that worked fine but I'm not using windows

<!-- gh-comment-id:4063198618 --> @youngcw commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026): <img width="548" height="157" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/52bd4aa3-bf3b-4ee9-a565-299242cd7cab" /> Click "use an external server" Is that not working? I just did it and that worked fine but I'm not using windows
GiteaMirror commented 2026-05-26 03:55:00 -05:00
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@seathwolf commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026):

Update: Downloaded a fresh copy from the website today
and the "Use an external server" option is now present
and working as expected.

Thank you for your help.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4063223895 --> @seathwolf commented on GitHub (Mar 15, 2026): Update: Downloaded a fresh copy from the website today and the "Use an external server" option is now present and working as expected. Thank you for your help.
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