# App initialization error in neo4j desktop

**URL:** <https://community.neo4j.com/t/app-initialization-error-in-neo4j-desktop/34959>\
**Category:** Desktop\
**Tags:** windows, neo4j-desktop\
**Created:** [March 9, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/app-initialization-error-in-neo4j-desktop/34959 "2021-03-09T18:46:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![indranpw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/indranpw/32/4097_2.png) [@indranpw](https://community.neo4j.com/u/indranpw)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/app-initialization-error-in-neo4j-desktop/34959/1 "2021-03-09T18:46:34Z")

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I installed neo4j desktop on my windows laptop. It works fine for a few days but the app does not launch after that. I tried reinstalling it a lot of times and the same thing happens - Works fine for a few days and then does not launch.

I see this error message in the neo4j logs everytime this error happens-

```auto
App initialization error: SyntaxError: Malformed JSON in file: C:\Users\Indra_K\.Neo4jDesktop\persist\projects.json
Unexpected token < in JSON at position 0 {
  constructor: 'SyntaxError',
  stack: 'SyntaxError: Malformed JSON in file: C:\\Users\\Indra_K\\.Neo4jDesktop\\persist\\projects.json\n' +
    'Unexpected token < in JSON at position 0\n' +
    ' at FileAsync.parse [as deserialize] (<anonymous>)\n' +
    ' at C:\\Program Files\\Neo4j Desktop\\resources\\app.asar\\node_modules\\lowdb\\adapters\\FileAsync.js:41:35\n' +
    ' at async C:\\Program Files\\Neo4j Desktop\\resources\\app.asar\\dist\\main.prod.js:1:177229\n' +
    ' at async C:\\Program Files\\Neo4j Desktop\\resources\\app.asar\\dist\\main.prod.js:1:223470'

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wirselix](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/wirselix/32/947_2.png) [@wirselix](https://community.neo4j.com/u/wirselix)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 7:01am UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/app-initialization-error-in-neo4j-desktop/34959/2 "2021-05-12T07:01:14Z")

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Hi indranpw.  
I have a similar problem and no idea how to solve it. I wonder whether you managed to solve the problem.  
Best Markus

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**Author:** ![ponceortiz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/ponceortiz/32/19816_2.png) [@ponceortiz](https://community.neo4j.com/u/ponceortiz)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/app-initialization-error-in-neo4j-desktop/34959/3 "2021-05-12T18:03:36Z")

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You must to find the .json file that the error message talks about it then try to copy the backup file , in my case was the "notifications.json" , looks like you have to find the "projects.json" file

Greetings

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**Author:** ![christopherddunn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/christopherddunn/32/18376_2.png) [@christopherddunn](https://community.neo4j.com/u/christopherddunn)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 9:48am UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/app-initialization-error-in-neo4j-desktop/34959/4 "2021-08-09T09:48:43Z")

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This worked for me thanks!