# Can't Start Truly Fresh Install of Jopln

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [4 December 2019 20:51 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561 "2019-12-04T20:51:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rockhazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@rockhazard](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/rockhazard)\
**Post date:** [4 December 2019 20:51 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561/1 "2019-12-04T20:51:26Z")

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Desktop OS: Linux Mint 19.2  
Joplin Desktop v. 1.0.174  
Mobile platform: Galaxy S10e, Android 9  
Joplin Mobile: 1.0.311  
Sync method: Dropbox

I wanted to start fresh with an imported backup of my notes, since Joplin on my new mobile phone wouldn’t decrypt my notes for days with the above setup. I decided to wipe my keys and start over, which isn’t a problem for me. For some reason, old keys are still popping up and there are duplicate notes and a few still-encrypted files, as if it hadn’t really gotten rid of some of the old informatino. **How do I clear these old files and keys as if I’m a truly new user with a fresh install and no old keys?**

I followed this process:

1. Stop the mobile app, cleared its cache and storage, then uninstalled it.
2. Removed any residual Joplin files from the phone via search/delete.
3. Removed ~/.config/joplin-desktop file.
4. Removed Dropbox App folder locally and made sure that it was no longer lingering on any other machines or in the cloud.
5. Imported my jex backup file on desktop; everything seemed in order on the desktop
6. Enabled encryption and connected with Dropbox from my desktop machine, then waiting for it to say it had finished syncing.
7. Reinstalled Joplin on phone and synced.
8. Input key password on request.

Most notes decrypted, but there are duplicates and it’s _still_ expecting old keys along with a few encrypted notes. Also, on a separate note, **the mobile app won’t display pictures in notes,** despite them being available on the desktop. It only displays a kind of download icon that I cannot select.

Thanks for any help in advance.

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**Author:** ![laurent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laurent](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/laurent)\
**Post date:** [4 December 2019 22:36 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561/2 "2019-12-04T22:36:30Z")

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For the missing images, they’ll be downloaded over time.

For the keys, what does the encryption config page says?

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**Author:** ![rockhazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@rockhazard](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/rockhazard)\
**Post date:** [5 December 2019 07:08 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561/3 "2019-12-05T07:08:01Z")

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You were right about the images. They showed up, thankfully.  
As for the config page is as follows:  
[Config Text on Pastebin](https://pastebin.com/fGcuqziK)

 ![joplin_mobile_encryption_config_page](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/2X/f/fd4413e3e750aff8ec852d57e7dad8307b3c16e1.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![laurent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laurent](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/laurent)\
**Post date:** [5 December 2019 09:08 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561/4 "2019-12-05T09:08:57Z")

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You have multiple master keys and you need to input the password for each of them, there’s currently no way around this.

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**Author:** ![rockhazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@rockhazard](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/rockhazard)\
**Post date:** [5 December 2019 13:48 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561/5 "2019-12-05T13:48:49Z")

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Well, I sort of understood that, but it seems bizarre that given the previous steps Joplin would even know about the old master keys. If the backups are not encrypted and the databases and profiles have been wiped out, how would it know to ask for old master keys? Does the backup contain references to previous master keys, despite not being encrypted itself?

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**Author:** ![laurent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laurent](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/laurent)\
**Post date:** [5 December 2019 14:15 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561/6 "2019-12-05T14:15:04Z")

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The exporter doesn’t export master keys so they come from somewhere else. It can only be from a profile or from the sync target.

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**Author:** ![rockhazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@rockhazard](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/rockhazard)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2019 03:58 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561/7 "2019-12-06T03:58:16Z")

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Thanks. So as long as I remove all profiles on desktop and mobile devices and remove the Apps directory in Dropbox, I should be able to start fresh with only one new master key, correct? If so, I thought I did that, but I will try again. Just to check, on Android devices, are the profiles kept in **/data/user/0/net.cozic.joplin**?

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**Author:** ![crtkugrrvjy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@crtkugrrvjy](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/crtkugrrvjy)\
**Post date:** [28 November 2023 09:23 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561/8 "2023-11-28T09:23:48Z")

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I'm having real issues completing a sync to Android (actively syncs+decrypts until crash - always crashes at the same point). Two Windows PCs syncing just fine, but two Android phones crashing every time it's opened (unless I switch off internet first). Tried so many ways to fix it, and finally [this](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/encrypted-orphaned-tags-lingering-and-prompting-for-missing-master-key/4832) sounds very much like my issue.

Do I need to delete that folder you describe on Android, or also delete all traces from Windows (in which case, do I need to export to JEX, delete, sync the deletions to Joplin Cloud, re-import from JEX?)

Thanks for your help!

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**Author:** ![crtkugrrvjy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@crtkugrrvjy](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/crtkugrrvjy)\
**Post date:** [10 December 2023 17:57 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/cant-start-truly-fresh-install-of-jopln/4561/9 "2023-12-10T17:57:22Z")

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Started a new post here, as my situation is a bit messier. Would appreciate help please!

> [@Android crashing, likely lost encryption keys/phantom encrypted content](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/android-crashing-likely-lost-encryption-keys-phantom-encrypted-content/34256):
>
> Operating system Android Joplin version 2.13.10 Desktop version info Windows 2.12.19 Sync target Joplin Cloud Editor Rich Text Editor What issue do you have? I'm very happy with Joplin overall, but I've encountered an error that makes it unusable for now on my phone. Every time I open the app, it tries syncing/decrypting and then Android gives me the error "Joplin has stopped". This happens within ~30s every time I open it, but if I quickly cancel the sync or open without a wifi/4g connecti…