Desktop preferences not saving changes on RPi4 with Buster

[amilino]

I am not able to change anything in Desktop preferences (pipanel). It is always reverted to default settings. I checked config file (~/.config/lxpanel/LXDE-pi/panels) for write permissions. It is very anoying.

[DirkS]

Does your SD card retain *any* changes?
Create e.g. a new text file in your home directory, then reboot.
Is the file still there with the same contents?

[amilino]

It was another file with wrong permissions. Strange how this permissions are initially configured.

[Michiel O.]

Which file precisely had the wrong pemissions? What were the correct permissions?

[amilino]

~/.config/pcmanfm/LXDE-pi/desktop-item-0.conf

[HawaiianPi]

That kind of stuff typically happens when you use sudo in your home directory.

[Michiel O.]

sudo for what? Not for installing packages. sudo apt install joe from my home directory has no ill effects. Perhaps trying to start the desktop GUI as root? Maybe then the .conf file gets root as owner, and that might conflict with writing to it from your user-level account.

[amilino]

No it was a fresh install of Buster and logged in as pi user.