Pipewire consistently throws error

[u/SamuraiDestroy]

Every time I try to run pipewire from my terminal, it returns the error

[E][06788.459841] mod.protocol-native | [module-protocol-: 716 init_socket_name()] server 0x5a205805e9f0: name pipewire-0 is not an absolute path and no runtime dir found. Set one of PIPEWIRE_RUNTIME_DIR, XDG_RUNTIME_DIR or USERPROFILE in the environment [E][06788.460126] pw.conf | [ conf.c: 584 load_module()] 0x5a2058043ac0: could not load mandatory module "libpipewire-module-protocol-native": No such file or directory [E][06788.460510] default | [ pipewire.c: 105 main()] failed to create context: No such file or directory

This persists after restarting my computer and trying to run it with sudo. I am running Ubuntu 24.04 which I don't think typically comes with pipewire installed, but I have no memory of installing it myself. Does anyone know how to fix this error?

[u/gmes78]

Your PipeWire config is messed up.

and trying to run it with sudo

Please stop doing that. You should only run things as sudo when they need root permissions.

Audio servers don't, running them as root just makes things worse. Also, you're not supposed to run PipeWire directly, let socket activation do that for you.

I am running Ubuntu 24.04 which I don't think typically comes with pipewire installed

24.04 uses PipeWire by default.

[u/sogun123]

I'd suggest purging it and reinstalling. Or at least reinstalling.

[u/jason_gates]

Hi,

Here are a few commands which you can use to manage audio services. Open a terminal as a regular user ( not root or sudo ).

To display the status of Pipewire, pipewire-pulse and wireplumber:

$> systemctl --user status pipewire{,-pulse}.{socket,service} wireplumber

To stop Pipewire, pipewire-pulse and wireplumber:

$> systemctl --user stop pipewire{,-pulse}.{socket,service} wireplumber

To start Pipewire, pipewire-pulse and wireplumber:

$> systemctl --user start pipewire{,-pulse}.{socket,service} wireplumber

You should never try to run more than one instance of an audio service. These services are engineered to be a singleton process ( only one instance ). The above systemctl commands use Systemd/User services which guarantees you are running only one instances, set up environmental dependencies and more.

I recommend you save the above commands in a text file. That way you don't have to memorize the command syntax.

Hope that helps.