How to fix NetworkManage not running on Linux

Losing connection to the Internet can be frustrating - and much worse when you find that NetworkManager isn't running at all. Unfortunately, this problem is often encountered by users running distributions like Arch Linux and Ubuntu.

In most cases, problems with NetworkManager are simple to solve. You may find that the solution is as easy as reinstalling NetworkManager or enabling service. Let's look at some methods that are effective in solving most problems NetworkManager does not run on Linux.

1. Verify that NetworkManager is installed and updated

Some users noticed that NetworkManager stopped running because the service was uninstalled or incompatible with their system. You can determine if NetworkManager is running by opening a terminal and entering the following command:

systemctl status NetworkManager

Terminal will print information about the status of NetworkManager. Read the printed information and then press Ctrl + C to exit the prompt. You should investigate potential problems with your WiFi connection if you are having trouble connecting to the Internet but find that NetworkManager is working.

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If Terminal indicates that the service is down, you should make sure that NetworkManager is installed and up to date. You can use the following commands to verify that NetworkManager is up to date and install any new updates if not already done:

sudo apt install network-manager sudo apt upgrade network-manager

You should also install the GNOME applet for NetworkManager if you are using a GNOME-based distribution, such as Ubuntu or Debian. You can install this applet with the following command:

sudo apt install network-manager-gnome sudo apt upgrade network-manager-gnome

Test your connection by trying to connect to the Internet. Network service functions can usually be restored by installing and/or updating NetworkManager. You may also need to restart NetworkManager with the following systemctl command:

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

It is important to note that the reference terms you use for NetworkManager will vary depending on your system and may require adjustment. Computers that use the Upstart initializer will treat NetworkManager as the network-manager. Computers that use the systemd initializer will call NetworkManager NetworkManager.service.

Most users running operating systems use the systemd initializer. For example, Ubuntu uses systemd and dropped backward compatibility for Upstart after 10/20 (Groovy Gorilla).

Even in systemd, the term of reference can change by context. NetworkManager refers to service while NetworkManager refers to software package.

2. Enable NetworkManager to run at startup

If you find that starting NetworkManager manually works until you restart your PC, the problem may be that NetworkManager doesn't have permission to run at startup. You can work around this by opening a terminal and entering a simple command to activate it:

systemctl enable NetworkManager

Restart the computer and then try to connect to the Internet. Your problem will be solved if the problem with NetworkManager is that it cannot run at startup. If it fails to run, enter the following command for more information about its status:

systemctl status NetworkManager

Read logs printed at the bottom of Terminal. These logs can give you useful information about which startup process caused NetworkManager to fail. You can investigate errors raised or share them with online forum members for advanced troubleshooting.

You should also consider whether any recent changes you made to your PC could prevent NetworkManager from working properly. If you have recently changed settings in files like /etc/systemd/system.conf , you should immediately revert these changes and restart your PC.

Misconfigured VPNs are also commonly known to cause problems with NetworkManager. You should consider reverting any VPN configurations and reinstalling the VPN if you believe that might be the source of your problems with NetworkManager.

Any factors unique to the system that can affect network services are worth considering. If you decide to seek online troubleshooting help, making this information available to forum members will also make it easier for them to investigate the problem and provide the help you need.

Lesley Montoya

Update 24 July 2023