ValveSoftware
[BUG] Failed to connect to window manager (497) - Nobara 42
Describe the bug When I try to start SteamVR, I get this error:
Failed to connect to window manager
SteamVR failed to connect to the window manager. You may need to restart your session or SteamVR.
Restart SteamVR (497)
To Reproduce Steps to reproduce the behavior:
- Try to start SteamVR
Expected behavior SteamVR starts
System Information (please complete the following information): Please use the latest Steam beta client and SteamVR beta for your bug reports!
- Steam client version (build number or date): 1757650573 (2025-09-12)
- SteamVR version: 2.13.4
- Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Fedora 42
- Steam runtime diagnostics: https://pastebin.com/nkDp7ZFY
- SteamVR logs:
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.481978 [Info] - ================================================================================================
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.482004 [Info] - ================================================================================================
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.482036 [Info] - vrstartup 2.12.14 startup with PID=86418, config=/home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/config, runtime=/home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR, arch=linux64
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.482090 [Info] - vrclient type=VRApplication_Bootstrapper
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.482116 [Info] - Skipping HMD presence checks.
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.485796 [Info] - Set thread 0x7fcfb8e906c0 priority to: -15
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.486493 [Info] - [Settings] Load Default Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/drivers/htc/resources/settings/default.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.486550 [Info] - [Settings] Load Default Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/drivers/lighthouse/resources/settings/default.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.486599 [Info] - [Settings] Load Default Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/drivers/null/resources/settings/default.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.486661 [Info] - [Settings] Load Default Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/drivers/vrlink/resources/settings/default.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.486833 [Info] - [Settings] Load Default Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/resources/settings/default.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.487167 [Info] - [Settings] Load Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/config/steamvr.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.487338 [Info] - CIPCPipe::ConnectPipe(SteamVR_Namespace) attempting connect to /steamvr/SteamVR_Namespace
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.487364 [Info] - Unable to connect to pipe errno=111
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.487435 [Info] - Starting vrserver process: /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64/vrserver -waitformonitor -ipccontrolfilepath /tmp/SteamVR-IPCControlFile-86418 in /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.638734 [Info] - vrserver pid 86573
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.638815 [Info] - CIPCPipe::ConnectPipe(SteamVR_Namespace) attempting connect to /steamvr/SteamVR_Namespace
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.646445 [Info] - CSharedResourceNamespaceClient::Init(): received namespace data 86573
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:11.646509 [Info] - CIPCPipe::ConnectPipe(VR_ServerPipe_86573) attempting connect to /steamvr/VR_ServerPipe_86573
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:12.614497 [Info] - Received success response from vrserver connect
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:14.718409 [Info] - Timed out waiting for a good app key
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:14.718464 [Info] - App key after connect message:steam.overlay.250820
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:14.723827 [Info] - CIPCPipe::ConnectPipe(VR_CompositorPipe_86573) attempting connect to /steamvr/VR_CompositorPipe_86573
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:14.723854 [Info] - Unable to connect to pipe errno=111
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:14.735417 [Info] - Start vrcompositor under the Steam for Linux runtime: sniper_platform_3.0.20250723.149183
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:14.735450 [Info] - Preparing to start vrcompositor at host level for elevated capatibilities via Steam's launcher service.
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:14.735535 [Info] - Starting vrcompositor process: steam-runtime-launch-client args: --alongside-steam --directory=/home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64 -- /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64/vrcompositor-launcher.sh, in folder /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:14.973450 [Info] - CIPCPipe::ConnectPipe(VR_CompositorPipe_86573) attempting connect to /steamvr/VR_CompositorPipe_86573
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:15.074719 [Info] - Error reading from socket
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:15.074755 [Info] - Unable to read message from socket: 104
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:15.074780 [Info] - GetNextMessage failed while waiting for message of type 501 on pipe VR_CompositorPipe_86573
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:15.074804 [Info] - Invalid response to connect message. Connect failed
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:06:15.090586 [Info] - Started /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64/vrmonitor with pid 86667
- SteamVR Beta logs:
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.699850 [Info] - ================================================================================================
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.699867 [Info] - ================================================================================================
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.699887 [Info] - vrstartup 2.13.4 startup with PID=88988, config=/home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/config, runtime=/home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR, arch=linux64
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.699924 [Info] - vrclient type=VRApplication_Bootstrapper
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.699944 [Info] - Skipping HMD presence checks.
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.703684 [Info] - Set thread 0x7f27c77cd6c0 priority to: -15
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.704375 [Info] - [Settings] Load Default Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/drivers/htc/resources/settings/default.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.704446 [Info] - [Settings] Load Default Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/drivers/lighthouse/resources/settings/default.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.704498 [Info] - [Settings] Load Default Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/drivers/null/resources/settings/default.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.704562 [Info] - [Settings] Load Default Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/drivers/vrlink/resources/settings/default.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.704727 [Info] - [Settings] Load Default Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/resources/settings/default.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.705012 [Info] - [Settings] Load Json Settings from /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/config/steamvr.vrsettings
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.705180 [Info] - CIPCPipe::ConnectPipe(SteamVR_Namespace) attempting connect to /steamvr/SteamVR_Namespace
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.705207 [Info] - Unable to connect to pipe errno=111
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.705275 [Info] - Starting vrserver process: /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64/vrserver -waitformonitor -ipccontrolfilepath /tmp/SteamVR-IPCControlFile-88988 in /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.856712 [Info] - vrserver pid 89128
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.856801 [Info] - CIPCPipe::ConnectPipe(SteamVR_Namespace) attempting connect to /steamvr/SteamVR_Namespace
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.858441 [Info] - CSharedResourceNamespaceClient::Init(): received namespace data 89128
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:15.858483 [Info] - CIPCPipe::ConnectPipe(VR_ServerPipe_89128) attempting connect to /steamvr/VR_ServerPipe_89128
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:16.826620 [Info] - Received success response from vrserver connect
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:16.828772 [Info] - App key after connect message:openvr.component.vrstartup
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:16.834438 [Info] - CIPCPipe::ConnectPipe(VR_CompositorPipe_89128) attempting connect to /steamvr/VR_CompositorPipe_89128
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:16.834469 [Info] - Unable to connect to pipe errno=111
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:16.846459 [Info] - Start vrcompositor under the Steam for Linux runtime: sniper_platform_3.0.20250723.149183
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:16.846503 [Info] - Preparing to start vrcompositor at host level for elevated capatibilities via Steam's launcher service.
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:16.846583 [Info] - Starting vrcompositor process: steam-runtime-launch-client args: --alongside-steam --directory=/home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64 -- /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64/vrcompositor-launcher.sh, in folder /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:17.085286 [Info] - CIPCPipe::ConnectPipe(VR_CompositorPipe_89128) attempting connect to /steamvr/VR_CompositorPipe_89128
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:17.191864 [Info] - Error reading from socket
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:17.191905 [Info] - Unable to read message from socket: 104
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:17.191930 [Info] - GetNextMessage failed while waiting for message of type 501 on pipe VR_CompositorPipe_89128
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:17.191948 [Info] - Invalid response to connect message. Connect failed
Thu Sep 18 2025 17:11:17.208642 [Info] - Started /home/kevin/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64/vrmonitor with pid 89212
Screenshots
Additional context VR Headset is Valve Index if relevant
I am seeing similar on Kinoite with the flatpak - I am not sure if perhaps Plasma changed/regressed DRM leasing
edit: might be related to https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=507677
Its been marked as a high priority
Just chiming in that I also have the same issue. And I am also running Nobara 42 (Fedora). I am also getting a popup with the following error:
Steam VR failed initialization with error code VRInitError_[PC_CompositorInvalid ConnectResponse: "Shared IPC Compositor Invalid Connect Response (307)"
Please verify SteamVR is properly installed and try again.
In my case I'm using an HTC Vive.
- Steam client version (build number or date): 1759461205 (03 Oct 4:27 AM)
- SteamVR version: 2.13.6 (beta branch), 2.12.14 (release branch), 2.11.2 (previous branch)
- Distribution: Nobara (Fedora) 42
Same issue with Valve Index on Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS. Error 497, as well as Shared IPC Compositor Connect Failed (306) error.
I got the same issue on Gentoo Linux with my Valve Index.
When starting SteamVR there are a few flickers and then the error shows: Failed to connect to window manager. SteamVR failed to connect to the window manager. You may need to restart your session or SteamVR. (497)
SteamVR shows Headset, Controllers and Base Stations as green. When trying to ignore the error and trying to start e.g. the room setup the Headset and Controllers are showing offline and this error appears: SteamVR failed initialization with error code VRInitError_IPC_CompositorInvalidConnectResponse: "Shared IPC Compositor Invalid Connect Response (307)". Please verify SteamVR is properly installed and try again.
Restarting PC, restarting Valve Index, reinstalling Steam/SteamVR does not help.
Steam Client version: 1763795278 SteamVR version: 2.14.3 (beta branch), 2.13.7 (release branch), 2.12.14 (previous branch)
Distribution: Gentoo Linux x86_64 6.17.8-gentoo-dist KDE Plasma 6.5.3 Display Server: Wayland
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X (16) @ 4.85 GHz GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT [Discrete] Memory: 125.69 GiB Filesystem: btrfs
SteamVR System Report: SteamVR-2025-11-23-PM_07_35_27.txt
Edit: I got a very helpful reply here. After downgrading mesa to 25.2.7 everything works again.
Same problem here on Manjaro. It happened with the last major update. I tried to downgrade Mesa from 25.3.1 to 25.2.7, but it did not resolve the problem. Switching to SteamVR beta and previous did not resolve the problem.
Gnome 49 6.17.11-1-MANJARO Wayland
AMD Radeon™ RX 9070 XT AMD Ryzen™ 9 5900X × 24
SteamVR-2025-11-23-PM_07_35_27.txt
Hello @Fl0ux, your runtime diagnostics says that the mesa downgrade did not take effect. You're experiencing #836.
My bad, I had to downgrade vulkan-mesa-device-select and vulkan-radeon in addition to mesa.
Thanks
Hello,
I have the same underlying problem here on Nobara 43, although I'm not able to downgrade the mesa-drivers. A little bit of backstory: I used to have a NVIDIA GPU, which worked fine. Now I just got a AMD RX 9070 XT and switched all drivers, and also tried installing Nobara on a different SSD without all nvidia packages, but to the same result.
If I try to downgrade from mesa-25.3.1 to mesa-25.2.7 as mentioned in the posts above, my system also wants to uninstall Steam. Also the other way around, if I try to reinstall Steam with the downgraded mesa, it wants to update to mesa-25.3.x, as if it were a hard dependency. I also tested all combinations of SteamVR beta and previous branch, in addition to all Steam Runtime 3.0 (sniper), beta and previous branch. NonVR Steam games work just fine. Can someone help, please?
Steam Client version: 1763795278 SteamVR version: 2.14.4 (release branch)
Distribution: Nobara Linux 43 KDE Plasma 6.5.3 Display Server: Wayland
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT Memory: 32 GiB Filesystem: btrfs Headset: Valve Index
Steam runtime diagnostics.txt steam-logs.tar.gz steam-minidumps.tar.gz
This issue report predates the more recent regression with mesa 25.3.0. Please use #836 to discuss that video driver regression.