Version 2.34.0 - Missing X Server or $DISPLAY (Docker version of MMOS)

Mathes75

G’Morning everyone reading this!

Yesterday I set up a new MagicMirror, using a Raspberry Pi 3 B+, a 16GB SD with the most recent image from https://gitlab.com/khassel/magicmirror, connected to a HDMI monitor.
It fired up, did some magic, I was able to install my favorite modules, but after individualizing the config.js to use those modules (MMM-WordClock, MMM-Remote-Control) and to customize my view, the MagicMirror just starts every third (hard-)reboot.

docker logs mm output:

[entrypoint 07:02:17.102] [INFO]  symlink default modules
[2026-01-09 08:02:20.468] [LOG]   [app] Starting MagicMirror: v2.34.0 
[2026-01-09 08:02:20.489] [LOG]   [app] Loading config ... 
[2026-01-09 08:02:20.496] [LOG]   [app] config template file not exists, no envsubst 
[2026-01-09 08:02:21.782] [INFO]  [check_config] Checking config file /opt/magic_mirror/config/config.js ... 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.038] [INFO]  [check_config] Your configuration file doesn't contain syntax errors :) 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.042] [INFO]  [check_config] Checking modules structure configuration ... 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.352] [INFO]  [check_config] Your modules structure configuration doesn't contain errors :) 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.358] [LOG]   [app] Loading module helpers ... 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.362] [LOG]   [app] No helper found for module: MMM-WordClock. 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.364] [LOG]   [app] No helper found for module: alert. 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.386] [LOG]   [node_helper] Initializing new module helper ... 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.388] [LOG]   [node_helper] Module helper loaded: updatenotification 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.390] [LOG]   [app] No helper found for module: clock. 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.560] [LOG]   [node_helper] Initializing new module helper ... 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.562] [LOG]   [node_helper] Module helper loaded: calendar 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.563] [LOG]   [app] No helper found for module: weather. 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.763] [LOG]   [node_helper] Initializing new module helper ... 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.764] [LOG]   [node_helper] Module helper loaded: newsfeed 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.957] [LOG]   [node_helper] Initializing new module helper ... 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.958] [LOG]   [node_helper] Module helper loaded: MMM-Remote-Control 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.960] [LOG]   [app] All module helpers loaded. 
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.980] [LOG]   [server] Starting server on port 8080 ...  
[2026-01-09 08:02:22.986] [WARN]  [server] You're using a full whitelist configuration to allow for all IPs 
[2026-01-09 08:02:23.076] [LOG]   [app] Server started ... 
[2026-01-09 08:02:23.079] [LOG]   [node_helper] Connecting socket for: updatenotification 
[2026-01-09 08:02:23.081] [LOG]   [node_helper] Starting module helper: updatenotification 
[2026-01-09 08:02:23.083] [LOG]   [node_helper] Connecting socket for: calendar 
[2026-01-09 08:02:23.085] [LOG]   [calendar] Starting node helper for: calendar 
[2026-01-09 08:02:23.087] [LOG]   [node_helper] Connecting socket for: newsfeed 
[2026-01-09 08:02:23.088] [LOG]   [newsfeed] Starting node helper for: newsfeed 
[2026-01-09 08:02:23.090] [LOG]   [node_helper] Connecting socket for: MMM-Remote-Control 
[2026-01-09 08:02:23.092] [LOG]   [MMM-Remote-Control] Starting node helper for: MMM-Remote-Control 
[2026-01-09 08:02:23.108] [LOG]   [app] Sockets connected & modules started ... 
[22:0109/070223.113337:ERROR:ui/ozone/platform/x11/ozone_platform_x11.cc:249] Missing X server or $DISPLAY
[22:0109/070223.113675:ERROR:ui/aura/env.cc:257] The platform failed to initialize.  Exiting.
/opt/magic_mirror/node_modules/electron/dist/electron exited with signal SIGSEGV

I tried to use the search, but as I am running the lite OS without X Server, I don’t know where to start.

A successful start with everything displaying fine gives something strange in the logs:

[2026-01-09 09:38:26.915] [LOG]   [app] Sockets connected & modules started ... 
[21:0109/083829.686193:ERROR:dbus/bus.cc:408] Failed to connect to the bus: Failed to connect to socket /run/user/1000/bus: No such file or directory
[21:0109/083829.686503:ERROR:dbus/bus.cc:408] Failed to connect to the bus: Failed to connect to socket /run/user/1000/bus: No such file or directory
[21:0109/083829.686874:ERROR:dbus/bus.cc:408] Failed to connect to the bus: Failed to connect to socket /run/user/1000/bus: No such file or directory
[2026-01-09 09:38:30.770] [LOG]   [electron] Launching application. 
[21:0109/083832.536207:ERROR:dbus/object_proxy.cc:573] Failed to call method: org.freedesktop.DBus.NameHasOwner: object_path= /org/freedesktop/DBus: unknown error type: 
[21:0109/083832.553143:ERROR:dbus/bus.cc:408] Failed to connect to the bus: Failed to connect to socket /run/user/1000/bus: No such file or directory
[21:0109/083832.553419:ERROR:dbus/bus.cc:408] Failed to connect to the bus: Failed to connect to socket /run/user/1000/bus: No such file or directory
[21:0109/083832.553587:ERROR:dbus/bus.cc:408] Failed to connect to the bus: Failed to connect to socket /run/user/1000/bus: No such file or directory
[21:0109/083832.554321:ERROR:dbus/bus.cc:408] Failed to connect to the bus: Failed to connect to socket /run/user/1000/bus: No such file or directory
[21:0109/083832.554443:ERROR:dbus/object_proxy.cc:573] Failed to call method: org.freedesktop.DBus.NameHasOwner: object_path= /org/freedesktop/DBus: unknown error type: 
[2026-01-09 09:38:43.125] [INFO]  [utils] 
####  System Information  ####
- SYSTEM:   manufacturer: ; model: Docker Container; virtual: false; MM: 2.34.0
- OS:       platform: linux; distro: Debian GNU/Linux; release: 13; arch: arm64; kernel: 6.12.47+rpt-rpi-v8
- VERSIONS: electron: 39.2.7; used node: 22.21.1; installed node: 24.12.0; npm: 11.7.0; pm2: 
- ENV:      XDG_SESSION_TYPE: undefined; MM_CONFIG_FILE: undefined
            WAYLAND_DISPLAY:  wayland-0; DISPLAY: unix:0.0; ELECTRON_ENABLE_GPU: 0
- RAM:      total: 906.04 MB; free: 443.12 MB; used: 462.92 MB
- OTHERS:   uptime: 2 minutes; timeZone: Europe/Berlin

karsten13

@Mathes75

looks like you still have an old labwc image, try from /opt/mm/run folder:

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

sdetweil

@Mathes75 you are runnng the pios with desktop,
correct. ?

A browser requires the graphical desktop as all the ui is drawn in graphics mode

sdetweil

@karsten13 any debug we can look at?

karsten13

the dbus errors in the mm logs are only noise, see https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/20032/docker-watchtower-container-restarting-and-mm-container-errors-after-upgrade/7#

If the problem occurs:

can you provide the logs of the labwc container? docker logs labwc
can yo try to restart the containers without reboot with cd /opt/mm/run && docker compose up -d --force-recreate?

sdetweil

@karsten13 thanks

karsten13

other questions (not clear from description):

Are you using mmos or are you using Raspberry Pi OS or another OS?

If not mmos, how did you the install? With the install script inside the repo?

Can you provide output of docker compose config?

Mathes75

Thanks a lot for having a look at my issue!

As mentioned in the first post, I downloaded the most recent Docker image of MagicMirrorOS. - no desktop, lite version. Wrote the image with Balena Etcher and let the Rpi do it’s magic after booting until “factory” MagicMirror was shown. SSHed into the Rpi and ran sudo raspi-config to adjust locales and WiFi.
I installed the desired Modules, modified the config.js - and now the Mirror works only at every third or fourth boot. (Sometimes real power cycle, sometimes sudo shutdown -r now - sometimes first works, sometimes second)

Currently it’sworking, only one Module has issues. Both containers recreated and restarted, output of docker logs labwc

00:00:00.000 [INFO] [seatd/seat.c:48] Created VT-bound seat seat0
00:00:00.000 [INFO] [seatd/seatd.c:194] seatd started
failed to connect to display
00:00:01.036 [INFO] [seatd/server.c:145] New client connected (pid: 1, uid: 1000, gid: 1000)
00:00:01.036 [INFO] [seatd/seat.c:239] Added client 1 to seat0
00:00:01.037 [INFO] [seatd/seat.c:563] Opened client 1 on seat0
failed to connect to display
failed to connect to display
failed to connect to display
failed to connect to display
failed to connect to display
failed to connect to display
HDMI-A-1 "Lenovo Group Limited T2224pD V902B58B (HDMI-A-1)"
  Make: Lenovo Group Limited
  Model: T2224pD
  Serial: V902B58B
  Physical size: 480x270 mm
  Enabled: yes
  Modes:
    1920x1080 px, 60.000000 Hz (preferred, current)
    1920x1080 px, 60.000000 Hz
    1920x1080 px, 59.939999 Hz
    1920x1080 px, 50.000000 Hz
    1680x1050 px, 59.882999 Hz
    1600x900 px, 75.000000 Hz
    1600x900 px, 60.000000 Hz
    1280x1024 px, 75.025002 Hz
    1280x1024 px, 70.000999 Hz
    1280x1024 px, 60.020000 Hz
    1440x900 px, 59.901001 Hz
    1366x768 px, 59.790001 Hz
    1152x864 px, 75.000000 Hz
    1280x720 px, 60.000000 Hz
    1280x720 px, 59.939999 Hz
    1280x720 px, 50.000000 Hz
    1024x768 px, 75.028999 Hz
    1024x768 px, 70.069000 Hz
    1024x768 px, 60.004002 Hz
    832x624 px, 74.551003 Hz
    800x600 px, 75.000000 Hz
    800x600 px, 72.188004 Hz
    800x600 px, 60.317001 Hz
    800x600 px, 56.250000 Hz
    720x576 px, 50.000000 Hz
    720x576 px, 50.000000 Hz
    720x480 px, 60.000000 Hz
    720x480 px, 60.000000 Hz
    720x480 px, 59.939999 Hz
    720x480 px, 59.939999 Hz
    640x480 px, 75.000000 Hz
    640x480 px, 72.808998 Hz
    640x480 px, 60.000000 Hz
    640x480 px, 59.939999 Hz
    640x480 px, 59.939999 Hz
    720x400 px, 70.082001 Hz
  Position: 0,0
  Transform: normal
  Scale: 1.000000
  Adaptive Sync: disabled

Output of docker compose config

name: magicmirror
services:
  labwc:
    container_name: labwc
    environment:
      LAB_WC_HIDE_CURSOR: "true"
      RANDR_PARAMS: ""
      RANDR_POLL: 1m
      XDG_RUNTIME_DIR: /run/user/1000
    image: karsten13/labwc:latest
    networks:
      default: null
    privileged: true
    restart: always
    volumes:
      - type: bind
        source: /run/user/1000
        target: /run/user/1000
        bind: {}
      - type: bind
        source: /run/udev
        target: /run/udev
        bind: {}
  magicmirror:
    container_name: mm
    environment:
      DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS: unix:path=/run/user/1000/bus
      DBUS_SYSTEM_BUS_ADDRESS: unix:path=/run/user/1000/bus
      DISPLAY: unix:0.0
      ELECTRON_ENABLE_GPU: "0"
      MM_CUSTOMCSS_FILE: css/custom.css
      MM_MODULES_DIR: modules
      MM_OVERRIDE_DEFAULT_MODULES: "true"
      MM_SCENARIO: electron
      MM_SHOW_CURSOR: "false"
      WAYLAND_DISPLAY: wayland-0
      XDG_RUNTIME_DIR: /run/user/1000
    image: karsten13/magicmirror:latest
    network_mode: host
    privileged: true
    restart: always
    shm_size: "268435456"
    volumes:
      - type: bind
        source: /tmp/.X11-unix
        target: /tmp/.X11-unix
        bind: {}
      - type: bind
        source: /home/pi/.Xauthority
        target: /home/node/.Xauthority
        bind: {}
      - type: bind
        source: /run/user/1000
        target: /run/user/1000
        bind: {}
      - type: bind
        source: /opt/mm/mounts/config
        target: /opt/magic_mirror/config
        bind: {}
      - type: bind
        source: /opt/mm/mounts/modules
        target: /opt/magic_mirror/modules
        bind: {}
      - type: bind
        source: /opt/mm/mounts/css/custom.css
        target: /opt/magic_mirror/css/custom.css
        bind: {}
    post_start:
      - command:
          - /bin/sh
          - -c
          - |
            [ "init" = "init" ] || exit 0
            chown -R 1000:1000 config modules css/custom.css
            chmod -R 777 config modules css/custom.css
        user: root
        environment:
          MM_CHMOD: null
          MM_GID: null
          MM_INIT: null
          MM_UID: null
networks:
  default:
    name: magicmirror_default

Have a nice weekend!

karsten13

@Mathes75

not sure I really fixed it but you can try

cd /opt/mm
git pull
./install/install.sh electron

Let me know if there are still problems after reboot or not.

Mathes75

Thanks @karsten13!

git pull needed a commit to work. Done. Installing Electron revealed no change to apply.

At least I seem to be one step further: Recreating the images as mentioned in a post above repeatedly resolved the "missing X Server"message each time and started MagicMirror…

As I am quite done with all changes and adaptions, I am fine to keep the workaround with recreating the image(s), once the mirror needs a restart.

karsten13

@Mathes75

Let me know if you get another black screen without mm start after reboot (I want to know if it is fixed or not …)

Can you please show me again the output of docker compose config (so I can check if you have the latest changes)?