'C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Local/multipass-client-certificate/multipass_cert_key.pem': Permission denied(13)

[holta]

FYI this error occurred (every time) when installing Multipass 1.16.0 RC (v1.16.0-rc3) on a clean Windows 11 Pro:

C:\Users\USERNAME>multipass version
[error] [client] Caught an unhandled exception: failed to open file 'C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Local/multipass-client-certificate/multipass_cert_key.pem': Permission denied(13)

FYI the error did not occur when installing Multipass 1.16.0 RC (v1.16.0-rc3) on top of (a prior install) of Multipass 1.15.1

[holta]

Trying to remove Multipass becomes extremely painful, likely as a result of this bug, forcing some kind of manual removal of individual files, as it freezes here:

[Sploder12]

Hi again @holta, thank you for reporting this issue. I was able to reproduce and have an idea of what went wrong. Manually changing the file permissions should work as a work around for the time being. Manually stopping the Multipass service should make uninstall easier.

[holta]

Thanks @Sploder12:

Manually changing the file permissions should work as a work around

• Can you be specific?

Manually stopping the Multipass service should make uninstall easier.

• I tried Task Manager > Processes > multipassd.exe > End task (but this fails to stop the service).

• Removal of Multipass 1.16.0 RC (v1.16.0-rc3) is proving very painful — indeed this is just one of many problems I ran into:

  

  Are more complete instructions for manually removing Multipass 1.16.0 RC (v1.16.0-rc3) available?

[Sploder12]

Manually changing the file permissions should work as a work around

* Can you be specific?

Head to C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Local/multipass-client-certificate/multipass_cert_key.pem, right-click to go to Properties > Security. Then add the Everyone group or your local user to the ACLs making sure to give it full permissions.

Manually stopping the Multipass service should make uninstall easier.

* I tried Task Manager > Processes > multipassd.exe > End task (but this fails to stop the service).

Ending multipassd.exe then opening the dropdown and stoping the service worked for me. It's a bit inconsistent.

I'm not sure of specific documentation on manual removal

[holta]

Head to C:/Users/USERNAME/AppData/Local/multipass-client-certificate/multipass_cert_key.pem, right-click to go to Properties > Security. Then add the Everyone group or your local user to the ACLs making sure to give it full permissions.

Adding the "Everyone" group and giving it "Full control" worked. Thanks @Sploder12.