Cant connect on headless server enviroment due to keyring fails

[Buddycat-64]

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---

Hello proton team

when trying to connect I get an error about keychains and DBUS
as far as I'm aware this happens as:

usually when connecting it calls on seahorse to create a keychain with the server credentials, but this requires a GUI due to user confirmation and as I have no GUI the create keychain request throws a DISMISSED error, this is apparent in the logs, any help would be apricated

[LOG:]

2025-11-22T11:39:01.815887+00:00 | proton.keyring_linux.core.keyring_linux:120 | ERROR | Keyring keyring.backends.SecretService.Keyring (priority: 5) error
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 46, in send_and_get_reply
return self._connection.send_and_get_reply(msg, unwrap=True)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/jeepney/io/blocking.py", line 190, in send_and_get_reply
return unwrap_msg(msg_in)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/jeepney/wrappers.py", line 214, in unwrap_msg
raise DBusErrorResponse(msg)
jeepney.wrappers.DBusErrorResponse: [org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.UnknownMethod] ('Object does not exist at path “/org/freedesktop/secrets/collection/login”',)

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 161, in get_default_collection
return Collection(connection)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 44, in init
self._collection.get_property('Label')
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 64, in get_property
(signature, value), = self.send_and_get_reply(msg)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 49, in send_and_get_reply
raise ItemNotFoundException('Item does not exist!') from resp
secretstorage.exceptions.ItemNotFoundException: Item does not exist!

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 61, in get_preferred_collection
collection = secretstorage.get_default_collection(bus)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 163, in get_default_collection
return create_collection(connection, 'Default',
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 145, in create_collection
raise PromptDismissedException('Prompt dismissed.')
secretstorage.exceptions.PromptDismissedException: Prompt dismissed.

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/proton/keyring_linux/core/keyring_linux.py", line 111, in _is_backend_working
keyring_backend.get_password(
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 78, in get_password
collection = self.get_preferred_collection()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 63, in get_preferred_collection
raise InitError("Failed to create the collection: %s." % e)
keyring.errors.InitError: Failed to create the collection: Prompt dismissed..
2025-11-22T11:39:01.972425+00:00 | proton.keyring_linux.core.keyring_linux:120 | ERROR | Keyring keyring.backends.SecretService.Keyring (priority: 5) error
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 46, in send_and_get_reply
return self._connection.send_and_get_reply(msg, unwrap=True)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/jeepney/io/blocking.py", line 190, in send_and_get_reply
return unwrap_msg(msg_in)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/jeepney/wrappers.py", line 214, in unwrap_msg
raise DBusErrorResponse(msg)
jeepney.wrappers.DBusErrorResponse: [org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.UnknownMethod] ('Object does not exist at path “/org/freedesktop/secrets/collection/login”',)

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 161, in get_default_collection
return Collection(connection)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 44, in init
self._collection.get_property('Label')
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 64, in get_property
(signature, value), = self.send_and_get_reply(msg)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 49, in send_and_get_reply
raise ItemNotFoundException('Item does not exist!') from resp
secretstorage.exceptions.ItemNotFoundException: Item does not exist!

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 61, in get_preferred_collection
collection = secretstorage.get_default_collection(bus)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 163, in get_default_collection
return create_collection(connection, 'Default',
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 145, in create_collection
raise PromptDismissedException('Prompt dismissed.')
secretstorage.exceptions.PromptDismissedException: Prompt dismissed.

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/proton/keyring_linux/core/keyring_linux.py", line 111, in _is_backend_working
keyring_backend.get_password(
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 78, in get_password
collection = self.get_preferred_collection()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 63, in get_preferred_collection
raise InitError("Failed to create the collection: %s." % e)
keyring.errors.InitError: Failed to create the collection: Prompt dismissed..
2025-11-22T11:39:02.398195+00:00 | proton.keyring_linux.core.keyring_linux:120 | ERROR | Keyring keyring.backends.SecretService.Keyring (priority: 5) error
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 46, in send_and_get_reply
return self._connection.send_and_get_reply(msg, unwrap=True)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/jeepney/io/blocking.py", line 190, in send_and_get_reply
return unwrap_msg(msg_in)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/jeepney/wrappers.py", line 214, in unwrap_msg
raise DBusErrorResponse(msg)
jeepney.wrappers.DBusErrorResponse: [org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.UnknownMethod] ('Object does not exist at path “/org/freedesktop/secrets/collection/login”',)

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 161, in get_default_collection
return Collection(connection)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 44, in init
self._collection.get_property('Label')
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 64, in get_property
(signature, value), = self.send_and_get_reply(msg)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 49, in send_and_get_reply
raise ItemNotFoundException('Item does not exist!') from resp
secretstorage.exceptions.ItemNotFoundException: Item does not exist!

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 61, in get_preferred_collection
collection = secretstorage.get_default_collection(bus)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 163, in get_default_collection
return create_collection(connection, 'Default',
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 145, in create_collection
raise PromptDismissedException('Prompt dismissed.')
secretstorage.exceptions.PromptDismissedException: Prompt dismissed.

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/proton/keyring_linux/core/keyring_linux.py", line 111, in _is_backend_working
keyring_backend.get_password(
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 78, in get_password
collection = self.get_preferred_collection()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 63, in get_preferred_collection
raise InitError("Failed to create the collection: %s." % e)
keyring.errors.InitError: Failed to create the collection: Prompt dismissed..

[alexwhb]

I'm having this issue as well on a Ubuntu 24 LTS server

[Buddycat-64]

A workaround that may work it’s downloading the ovpn/wireguard files then manually connecting to there servers using those files and openvpn/wireguard

[alexwhb]

@Buddycat-64 thank you for that suggestion. :) I actually have done that on my router and it works. This server that I'm setting up actually was intended to sit in between my modem and my router and be the VPN for my whole home. The reason being... those individual wire guard configs work for a month or so... and then they randomly stop working which takes down my whole home's internet, so I want to script something that's more resilient. I imagine they stop working probably due to those servers on occasion getting over loaded or something. It's definitely not a huge deal, but would be really cool to have a stable whole home VPN.

[Buddycat-64]

The fact that they randomly shut off and the connection drops have you considered using either open VPN or a keep alive?

[yutayu]

I want to make proton-vpn-cli autostart at boot.
Although It requies manually input Keyring .

[jsuelwald]

I also ran into that issue, would be nice to use this on a server without any gui

[Buddycat-64]

Sadly I have no coding skills to fix this

I can do a tiny bit of BASH and that’s literally it

[kapipapi]

Same on headless Ubuntu Server 24.04.2 LTS

[Buddycat-64]

That’s literally what I’m using 🤣

[Symmetricity]

I ran into this problem as well. I was able to get past the keyring error by following the instructions here: https://keyring.readthedocs.io/en/latest/#using-keyring-on-headless-linux-systems
Notably I did not need to start the additional Dbus session - skipped that step.
This doesn't resolve the underlying issue of the CLI having a dependency on a GUI, but is a workaround.

[Buddycat-64]

Dude your a genius

[Buddycat-64]

Thanks, I’ve a found a new VPN solution for different means but still, thanks

[Symmetricity]

Just to add, since I was having a further issue with headless Ubuntu (was using the Ubuntu minimal cloud image): You also need to have NetworkManager managing the interface for it to work, since the cli backend uses NetworkManager.
Solution here: https://askubuntu.com/a/1075112

[valentin-baron]

I'm having the same issue on my raspberry pi:

protonvpn signin my_user_name
2025-12-24T13:35:40.692678+00:00 | proton.keyring_linux.core.keyring_linux:120 | ERROR | Keyring keyring.backends.SecretService.Keyring (priority: 5) error
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 48, in send_and_get_reply
    raise DBusErrorResponse(resp_msg)
jeepney.wrappers.DBusErrorResponse: [org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.UnknownMethod] ('Object does not exist at path “/org/freedesktop/secrets/collection/login”',)

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 177, in get_default_collection
    return Collection(connection)
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 45, in __init__
    self._collection.get_property('Label')
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 67, in get_property
    (signature, value), = self.send_and_get_reply(msg)
                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/util.py", line 52, in send_and_get_reply
    raise ItemNotFoundException('Item does not exist!') from resp
secretstorage.exceptions.ItemNotFoundException: Item does not exist!

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 62, in get_preferred_collection
    collection = secretstorage.get_default_collection(bus)
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 179, in get_default_collection
    return create_collection(connection, 'Default', 'default', session)
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/secretstorage/collection.py", line 159, in create_collection
    raise PromptDismissedException('Prompt dismissed.')
secretstorage.exceptions.PromptDismissedException: Prompt dismissed.

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/proton/keyring_linux/core/keyring_linux.py", line 111, in _is_backend_working
    keyring_backend.get_password(
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
        "ProtonVPN",
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^
        "TestingThatBackendIsWorking"
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    )
    ^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 79, in get_password
    collection = self.get_preferred_collection()
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/keyring/backends/SecretService.py", line 64, in get_preferred_collection
    raise InitError(f"Failed to create the collection: {e}.") from e
keyring.errors.InitError: Failed to create the collection: Prompt dismissed..
Password: 

[yutayu]

I want to make proton-vpn-cli autostart at boot. Although It requies manually input Keyring .
But it is not error and not problem.