Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: virsh edit error: failed to get domain

Error fixing and Virtual Machine Manager GUI issue.

Quick Answer: Check if the VM's configuration file is missing or corrupted, try running virsh edit with the --no-purge option to avoid deleting existing files.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. 🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps
  3. 🎯 Final Words

The 'virsh edit error: failed to get domain' issue affects users who are trying to edit the configuration of their virtual machines (VMs) using the command-line interface or Virtual Machine Manager (VMM). This error occurs when the system cannot locate a specific VM, even though it is listed in the 'sudo virsh list --all' output.

This error can be frustrating for users who have made changes to their VMs and want to save these changes. However, with the steps outlined below, you should be able to resolve this issue and successfully edit your VMs.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is that the 'virsh' command may not be able to locate a specific VM due to various reasons such as incorrect spelling of the VM name or if the VM is in a state where it cannot be edited (e.g., shut down).
  • Another possible cause could be issues with permissions or access rights, which might prevent the 'virsh' command from accessing the VM configuration files.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Resolving the issue using 'sudo virsh edit'

  1. Step 1: Try running the command with the full path to the 'virsh' executable: '/usr/bin/virsh edit '. This might help if the system is unable to locate the 'virsh' command.
  2. Step 2: Make sure that you are using the correct spelling of the VM name and that it matches the one listed in the 'sudo virsh list --all' output.
  3. Step 3: If the VM is shut down, try starting it before attempting to edit its configuration: 'sudo virsh start '.

Resolving the issue using Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)

  1. Step 1: Open VMM and select the VM you want to edit. Click on the 'Edit' button to open the XML editor.
  2. Step 2: Make sure that XML editing is enabled in the Preferences of VMM, which it seems to be in your case. This should allow you to make changes to the VM configuration without encountering any errors.

🎯 Final Words

To summarize, the 'virsh edit error: failed to get domain' issue can often be resolved by checking the spelling of the VM name and ensuring that the VM is not shut down or in an invalid state. Additionally, using Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) with XML editing enabled should also allow you to successfully edit your VMs without encountering this error.

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