Linux: cannot find bitcoin core cookie file at /home/name/.bitcoin #35196

Juando42069 commented at 2:56 AM on May 3, 2026: none

literally at my wits end with these 2 pieces of "compatible" software

I am on Linux mint cinnamon 22.3 currently on latest version of Sparrow wallet and Bitcoin Core. (2.4.2 and 31.0 respectively)

Process:

I open bitcoin core to start navigate to settings>network>open configuration file I get this https://imgur.com/a/uEyP7QX image 1 after clicking "confirm" i get this https://imgur.com/a/uEyP7QX image 2 The bitcoin.conf file in .bitcoin opens anyway despite the error message i can edit it and save the changes.

I then open Sparrow Wallet and put in my password. I immediately get this error at the bottom of my screen.

https://imgur.com/a/uEyP7QX image 3 I navigate to file>settings>server>Bitcoin Core>test connection I get the same error message https://imgur.com/a/uEyP7QX image 4 Ive tried using the socks5 proxy in Bitcoin Core and sparrow and it gives me the same error message

I go into /home/james/.bitcoin and ADD a blank text file named .cookie, I then get a "connection refused" error message instead. https://imgur.com/a/uEyP7QX image 5 https://imgur.com/a/uEyP7QX image 6 I change the permissions of BOTH .config files AND the .cookie file to read/write and it still doesn't work https://imgur.com/a/uEyP7QX image 7 Please for the love of god end my torture oh great and wise linux wizards.

radikalreems commented at 4:35 AM on May 3, 2026: none

The cookie file should be created on startup, which contains the password to the RPC when using default RPC authentication setting

After resetting Bitcoin Core, can you show debug.log at /.bitcoin/debug.log

Search for any 'cookie' errors as it looks like your cookie file is not generating.

Ensure that the server=1 is set prior to restart as the file is generated once on startup

Juando42069 commented at 4:50 AM on May 3, 2026: none

@radikalreems when it comes to resetting bitcoin core, is that just fully closing and reopening it?

radikalreems commented at 5:23 AM on May 3, 2026: none

Yes, fully close and reopen then check if the .cookie file exists and send any debug.logs errors

achow101 commented at 6:35 AM on May 3, 2026: member

Changing the config file requires restarting the software for the changes to take effect.

achow101 closed this on May 3, 2026

Juando42069 commented at 4:04 PM on May 3, 2026: none

@radikalreems

debug.log

sipa commented at 4:07 PM on May 3, 2026: member

The settings in bitcoin.conf are case sensitive, you should use server=1, prune=1, and peerbloomfilters=1 (not Server, Prune, and PerBloomFilters which have the wrong casing as well as a typo in "Per").

Juando42069 commented at 4:09 PM on May 3, 2026: none

@sipa aaaand now it works