Github action runner svc start not working on MacOS Monterey

Describe the bug

Trying to set up a self-hosted github actions runner as a service so it launches on startup. Currently am getting

starting actions.runner.X
Load failed: 5: Input/output error
Try running `launchctl bootstrap` as root for richer errors.
status actions.runner.X:
/Users/ec2-user/Library/LaunchAgents/actions.runner.X.plist
Stopped

To Reproduce Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Configure action runner with ./config.sh
2. Install the service with ./svc.sh install (Successful)
3. Start the service with ./svc.sh start

Expected behavior Service starts and can be seen running: launchctl list | grep X

Runner Version and Platform

Version of your runner? Latest 2.293

OS of the machine running the runner? OSX/Windows/Linux/… MacOS Monterey

What’s not working?

Service Starting

Workaround:

I can get the runner started by running: sudo chown root:wheel /Users/ec2-user/Library/LaunchAgents/actions.runner.X sudo launchctl bootstrap system ~/Library/LaunchAgents/actions.runner.c3-e-c3vsce.GAR-5.plist Though this is installing the runner in the system domain instead of the user, and the service does not start on restart.

[asenyaev]

Found the source of this issue and a solution - launchd can’t load user’s services until it logs in via GUI, that’s why need to login under the certain user via GUI. In addition, auto login feature can help in that case.

[c3-kaspesi]

You need to remote login via vnc and then enable Automatic Login to the account you are using in system preferences, under User & Groups -> Login Options. Now next time the machine turns on GUI should be enabled on that account.