What it means
wg-quick could not create the wg interface: the kernel has no WireGuard support loaded.
Why it happens
- The wireguard kernel module is missing (old kernel, kernel updated without reboot).
- A container (LXC, OpenVZ, Docker without privileges) cannot load kernel modules.
How to fix it
- Install the module and load it: apt install wireguard; modprobe wireguard; reboot after kernel updates.
- In containers use wireguard-go (userspace) or enable the module on the host.
- Check with lsmod | grep wireguard.
Useful tools
Other WireGuard errors
- Handshake for peer 1 (203.0.113.10:51820) did not complete after 5 seconds, retrying (try
- Packet has unallowed src IP (10.0.0.7) from peer 3 (198.51.100.20:43210)
- /usr/bin/wg-quick: line 32: resolvconf: command not found
- Key is not the correct length or format: `abc…`
- Unable to modify interface: Address already in use
- Name or service not known: `vpn.example.com:51820' / Configuration parsing error