How to execute "systemctl --user" as a different user

Solution Verified - Updated 2025-10-06T02:48:49+00:00 -

Issue

Trying to execute systemctl --user as a different user fails with Failed to connect to bus: No such file or directory
```
# systemctl --user list-units
Failed to connect to bus: No such file or directory
```
Trying to execute systemctl --user after setting the environment variable XDG_RUNTIME_DIR for the target user fails with Failed to connect to bus: Operation not permitted
```
# id -u user1
1000
# export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/1000
# systemctl --user list-units
Failed to connect to bus: Operation not permitted
```

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