[GH-ISSUE #6713] netbird Mac OS client v0.74.3 not authenticating to netbird-only service #11622

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opened 2026-08-05 01:30:11 -04:00 by saavagebueno · 11 comments
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Originally created by @mdgoose on GitHub (Jul 9, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/6713

I have a netbird service on my custom domain, hideme.example.com. I use netbird reverse proxy for my domain example.com. The hideme service is hidden using the netbird-only access feature. I can access this service on a browser on my fedora linux computer and my iPhone when logged into netbird, but I get a "Forbidden" message on my MacBook, even when logged into netbird. I'm currently the only user on my netbird, so I use the default all <--> all access control policy and the "hideme" service allows the "All" group. I have restarted the netbird client and my MacBook multiple times but I still get the same error.

Please let me know if you have any questions needed to resolve this. Are any other users experiencing this issue? Thanks!

Originally created by @mdgoose on GitHub (Jul 9, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/6713 I have a netbird service on my custom domain, hideme.example.com. I use netbird reverse proxy for my domain example.com. The hideme service is hidden using the netbird-only access feature. I can access this service on a browser on my fedora linux computer and my iPhone when logged into netbird, but I get a "Forbidden" message on my MacBook, even when logged into netbird. I'm currently the only user on my netbird, so I use the default all <--> all access control policy and the "hideme" service allows the "All" group. I have restarted the netbird client and my MacBook multiple times but I still get the same error. Please let me know if you have any questions needed to resolve this. Are any other users experiencing this issue? Thanks!
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@linear-code[bot] commented on GitHub (Jul 9, 2026):

NET-1374

<!-- gh-comment-id:4927775248 --> @linear-code[bot] commented on GitHub (Jul 9, 2026): <!-- linear-linkback --> <p><a href="https://linear.app/netbird/issue/NET-1374">NET-1374</a></p>
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@Extra-Citron-7630 commented on GitHub (Jul 9, 2026):

Based on my testing, the first thing I noticed is that you don't need a policy to connect to services behind the reverse proxy.

I was also seeing a similar issue where my iPhone could access the service (for example, actual.netbird.domain.com), but macOS would return a forbidden error. With macOS, it seems to be inconsistent — sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

After checking the access logs, I noticed a pattern:

  1. When it works on macOS, the source IP in the logs is my macOS NetBird peer IP (the IP assigned by NetBird).
  2. When I get the forbidden error, the source IP is always my public IP address.

For now, I have switched the service to use SSO authentication only. However, it looks like either the macOS NetBird client is causing some issues, or the reverse proxy needs some adjustment so that it properly allows clients as long as they are part of the NetBird network for that service.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4928598505 --> @Extra-Citron-7630 commented on GitHub (Jul 9, 2026): Based on my testing, the first thing I noticed is that you don't need a policy to connect to services behind the reverse proxy. I was also seeing a similar issue where my iPhone could access the service (for example, _actual.netbird.domain.com_), but macOS would return a forbidden error. With macOS, it seems to be inconsistent — sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. After checking the access logs, I noticed a pattern: 1. When it works on macOS, the source IP in the logs is my macOS NetBird peer IP (the IP assigned by NetBird). 2. When I get the forbidden error, the source IP is always my public IP address. For now, I have switched the service to use SSO authentication only. However, it looks like either the macOS NetBird client is causing some issues, or the reverse proxy needs some adjustment so that it properly allows clients as long as they are part of the NetBird network for that service.
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@mdgoose commented on GitHub (Jul 13, 2026):

Update: this issue remains in v0.74.4

<!-- gh-comment-id:4957213133 --> @mdgoose commented on GitHub (Jul 13, 2026): Update: this issue remains in v0.74.4
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@Fridge2016 commented on GitHub (Jul 26, 2026):

Dealing with this same issue on v0.75.0

<!-- gh-comment-id:5082195317 --> @Fridge2016 commented on GitHub (Jul 26, 2026): Dealing with this same issue on v0.75.0
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@kurthw commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026):

had the same problems on a mac. since i changed the mtu size to 1150 netbird only functionality is back.

<!-- gh-comment-id:5091248572 --> @kurthw commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026): had the same problems on a mac. since i changed the mtu size to 1150 netbird only functionality is back.
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@Extra-Citron-7630 commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026):

had the same problems on a mac. since i changed the mtu size to 1150 netbird only functionality is back.

So lowering the default MTU resolved the issue?

<!-- gh-comment-id:5093143007 --> @Extra-Citron-7630 commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026): > had the same problems on a mac. since i changed the mtu size to 1150 netbird only functionality is back. So lowering the default MTU resolved the issue?
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@kurthw commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026):

had the same problems on a mac. since i changed the mtu size to 1150 netbird only functionality is back.

So lowering the default MTU resolved the issue?

Yes, I'm running version 0.74.7 with an MTU of 1150, and access works perfectly. Version 0.75.0 caused a 2-second delay before the connection started for me, so I switched back to 0.74.7.

<!-- gh-comment-id:5094413481 --> @kurthw commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026): > > had the same problems on a mac. since i changed the mtu size to 1150 netbird only functionality is back. > > So lowering the default MTU resolved the issue? Yes, I'm running version 0.74.7 with an MTU of 1150, and access works perfectly. Version 0.75.0 caused a 2-second delay before the connection started for me, so I switched back to 0.74.7.
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@Extra-Citron-7630 commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026):

had the same problems on a mac. since i changed the mtu size to 1150 netbird only functionality is back.

So lowering the default MTU resolved the issue?

Yes, I'm running version 0.74.7 with an MTU of 1150, and access works perfectly. Version 0.75.0 caused a 2-second delay before the connection started for me, so I switched back to 0.74.7.

When you say access works perfectly, can you confirm in the access logs that if the source IP is then the netbird peer IP or does it also work with the public IP address as well?

<!-- gh-comment-id:5094539717 --> @Extra-Citron-7630 commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026): > > > had the same problems on a mac. since i changed the mtu size to 1150 netbird only functionality is back. > > > > > > So lowering the default MTU resolved the issue? > > Yes, I'm running version 0.74.7 with an MTU of 1150, and access works perfectly. Version 0.75.0 caused a 2-second delay before the connection started for me, so I switched back to 0.74.7. When you say access works perfectly, can you confirm in the access logs that if the source IP is then the netbird peer IP or does it also work with the public IP address as well?
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@kurthw commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026):

See also my separate post here: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions/6923#discussion-10505741

<!-- gh-comment-id:5094858553 --> @kurthw commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026): See also my separate post here: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions/6923#discussion-10505741
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@kurthw commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026):

and the 2nd posting https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions/6924#discussion-10505850 for 2 sec delay

<!-- gh-comment-id:5094960924 --> @kurthw commented on GitHub (Jul 27, 2026): and the 2nd posting https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions/6924#discussion-10505850 for 2 sec delay
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@mdgoose commented on GitHub (Aug 2, 2026):

had the same problems on a mac. since i changed the mtu size to 1150 netbird only functionality is back.

thanks; sadly this didn't work for me

<!-- gh-comment-id:5156899991 --> @mdgoose commented on GitHub (Aug 2, 2026): > had the same problems on a mac. since i changed the mtu size to 1150 netbird only functionality is back. thanks; sadly this didn't work for me
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Reference: DYNR/netbird#11622