[GH-ISSUE #6265] [Validated]: [macOS 26 Tahoe] netbird-ui process starts but menu bar icon and all windows are invisible #12941

Closed
opened 2026-08-05 02:07:03 -04:00 by saavagebueno · 2 comments
Owner

Originally created by @liujinliang-svg on GitHub (May 26, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/6265

Validation checklist

  • This issue is linked to a validated discussion, or it is being opened directly by a maintainer.
  • The report has enough context for engineering to act on it without re-triaging from scratch.
  • Sensitive data, secrets, private keys, internal hostnames, and public IPs have been removed or intentionally disclosed.

Issue type

Bug / Regression

Source discussion

After upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe, the netbird-ui process runs but the menu bar icon never appears and no windows can be opened. The daemon works correctly.

Validation owner

liujinliang

Target repository

netbirdio/netbird

Summary

Description

After upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe, the netbird-ui process runs but the menu
bar icon never appears and no windows can be opened. The daemon works correctly.

Environment

macOS version 26.5 (Build 25F71)
Architecture arm64 (Apple Silicon)
NetBird version 0.71.4
Installation method Official .pkg installer

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Upgrade macOS to version 26 (Tahoe)
  2. Launch NetBird (open /Applications/NetBird.app)
  3. Observe: no menu bar icon appears, no windows open

Observed Behavior

  • netbird-ui process starts and connects to the daemon successfully:
    INFO client/ui/event/event.go:81: subscribed to daemon events
  • No menu bar icon is visible (confirmed: not hidden in Control Center either)
  • No windows appear even when launched with flags like -settings or -quick-actions
  • No WebKit subprocess is spawned — the WKWebView layer never initializes
  • Process sampling shows nativeLoop → [NSApplication run] is reached,
    but WebView creation never happens

Expected Behavior

The menu bar icon should appear and the UI should be accessible.

Root Cause Analysis

The binary is compiled against macOS SDK 15.5 (sdk 15.5 in
LC_BUILD_VERSION), but macOS 26 Tahoe appears to have breaking changes
in how WKWebView (used by the Wails framework) initializes.

Specifically:

  • The fyne.io/systray event loop (NSApplication run) starts correctly
  • But WKWebView never initializes — confirmed by monitoring WebKit subprocess
    count before/after launch (no change)
  • Setting all NSStatusItem Visible Item-* keys to true in
    com.apple.controlcenter defaults has no effect

Workaround

The daemon runs fine. CLI commands work as a temporary workaround:

netbird status
sudo netbird up
sudo netbird down

Request

Please rebuild netbird-ui targeting macOS 26 SDK and verify compatibility
with the Wails framework on macOS 26 Tahoe. This likely affects all users
who have upgraded to macOS 26.

### Validation evidence

## Description

After upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe, the `netbird-ui` process runs but the menu
bar icon never appears and no windows can be opened. The daemon works correctly.

## Environment

| | |
|---|---|
| **macOS version** | 26.5 (Build 25F71) |
| **Architecture** | arm64 (Apple Silicon) |
| **NetBird version** | 0.71.4 |
| **Installation method** | Official `.pkg` installer |

## Steps to Reproduce

1. Upgrade macOS to version 26 (Tahoe)
2. Launch NetBird (`open /Applications/NetBird.app`)
3. Observe: no menu bar icon appears, no windows open

## Observed Behavior

- `netbird-ui` process starts and connects to the daemon successfully:
  INFO client/ui/event/event.go:81: subscribed to daemon events
- No menu bar icon is visible (confirmed: not hidden in Control Center either)
- No windows appear even when launched with flags like `-settings` or `-quick-actions`
- **No WebKit subprocess is spawned** — the WKWebView layer never initializes
- Process sampling shows `nativeLoop → [NSApplication run]` is reached,
but WebView creation never happens

## Expected Behavior

The menu bar icon should appear and the UI should be accessible.

## Root Cause Analysis

The binary is compiled against **macOS SDK 15.5** (`sdk 15.5` in
`LC_BUILD_VERSION`), but macOS 26 Tahoe appears to have breaking changes
in how WKWebView (used by the Wails framework) initializes.

Specifically:
- The `fyne.io/systray` event loop (`NSApplication run`) starts correctly
- But WKWebView never initializes — confirmed by monitoring WebKit subprocess
count before/after launch (no change)
- Setting all `NSStatusItem Visible Item-*` keys to `true` in
`com.apple.controlcenter` defaults has no effect

## Workaround

The daemon runs fine. CLI commands work as a temporary workaround:
```bash
netbird status
sudo netbird up
sudo netbird down

Request

Please rebuild netbird-ui targeting macOS 26 SDK and verify compatibility
with the Wails framework on macOS 26 Tahoe. This likely affects all users
who have upgraded to macOS 26.

### Proposed scope

## Description

After upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe, the `netbird-ui` process runs but the menu
bar icon never appears and no windows can be opened. The daemon works correctly.

## Environment

| | |
|---|---|
| **macOS version** | 26.5 (Build 25F71) |
| **Architecture** | arm64 (Apple Silicon) |
| **NetBird version** | 0.71.4 |
| **Installation method** | Official `.pkg` installer |

## Steps to Reproduce

1. Upgrade macOS to version 26 (Tahoe)
2. Launch NetBird (`open /Applications/NetBird.app`)
3. Observe: no menu bar icon appears, no windows open

## Observed Behavior

- `netbird-ui` process starts and connects to the daemon successfully:
  INFO client/ui/event/event.go:81: subscribed to daemon events
- No menu bar icon is visible (confirmed: not hidden in Control Center either)
- No windows appear even when launched with flags like `-settings` or `-quick-actions`
- **No WebKit subprocess is spawned** — the WKWebView layer never initializes
- Process sampling shows `nativeLoop → [NSApplication run]` is reached,
but WebView creation never happens

## Expected Behavior

The menu bar icon should appear and the UI should be accessible.

## Root Cause Analysis

The binary is compiled against **macOS SDK 15.5** (`sdk 15.5` in
`LC_BUILD_VERSION`), but macOS 26 Tahoe appears to have breaking changes
in how WKWebView (used by the Wails framework) initializes.

Specifically:
- The `fyne.io/systray` event loop (`NSApplication run`) starts correctly
- But WKWebView never initializes — confirmed by monitoring WebKit subprocess
count before/after launch (no change)
- Setting all `NSStatusItem Visible Item-*` keys to `true` in
`com.apple.controlcenter` defaults has no effect

## Workaround

The daemon runs fine. CLI commands work as a temporary workaround:
```bash
netbird status
sudo netbird up
sudo netbird down

Request

Please rebuild netbird-ui targeting macOS 26 SDK and verify compatibility
with the Wails framework on macOS 26 Tahoe. This likely affects all users
who have upgraded to macOS 26.

### Acceptance criteria

## Description

After upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe, the `netbird-ui` process runs but the menu
bar icon never appears and no windows can be opened. The daemon works correctly.

## Environment

| | |
|---|---|
| **macOS version** | 26.5 (Build 25F71) |
| **Architecture** | arm64 (Apple Silicon) |
| **NetBird version** | 0.71.4 |
| **Installation method** | Official `.pkg` installer |

## Steps to Reproduce

1. Upgrade macOS to version 26 (Tahoe)
2. Launch NetBird (`open /Applications/NetBird.app`)
3. Observe: no menu bar icon appears, no windows open

## Observed Behavior

- `netbird-ui` process starts and connects to the daemon successfully:
  INFO client/ui/event/event.go:81: subscribed to daemon events
- No menu bar icon is visible (confirmed: not hidden in Control Center either)
- No windows appear even when launched with flags like `-settings` or `-quick-actions`
- **No WebKit subprocess is spawned** — the WKWebView layer never initializes
- Process sampling shows `nativeLoop → [NSApplication run]` is reached,
but WebView creation never happens

## Expected Behavior

The menu bar icon should appear and the UI should be accessible.

## Root Cause Analysis

The binary is compiled against **macOS SDK 15.5** (`sdk 15.5` in
`LC_BUILD_VERSION`), but macOS 26 Tahoe appears to have breaking changes
in how WKWebView (used by the Wails framework) initializes.

Specifically:
- The `fyne.io/systray` event loop (`NSApplication run`) starts correctly
- But WKWebView never initializes — confirmed by monitoring WebKit subprocess
count before/after launch (no change)
- Setting all `NSStatusItem Visible Item-*` keys to `true` in
`com.apple.controlcenter` defaults has no effect

## Workaround

The daemon runs fine. CLI commands work as a temporary workaround:
```bash
netbird status
sudo netbird up
sudo netbird down

Request

Please rebuild netbird-ui targeting macOS 26 SDK and verify compatibility
with the Wails framework on macOS 26 Tahoe. This likely affects all users
who have upgraded to macOS 26.

### Additional context

_No response_
Originally created by @liujinliang-svg on GitHub (May 26, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/6265 ### Validation checklist - [x] This issue is linked to a validated discussion, or it is being opened directly by a maintainer. - [x] The report has enough context for engineering to act on it without re-triaging from scratch. - [x] Sensitive data, secrets, private keys, internal hostnames, and public IPs have been removed or intentionally disclosed. ### Issue type Bug / Regression ### Source discussion After upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe, the `netbird-ui` process runs but the menu bar icon never appears and no windows can be opened. The daemon works correctly. ### Validation owner liujinliang ### Target repository netbirdio/netbird ### Summary ## Description After upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe, the `netbird-ui` process runs but the menu bar icon never appears and no windows can be opened. The daemon works correctly. ## Environment | | | |---|---| | **macOS version** | 26.5 (Build 25F71) | | **Architecture** | arm64 (Apple Silicon) | | **NetBird version** | 0.71.4 | | **Installation method** | Official `.pkg` installer | ## Steps to Reproduce 1. Upgrade macOS to version 26 (Tahoe) 2. Launch NetBird (`open /Applications/NetBird.app`) 3. Observe: no menu bar icon appears, no windows open ## Observed Behavior - `netbird-ui` process starts and connects to the daemon successfully: INFO client/ui/event/event.go:81: subscribed to daemon events - No menu bar icon is visible (confirmed: not hidden in Control Center either) - No windows appear even when launched with flags like `-settings` or `-quick-actions` - **No WebKit subprocess is spawned** — the WKWebView layer never initializes - Process sampling shows `nativeLoop → [NSApplication run]` is reached, but WebView creation never happens ## Expected Behavior The menu bar icon should appear and the UI should be accessible. ## Root Cause Analysis The binary is compiled against **macOS SDK 15.5** (`sdk 15.5` in `LC_BUILD_VERSION`), but macOS 26 Tahoe appears to have breaking changes in how WKWebView (used by the Wails framework) initializes. Specifically: - The `fyne.io/systray` event loop (`NSApplication run`) starts correctly - But WKWebView never initializes — confirmed by monitoring WebKit subprocess count before/after launch (no change) - Setting all `NSStatusItem Visible Item-*` keys to `true` in `com.apple.controlcenter` defaults has no effect ## Workaround The daemon runs fine. CLI commands work as a temporary workaround: ```bash netbird status sudo netbird up sudo netbird down Request Please rebuild netbird-ui targeting macOS 26 SDK and verify compatibility with the Wails framework on macOS 26 Tahoe. This likely affects all users who have upgraded to macOS 26. ### Validation evidence ## Description After upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe, the `netbird-ui` process runs but the menu bar icon never appears and no windows can be opened. The daemon works correctly. ## Environment | | | |---|---| | **macOS version** | 26.5 (Build 25F71) | | **Architecture** | arm64 (Apple Silicon) | | **NetBird version** | 0.71.4 | | **Installation method** | Official `.pkg` installer | ## Steps to Reproduce 1. Upgrade macOS to version 26 (Tahoe) 2. Launch NetBird (`open /Applications/NetBird.app`) 3. Observe: no menu bar icon appears, no windows open ## Observed Behavior - `netbird-ui` process starts and connects to the daemon successfully: INFO client/ui/event/event.go:81: subscribed to daemon events - No menu bar icon is visible (confirmed: not hidden in Control Center either) - No windows appear even when launched with flags like `-settings` or `-quick-actions` - **No WebKit subprocess is spawned** — the WKWebView layer never initializes - Process sampling shows `nativeLoop → [NSApplication run]` is reached, but WebView creation never happens ## Expected Behavior The menu bar icon should appear and the UI should be accessible. ## Root Cause Analysis The binary is compiled against **macOS SDK 15.5** (`sdk 15.5` in `LC_BUILD_VERSION`), but macOS 26 Tahoe appears to have breaking changes in how WKWebView (used by the Wails framework) initializes. Specifically: - The `fyne.io/systray` event loop (`NSApplication run`) starts correctly - But WKWebView never initializes — confirmed by monitoring WebKit subprocess count before/after launch (no change) - Setting all `NSStatusItem Visible Item-*` keys to `true` in `com.apple.controlcenter` defaults has no effect ## Workaround The daemon runs fine. CLI commands work as a temporary workaround: ```bash netbird status sudo netbird up sudo netbird down Request Please rebuild netbird-ui targeting macOS 26 SDK and verify compatibility with the Wails framework on macOS 26 Tahoe. This likely affects all users who have upgraded to macOS 26. ### Proposed scope ## Description After upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe, the `netbird-ui` process runs but the menu bar icon never appears and no windows can be opened. The daemon works correctly. ## Environment | | | |---|---| | **macOS version** | 26.5 (Build 25F71) | | **Architecture** | arm64 (Apple Silicon) | | **NetBird version** | 0.71.4 | | **Installation method** | Official `.pkg` installer | ## Steps to Reproduce 1. Upgrade macOS to version 26 (Tahoe) 2. Launch NetBird (`open /Applications/NetBird.app`) 3. Observe: no menu bar icon appears, no windows open ## Observed Behavior - `netbird-ui` process starts and connects to the daemon successfully: INFO client/ui/event/event.go:81: subscribed to daemon events - No menu bar icon is visible (confirmed: not hidden in Control Center either) - No windows appear even when launched with flags like `-settings` or `-quick-actions` - **No WebKit subprocess is spawned** — the WKWebView layer never initializes - Process sampling shows `nativeLoop → [NSApplication run]` is reached, but WebView creation never happens ## Expected Behavior The menu bar icon should appear and the UI should be accessible. ## Root Cause Analysis The binary is compiled against **macOS SDK 15.5** (`sdk 15.5` in `LC_BUILD_VERSION`), but macOS 26 Tahoe appears to have breaking changes in how WKWebView (used by the Wails framework) initializes. Specifically: - The `fyne.io/systray` event loop (`NSApplication run`) starts correctly - But WKWebView never initializes — confirmed by monitoring WebKit subprocess count before/after launch (no change) - Setting all `NSStatusItem Visible Item-*` keys to `true` in `com.apple.controlcenter` defaults has no effect ## Workaround The daemon runs fine. CLI commands work as a temporary workaround: ```bash netbird status sudo netbird up sudo netbird down Request Please rebuild netbird-ui targeting macOS 26 SDK and verify compatibility with the Wails framework on macOS 26 Tahoe. This likely affects all users who have upgraded to macOS 26. ### Acceptance criteria ## Description After upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe, the `netbird-ui` process runs but the menu bar icon never appears and no windows can be opened. The daemon works correctly. ## Environment | | | |---|---| | **macOS version** | 26.5 (Build 25F71) | | **Architecture** | arm64 (Apple Silicon) | | **NetBird version** | 0.71.4 | | **Installation method** | Official `.pkg` installer | ## Steps to Reproduce 1. Upgrade macOS to version 26 (Tahoe) 2. Launch NetBird (`open /Applications/NetBird.app`) 3. Observe: no menu bar icon appears, no windows open ## Observed Behavior - `netbird-ui` process starts and connects to the daemon successfully: INFO client/ui/event/event.go:81: subscribed to daemon events - No menu bar icon is visible (confirmed: not hidden in Control Center either) - No windows appear even when launched with flags like `-settings` or `-quick-actions` - **No WebKit subprocess is spawned** — the WKWebView layer never initializes - Process sampling shows `nativeLoop → [NSApplication run]` is reached, but WebView creation never happens ## Expected Behavior The menu bar icon should appear and the UI should be accessible. ## Root Cause Analysis The binary is compiled against **macOS SDK 15.5** (`sdk 15.5` in `LC_BUILD_VERSION`), but macOS 26 Tahoe appears to have breaking changes in how WKWebView (used by the Wails framework) initializes. Specifically: - The `fyne.io/systray` event loop (`NSApplication run`) starts correctly - But WKWebView never initializes — confirmed by monitoring WebKit subprocess count before/after launch (no change) - Setting all `NSStatusItem Visible Item-*` keys to `true` in `com.apple.controlcenter` defaults has no effect ## Workaround The daemon runs fine. CLI commands work as a temporary workaround: ```bash netbird status sudo netbird up sudo netbird down Request Please rebuild netbird-ui targeting macOS 26 SDK and verify compatibility with the Wails framework on macOS 26 Tahoe. This likely affects all users who have upgraded to macOS 26. ### Additional context _No response_
Author
Owner

@linear-code[bot] commented on GitHub (May 26, 2026):

NET-1210

<!-- gh-comment-id:4545673910 --> @linear-code[bot] commented on GitHub (May 26, 2026): <!-- linear-linkback --> <p><a href="https://linear.app/netbird/issue/NET-1210">NET-1210</a></p>
Author
Owner

@jnfrati commented on GitHub (May 27, 2026):

Moving this to a discussion as per the new issue triage flow https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions/6074

<!-- gh-comment-id:4559323418 --> @jnfrati commented on GitHub (May 27, 2026): Moving this to a discussion as per the new issue triage flow https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/discussions/6074
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Reference: DYNR/netbird#12941