[GH-ISSUE #4976] Can't install Netbird-UI from homebrew when using a macOS regular user #9652

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opened 2026-08-05 01:22:58 -04:00 by saavagebueno · 1 comment
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Originally created by @marco-brandizi on GitHub (Dec 19, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/4976

I usually use my mac with a regular user, which can't access admin files, such as those managed by Homebrew. When I want to install via HB, I open a terminal and do this:

$ su - admin # This is an admin user, but the GUI being running still belong to my regular user
$ brew install netbirdio/tap/netbird-ui

And this causes the errors:

Adjust how often this is run with `$HOMEBREW_AUTO_UPDATE_SECS` or disable with
`$HOMEBREW_NO_AUTO_UPDATE=1`. Hide these hints with `$HOMEBREW_NO_ENV_HINTS=1` (see `man brew`).
==> Downloading https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases/download/v0.60.8/netbird-ui_0.60.8_darwin_arm64_signed.zip
Already downloaded: /Users/admin/Library/Caches/Homebrew/downloads/9a4696c57064dde4b32aacc7c619728451a21b71d2466f77ba92fd057b9f4576--netbird-ui_0.60.8_darwin_arm64_signed.zip
All dependencies satisfied.
==> Installing Cask netbird-ui
==> Moving App 'netbird_ui_darwin' to '/Applications/Netbird UI.app'
Password:
The application cannot be opened for an unexpected reason, error=Error Domain=RBSRequestErrorDomain Code=5 "Launch failed." UserInfo={NSLocalizedFailureReason=Launch failed., NSUnderlyingError=0xa5901e3a0 {Error Domain=OSLaunchdErrorDomain Code=125 "Domain does not support specified action" UserInfo={NSLocalizedFailureReason=Domain does not support specified action}}}
==> Backing App 'Netbird UI.app' up to '/opt/homebrew/Caskroom/netbird-ui/0.60.8/netbird_ui_darwin'
==> Removing App '/Applications/Netbird UI.app'
env: /Applications/Netbird UI.app/uninstaller.sh: No such file or directory
==> Purging files for version 0.60.8 of Cask netbird-ui
Error: Failure while executing; `/usr/bin/sudo -E -- /Applications/Netbird\ UI.app/installer.sh 0.60.8` exited with 1. Here's the output:
Stopping and uninstalling Netbird daemon
NetBird service has been stopped
NetBird service has been uninstalled
Stopping NetBird daemon
Starting Netbird daemon
NetBird service has been installed
NetBird service has been started
The application cannot be opened for an unexpected reason, error=Error Domain=RBSRequestErrorDomain Code=5 "Launch failed." UserInfo={NSLocalizedFailureReason=Launch failed., NSUnderlyingError=0xa5901e3a0 {Error Domain=OSLaunchdErrorDomain Code=125 "Domain does not support specified action" UserInfo={NSLocalizedFailureReason=Domain does not support specified action}}}

Very likely, this is due to the fact that the user 'admin' cannot run a graphical application into another user's graphical environment (there should be a way, and that should be the fix to the problem above).

The same installation works when I fully login (ie, from the macOS login GUI, which opens the OS GUI) as admin

To Reproduce

See above

Expected behavior

It should work in the situation above, possibly by eliminating any GUI interaction. As said, I can make this work by completely switching user, however, having to do so once a week, when I issue a full Homebrew upgrade, is quite a burden.

Are you using NetBird Cloud?

Self-hosted version, hosted by my company

NetBird version

Trying to install v0.60.8

Is any other VPN software installed?

NordVPN, but it's inactive and very likely not relevant.

Debug output

Not relevant, but anyway:

Peers detail:
Events: No events recorded
OS: darwin/arm64
Daemon version: 0.60.8
CLI version: 0.60.8
Profile: default
Management: Disconnected
Signal: Disconnected
Relays:
Nameservers:
FQDN:
NetBird IP: N/A
Interface type: N/A
Quantum resistance: false
Lazy connection: false
SSH Server: Disabled
Networks: -
Forwarding rules: 0
Peers count: 0/0 Connected

Create and upload a debug bundle, and share the returned file key:

Not relevant

Uploaded files are automatically deleted after 30 days.

Alternatively, create the file only and attach it here manually:

Not relevant

Screenshots

NA

Additional context

See above. I have macOS 26.1 on a 2025 MacBookPro M4

Have you tried these troubleshooting steps?

  • Reviewed client troubleshooting (if applicable)
  • Checked for newer NetBird versions
  • Searched for similar issues on GitHub (including closed ones)
  • Restarted the NetBird client
  • Disabled other VPN software
  • Checked firewall settings
Originally created by @marco-brandizi on GitHub (Dec 19, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/4976 I usually use my mac with a regular user, which can't access admin files, such as those managed by Homebrew. When I want to install via HB, I open a terminal and do this: ```bash $ su - admin # This is an admin user, but the GUI being running still belong to my regular user $ brew install netbirdio/tap/netbird-ui ``` And this causes the errors: ```log Adjust how often this is run with `$HOMEBREW_AUTO_UPDATE_SECS` or disable with `$HOMEBREW_NO_AUTO_UPDATE=1`. Hide these hints with `$HOMEBREW_NO_ENV_HINTS=1` (see `man brew`). ==> Downloading https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases/download/v0.60.8/netbird-ui_0.60.8_darwin_arm64_signed.zip Already downloaded: /Users/admin/Library/Caches/Homebrew/downloads/9a4696c57064dde4b32aacc7c619728451a21b71d2466f77ba92fd057b9f4576--netbird-ui_0.60.8_darwin_arm64_signed.zip All dependencies satisfied. ==> Installing Cask netbird-ui ==> Moving App 'netbird_ui_darwin' to '/Applications/Netbird UI.app' Password: The application cannot be opened for an unexpected reason, error=Error Domain=RBSRequestErrorDomain Code=5 "Launch failed." UserInfo={NSLocalizedFailureReason=Launch failed., NSUnderlyingError=0xa5901e3a0 {Error Domain=OSLaunchdErrorDomain Code=125 "Domain does not support specified action" UserInfo={NSLocalizedFailureReason=Domain does not support specified action}}} ==> Backing App 'Netbird UI.app' up to '/opt/homebrew/Caskroom/netbird-ui/0.60.8/netbird_ui_darwin' ==> Removing App '/Applications/Netbird UI.app' env: /Applications/Netbird UI.app/uninstaller.sh: No such file or directory ==> Purging files for version 0.60.8 of Cask netbird-ui Error: Failure while executing; `/usr/bin/sudo -E -- /Applications/Netbird\ UI.app/installer.sh 0.60.8` exited with 1. Here's the output: Stopping and uninstalling Netbird daemon NetBird service has been stopped NetBird service has been uninstalled Stopping NetBird daemon Starting Netbird daemon NetBird service has been installed NetBird service has been started The application cannot be opened for an unexpected reason, error=Error Domain=RBSRequestErrorDomain Code=5 "Launch failed." UserInfo={NSLocalizedFailureReason=Launch failed., NSUnderlyingError=0xa5901e3a0 {Error Domain=OSLaunchdErrorDomain Code=125 "Domain does not support specified action" UserInfo={NSLocalizedFailureReason=Domain does not support specified action}}} ``` Very likely, this is due to the fact that the user 'admin' cannot run a graphical application into another user's graphical environment (there should be a way, and that should be the fix to the problem above). The same installation works when I fully login (ie, from the macOS login GUI, which opens the OS GUI) as admin **To Reproduce** See above **Expected behavior** It should work in the situation above, possibly by eliminating any GUI interaction. As said, I can make this work by completely switching user, however, having to do so once a week, when I issue a full Homebrew upgrade, is quite a burden. **Are you using NetBird Cloud?** Self-hosted version, hosted by my company **NetBird version** Trying to install `v0.60.8` **Is any other VPN software installed?** NordVPN, but it's inactive and very likely not relevant. **Debug output** Not relevant, but anyway: ``` Peers detail: Events: No events recorded OS: darwin/arm64 Daemon version: 0.60.8 CLI version: 0.60.8 Profile: default Management: Disconnected Signal: Disconnected Relays: Nameservers: FQDN: NetBird IP: N/A Interface type: N/A Quantum resistance: false Lazy connection: false SSH Server: Disabled Networks: - Forwarding rules: 0 Peers count: 0/0 Connected ``` Create and upload a debug bundle, and share the returned file key: Not relevant *Uploaded files are automatically deleted after 30 days.* Alternatively, create the file only and attach it here manually: Not relevant **Screenshots** NA **Additional context** See above. I have macOS 26.1 on a 2025 MacBookPro M4 **Have you tried these troubleshooting steps?** - [X] Reviewed [client troubleshooting](https://docs.netbird.io/how-to/troubleshooting-client) (if applicable) - [X] Checked for newer NetBird versions - [X] Searched for similar issues on GitHub (including closed ones) - [X] Restarted the NetBird client - [X] Disabled other VPN software - [X] Checked firewall settings
saavagebueno added the triage-needed label 2026-08-05 01:22:58 -04:00
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Reference: DYNR/netbird#9652