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CUPS Web Interface is Disabled

mikeboss

mikeboss

macrumors 68000
Original poster
quite often I'm using the CUPS Web Interface. now in macOS Golden Gate (DP1 & DP2) it's not possible to enable it anymore. interestingly, the http server seems to be running (first screenshot). but as soon as I'm trying to got to "Administration" it says "Web Interface is Disabled". I tried "cupsctl WebInterface=yes" which gives the error "cupsctl: Cannot set WebInterface directly.". editing /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf also did not help (changing "WebInterface No" to "WebInterface Yes". any ideas?

Screenshot 2026-06-26 at 13.47.08.png


Screenshot 2026-06-26 at 13.47.15.png
 
I have a virtual machine with 27.0 Beta 2 (26A5368g) and http://127.0.0.1:631 returned "Safari can't Connect to the Server".
After running cupsctl WebInterface=yes, that returned cupsctl: Cannot set WebInterface directly. , and cupsctl to see the configuration, the address loaded with the same message "Web Interface is Disabled"

I've edited /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf with yes and tried sudo launchctl kickstart -k system/org.cups.cupsd to restart the service, but it didn't have any effect.

In Sequoia 15.7.7, the webinterface is disabled by default, but it can be enabled/disabled with cupsctl WebInterface=
If someone can check in Tahoe, maybe we can get an idea if it's a macOS 27 bug or a new restriction.
 
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this is interesting: even with the unmolested cupsd.conf (line 23 set to "WebInterface No") I can see an error in /private/var/log/cups/error_log

"Unknown directive WebInterface on line 23 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf"

this is strange...
 
I noticed this in Beta 1 and reported it immediately, I welcome additional reports though to get some attention on it. It is annoying. But I chose to run Beta software lol. Interestingly, they closed my bug report as "Investigation Complete - Works currently as designed"
 
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Lots of CUPS drivers rely on x86_64-Binaries, so try to install Rosetta 2, then it probably should work again. On the other hand, you'll have the same issue when macOS 28 arrives. No more Rosetta 2 then.

softwareupdate --install-rosetta

I have a Brother laser printer, I found brlaser, which is a replacement for that, it's working without Rosetta 2, optimized for Apple Silicon. You can install it via Homebrew, if you feel ok to install it via terminal.

gist.github.com

Installing brlaser CUPS drivers for printing on Apple Silicon Macs and Brother printers

Installing brlaser CUPS drivers for printing on Apple Silicon Macs and Brother printers - README.md
gist.github.com gist.github.com
 
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eXoenDo said:
I noticed this in Beta 1 and reported it immediately, I welcome additional reports though to get some attention on it. It is annoying. But I chose to run Beta software lol. Interestingly, they closed my bug report as "Investigation Complete - Works currently as designed"
Click to expand...

yup, same here. submitted a report and got this exact reply (Investigation Complete - Works currently as designed).

I did a clean restore of my test system (IPSW -> Mac mini) with beta 3. with macOS totally unmolested, I'm still seeing this:

Code: 
sh-3.2# cat /var/log/cups/error_log
E [08/Jul/2026:04:07:26 -0700] Unknown directive WebInterface on line 23 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.
E [08/Jul/2026:13:14:58 +0200] Unknown directive WebInterface on line 23 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.
E [08/Jul/2026:13:30:26 +0200] Unknown directive WebInterface on line 23 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.
E [08/Jul/2026:13:47:31 +0200] Unknown directive WebInterface on line 23 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.
E [08/Jul/2026:16:10:31 +0200] Unknown directive WebInterface on line 23 of /private/etc/cups/cupsd.conf.
sh-3.2#

line 23:

Code: 
WebInterface No

so... /usr/sbin/cupsd doesn't know anymore what to do with "WebInterface yes/No" at all. it's possible that Apple has removed it entirely..?!
 
I see the "Resolution" status has changed on my report, too -- though with no notification or Inbox reply.

The CUPS version is 2.3.4, the same Sequoia.

This is a terrible "improvement", and not listed in the Release Notes.
 
eXoenDo said:
I vibecoded an app to help bridge the gap while this bug exists
Click to expand...
You''l forgive me, but there's no source code on the github site, so basically "I'm a stranger on the internet, please run this app, which asks you for your password". 😱
 
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benwiggy said:
You''l forgive me, but there's no source code on the github site, so basically "I'm a stranger on the internet, please run this app, which asks you for your password". 😱
Click to expand...
Good point. I uploaded the source code on GitHub now. 🙂

bogdanw said:
I've tested the app (1.0 Beta 1) in a virtual machine with GG (26A5378j) and it returns the same error: "cupsctl: Cannot set WebInterface directly."
View attachment 2644401
Click to expand...
Yes, it will still fail to enable the web interface directly, but the point of the app is it has the same functionality of the web interface so you can still do the same things with a visual interface frontend that the web interface provided.
 
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I came here from Google.
When I do "cupsctl WebInterface=yes" I get "cupsctl: Cannot set WebInterface directly.".
Golden Gate Beta 3
It worked fine on Tahoe (non-beta).
 
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I think it's save to assume that the web UI of CUPS is gone (intentionally).
in beta 5 even the error in /var/log/cups/error_log is gone...
 
What I am most angry about is lack of information. Why has this change to CUPS not been mentioned in the Release Notes? How are we supposed to achieve all the functions that the web interface provided?
 
It looks like the .cgi files are still at /usr/libexec/cups/cgi-bin/, and they still work. I'm trying to work with ChatGPT to create a new web server using python, but as usual it's like pulling teeth with all the mistakes, and forgetting, and then telling me I've run out of creds.
 
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Without saying too much, there was a request made to remove it that I had to follow. I really do wish they would communicate more about the actual reason for shutting this off. It's such a weird feature to disable.
 
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