ZeroTier UI menu bar icon is not displayed on macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 while daemon works correctly
Environment
Operating System:
macOS Tahoe 26.5.2
Build: 25F84
ZeroTier daemon:
1.16.2
ZeroTier GUI:
CFBundleShortVersionString = 1.16.1
Installation source:
https://www.zerotier.com/download/
Installation package:
Official ZeroTier One.pkg downloaded from the ZeroTier website.
Problem Description
After installing the latest official ZeroTier package on macOS Tahoe 26.5.2, the ZeroTier service works correctly, but the graphical user interface does not display its menu bar icon.
Initially, with ZeroTier 1.16.1, the application displayed:
Waiting for ZeroTier system service...
After completely uninstalling ZeroTier, updating macOS from 26.5.1 (25F80) to 26.5.2 (25F84), and installing the latest package from the official website, the daemon started working correctly.
However, the GUI still does not show any menu bar icon.
Current Behavior
The daemon starts successfully.
The CLI works correctly.
The node successfully joins ZeroTier networks.
The GUI launches without crashing.
No menu bar icon is displayed.
Verified Diagnostics
LaunchDaemon is running
sudo launchctl print system/com.zerotier.one
state = running
ZeroTier daemon is listening on TCP port 9993
sudo lsof -iTCP:9993 -sTCP:LISTEN
COMMAND PID USER FD TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF NODE NAME
zerotier-one 487 root 6u IPv4 TCP *:9993 (LISTEN)
zerotier-one 487 root 7u IPv6 TCP *:9993 (LISTEN)
TCP port is reachable
nc -vz 127.0.0.1 9993
Connection to 127.0.0.1 port 9993 succeeded
ZeroTier CLI works correctly
sudo zerotier-cli info
200 info c700c062c6 1.16.2 TUNNELED
GUI launches
open -a ZeroTier
The application launches successfully.
It does not crash.
However, no menu bar icon appears.
Console Log
The application successfully creates an NSStatusItem and registers it through Control Center.
Relevant log entries:
StatusBar create scene
Requesting scene from com.apple.controlcenter.statusitems
Created scene NSStatusItemScene
The GUI remains running.
No crash occurs.
No exceptions or fatal errors are present in the logs.
Despite successful registration of the NSStatusItem, the menu bar icon never becomes visible.
Additional Observation
The daemon reports version:
1.16.2
However the GUI bundle reports:
CFBundleShortVersionString = 1.16.1
This was verified both:
from the installed application
from the official ZeroTier 1.16.2 installer package
The executable appears to be newer while Info.plist still contains version 1.16.1.
This may simply be an outdated version string, but I mention it in case it is relevant.
Steps Already Performed
Completely removed ZeroTier
Removed all ZeroTier files from the system
Rebooted macOS
Updated macOS from 26.5.1 to 26.5.2
Installed the latest official package from zerotier.com
Verified LaunchDaemon
Verified TCP port 9993
Verified daemon startup
Verified CLI operation
Verified GUI startup
Verified GUI remains running
The issue remains unchanged.
Expected Behavior
Launching ZeroTier should display the menu bar icon, allowing access to the GUI.
Actual Behavior
The service is fully functional.
The GUI launches successfully.
The menu bar icon is never displayed.
Possible Cause
This appears to be related to the new menu bar / Control Center implementation introduced in macOS Tahoe (26.x).
The application successfully creates an NSStatusItem, but the icon is never rendered or exposed in the menu bar.
Since the daemon and GUI both work correctly, this appears to be a UI compatibility issue rather than a networking or daemon issue.
System Information
macOS Tahoe 26.5.2
Build 25F84
ZeroTier daemon:
1.16.2
Node status:
200 info c700c062c6 1.16.2 TUNNELED
Attachments
I can provide:
Console logs
Screenshot of the missing menu bar icon
Output of:
sudo zerotier-cli info
sudo launchctl print system/com.zerotier.one
sudo lsof -iTCP:9993 -sTCP:LISTEN
ZeroTier UI menu bar icon is not displayed on macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 while daemon works correctly
Environment
Operating System:
macOS Tahoe 26.5.2
Build: 25F84
ZeroTier daemon:
1.16.2
ZeroTier GUI:
CFBundleShortVersionString = 1.16.1
Installation source:
https://www.zerotier.com/download/
Installation package:
Official ZeroTier One.pkg downloaded from the ZeroTier website.
Problem Description
After installing the latest official ZeroTier package on macOS Tahoe 26.5.2, the ZeroTier service works correctly, but the graphical user interface does not display its menu bar icon.
Initially, with ZeroTier 1.16.1, the application displayed:
Waiting for ZeroTier system service...
After completely uninstalling ZeroTier, updating macOS from 26.5.1 (25F80) to 26.5.2 (25F84), and installing the latest package from the official website, the daemon started working correctly.
However, the GUI still does not show any menu bar icon.
Current Behavior
The daemon starts successfully.
The CLI works correctly.
The node successfully joins ZeroTier networks.
The GUI launches without crashing.
No menu bar icon is displayed.
Verified Diagnostics
LaunchDaemon is running
sudo launchctl print system/com.zerotier.one
state = running
ZeroTier daemon is listening on TCP port 9993
sudo lsof -iTCP:9993 -sTCP:LISTEN
COMMAND PID USER FD TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF NODE NAME
zerotier-one 487 root 6u IPv4 TCP *:9993 (LISTEN)
zerotier-one 487 root 7u IPv6 TCP *:9993 (LISTEN)
TCP port is reachable
nc -vz 127.0.0.1 9993
Connection to 127.0.0.1 port 9993 succeeded
ZeroTier CLI works correctly
sudo zerotier-cli info
200 info c700c062c6 1.16.2 TUNNELED
GUI launches
open -a ZeroTier
The application launches successfully.
It does not crash.
However, no menu bar icon appears.
Console Log
The application successfully creates an NSStatusItem and registers it through Control Center.
Relevant log entries:
StatusBar create scene
Requesting scene from com.apple.controlcenter.statusitems
Created scene NSStatusItemScene
The GUI remains running.
No crash occurs.
No exceptions or fatal errors are present in the logs.
Despite successful registration of the NSStatusItem, the menu bar icon never becomes visible.
Additional Observation
The daemon reports version:
1.16.2
However the GUI bundle reports:
CFBundleShortVersionString = 1.16.1
This was verified both:
from the installed application
from the official ZeroTier 1.16.2 installer package
The executable appears to be newer while Info.plist still contains version 1.16.1.
This may simply be an outdated version string, but I mention it in case it is relevant.
Steps Already Performed
Completely removed ZeroTier
Removed all ZeroTier files from the system
Rebooted macOS
Updated macOS from 26.5.1 to 26.5.2
Installed the latest official package from zerotier.com
Verified LaunchDaemon
Verified TCP port 9993
Verified daemon startup
Verified CLI operation
Verified GUI startup
Verified GUI remains running
The issue remains unchanged.
Expected Behavior
Launching ZeroTier should display the menu bar icon, allowing access to the GUI.
Actual Behavior
The service is fully functional.
The GUI launches successfully.
The menu bar icon is never displayed.
Possible Cause
This appears to be related to the new menu bar / Control Center implementation introduced in macOS Tahoe (26.x).
The application successfully creates an NSStatusItem, but the icon is never rendered or exposed in the menu bar.
Since the daemon and GUI both work correctly, this appears to be a UI compatibility issue rather than a networking or daemon issue.
System Information
macOS Tahoe 26.5.2
Build 25F84
ZeroTier daemon:
1.16.2
Node status:
200 info c700c062c6 1.16.2 TUNNELED
Attachments
I can provide:
Console logs
Screenshot of the missing menu bar icon
Output of:
sudo zerotier-cli info
sudo launchctl print system/com.zerotier.one
sudo lsof -iTCP:9993 -sTCP:LISTEN