Troubleshooting
Each entry below is a message OpenOSINT really prints.
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is not set.
The REPL needs an AI provider. Export a key (export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...), or start with --provider ollama or --provider openai. Direct commands such as openosint dns example.com need none.
Scan error: ... cannot run: ... not set. and [key_required]
A tool needs an API key you have not provided. The message names the variable and a link to get one. Set it as an environment variable, put it in config.env or .env, or save it in the web UI under Settings. See Configuration.
disabled_in_passive_mode
The tool is active (it touches the target or is noisy) and active tools are off. Pass --allow-active, set OPENOSINT_ALLOW_ACTIVE=1, or use the web UI switch, after reading Safety. A public or demo instance cannot enable them.
Tool call limit reached (N calls for this request)
The per-request cap stopped the investigation. Send another message to continue, or raise OPENOSINT_MAX_TOOL_CALLS.
Install it with: uv tool install holehe (or: pip install holehe)
search_email, search_username and search_domain call separate programs (holehe, sherlock, sublist3r). Install the one named and make sure it is on your PATH. See Install.
Port 8080 is already in use.
Another program holds the port. Start the UI on another one: openosint web --port 8081.
Refusing to bind to '0.0.0.0'
openosint web only listens on loopback unless you opt in with --allow-remote (or OPENOSINT_ALLOW_REMOTE=1). That exposes every route to your network, so put it behind a firewall or reverse proxy.
Host not allowed. Add it to OPENOSINT_ALLOWED_HOSTS.
You reached the web UI by a name other than 127.0.0.1, localhost or ::1. Add that name to OPENOSINT_ALLOWED_HOSTS, comma-separated.
Model '...' not found. Check ANTHROPIC_MODEL
ANTHROPIC_MODEL names a model the API does not know. Fix it or unset it to use the default.
[service_unavailable] search_gdelt_geo
The GDELT news feed was down or returned a bad file. The globe shows a notice; try again later.
The MCP server will not start in a desktop app
The app launched with a minimal PATH and cannot find uvx. Use the absolute path from which uvx (macOS, Linux) or where uvx (Windows) as the command. See MCP server.
A .env file is ignored
.env is searched upward from the directory you run openosint from. The MCP server has an unrelated working directory, so set OPENOSINT_ENV_FILE=/absolute/path/to/.env in the client's env block.
Still stuck
Run with -v for debug logging, then open an issue with the command and the message. Remove any keys first.