9 April 2025

WebUI displays Jackett error even when its search plugin is disabled

Users of various media management tools, such as Sonarr and Radarr, often rely on Jackett to interface seamlessly with torrent indexers. However, a peculiar issue has been reported where the WebUI continues to display a Jackett-related error despite the Jackett search plugin being disabled. This anomaly has created confusion among users who believe that disabling the plugin should prevent all Jackett-related errors from appearing on the interface.

This scenario raises several questions about the integration between WebUI components and third-party services like Jackett. The underlying causes are typically rooted in persistent configurations, frontend cache issues, or incomplete disconnection of API hooks from the WebUI’s core backend logic.

Understanding the Issue

The problem usually occurs when a user disables the Jackett plugin but still sees error messages such as:

• “Jackett connection failed”
• “Unable to fetch results from Jackett”
• “Timeout while querying Jackett API”

Despite the plugin being disabled through the proper settings, the WebUI seems to attempt to connect to Jackett, displaying relevant connection failure notifications. This can be especially frustrating in setups where Jackett is no longer in use or has been intentionally removed from the environment.

Why This Happens

The persistence of Jackett-related errors in the WebUI generally happens due to the following reasons:

1. Stale Configuration Cache: Sometimes, even though the plugin has been disabled, cached settings in the UI or browser persist beyond the actual state.
2. Residual API Callbacks: The WebUI may still try to reach Jackett endpoints due to hardcoded elements or improper separation of plugin logic and API triggers.
3. Frontend-Bound Errors: The error handling component of the UI may not be sensitive to the plugin’s enable/disable state, causing it to display errors that are no longer contextually relevant.

This demonstrates a need for a more decoupled architecture where the user interface better respects the current configuration state rather than relying on legacy or cached behavior.

How Developers Are Addressing It

Several open-source developers and contributors have acknowledged this issue on community forums and GitHub repositories. Their work mainly focuses on improving:

• Real-time state detection: Ensuring the WebUI polls the current configuration before issuing plugin-specific API calls.
• Error filtering: Preventing inactive plugin errors from being shown when the plugin is flagged as disabled.
• Config flush functionality: Introducing options to flush the cache or reset UI configurations without wiping the full application.

For users experiencing the problem, peace of mind may come from the fact that these improvements are actively being developed and, in many cases, can be manually patched through configuration files or updated plugins.

Temporary Workarounds

If you’re encountering Jackett errors on the WebUI despite having the plugin disabled, here are some suggested workarounds:

1. Clear the browser cache and reload the WebUI.
2. Restart the entire application or service container (e.g., Docker, Windows Service).
3. Manually edit the settings.json or equivalent configuration file to ensure Jackett’s credentials or endpoints are fully removed.
4. Check for lingering WebUI scripts calling Jackett APIs and disable them if possible.

While none of these are permanent fixes, they often help mitigate the symptoms until an official patch or plugin update is released.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Why is the WebUI still referencing Jackett even when it’s disabled?
  A: This likely occurs due to cached configurations, hardcoded API behaviors, or frontend components not respecting the disabled plugin state.
• Q: Can I permanently remove Jackett-related components?
  A: Yes, by editing configuration files and ensuring there are no remaining Jackett dependencies, you can prevent reappearance of related errors.
• Q: Will reinstalling the software remove the issue?
  A: Reinstallation could help if done cleanly, but residual user profiles or cached settings may still need to be purged manually.
• Q: Are there alternative plugins that don’t have this issue?
  A: Many users report smoother operation with plugins like Prowlarr, which was designed to address some of Jackett’s integration challenges.
• Q: How can I report this bug to developers?
  A: Visit the GitHub repository or official support forum for your application and provide detailed logs, screenshots, and your configuration steps.

In conclusion, while the WebUI displaying Jackett errors after the plugin is disabled is inconvenient, understanding the root causes and using the steps listed above can help users regain control over their media management experience. Ongoing community development offers hope for more robust plugin and UI interactions in the near future.