# Page shows "Communication failure". Still works, wondering how to troubleshoot **URL:** \ **Category:** Off-Topic\ **Created:** [September 16, 2026, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/page-shows-communication-failure-still-works-wondering-how-to-troubleshoot/170397 "2026-09-16T12:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joe\_Free](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/joe_free/32/194317_2.png) [@Joe\_Free](https://community.openhab.org/u/Joe_Free)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/page-shows-communication-failure-still-works-wondering-how-to-troubleshoot/170397/1 "2026-09-16T12:42:03Z")
I’m using openHab 5.2.1. My experience thus far has been amazingly easy! I have a page that allows me to control some items and it frequently shows me a “Communication failure” with a reload button at the bottom of the browser page. The page works after reload. Does anyone have any pointers or advice on troubleshooting this? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Free](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/joe_free/32/194317_2.png) [@Joe\_Free](https://community.openhab.org/u/Joe_Free)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 2:31pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/page-shows-communication-failure-still-works-wondering-how-to-troubleshoot/170397/2 "2026-09-16T14:31:01Z")
In the openHab log viewer, under Developer tools. I’m finding an “Unauthorized API request” warning, correlating with the error in the page. Between AI and forum searches I have some things to try. Please pipe in if you’ve had the same problem and found a solution. ---
**Author:** ![rlkoshak](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/rlkoshak/32/75251_2.png) [@rlkoshak](https://community.openhab.org/u/rlkoshak)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/page-shows-communication-failure-still-works-wondering-how-to-troubleshoot/170397/3 "2026-09-16T14:55:23Z")
This is MainUI I can assume? Are you logged in as a user? What role? Do you have anything clearing cookies on the browser periodically or something like that? It sounds like your authorization is expiring for some reason. The Communication failure comes when the websocket connection to the server gets cut/dropped so MainUI no longer gets the events from the event bus. You might open the developer tools on the browser and look through the logs there to see if you can capture the exact reason the websocket is disconnecting. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Free](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/joe_free/32/194317_2.png) [@Joe\_Free](https://community.openhab.org/u/Joe_Free)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/page-shows-communication-failure-still-works-wondering-how-to-troubleshoot/170397/4 "2026-09-16T15:42:18Z")
Not sure I entirely understand what MianUI is. Though I see many references to it. I’m running the openHab server on a Windows 11 machine. I configure it with a webpage that opens on that machine at port 8080. Is that MainUI? I’m logged in as administrator on all 3 devices (2 Win 11, 1 Android). The page is set to be visible to both administrators and users. I’ve got the developer tools open now on one of the Win 11 machines, and I’m waiting for the error to occur. It hasn’t happened since I made this post. It was reliably happening until then. LOL. Thank you so much for your help! ---
**Author:** ![rlkoshak](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/rlkoshak/32/75251_2.png) [@rlkoshak](https://community.openhab.org/u/rlkoshak)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 3:57pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/page-shows-communication-failure-still-works-wondering-how-to-troubleshoot/170397/5 "2026-09-16T15:57:26Z")
> [@Joe\_Free](#): > > Is that MainUI? Yes. See [Main UI | openHAB](https://www.openhab.org/docs/mainui/#special-features). OH has other UIs including BasicUI which works with [Sitemaps](https://www.openhab.org/docs/ui/sitemaps.html#concepts) and [HABPanel](https://www.openhab.org/docs/ui/habpanel/habpanel.html). And that doesn’t even count the phone apps and watch apps, etc. ---
**Author:** ![apella12](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/apella12/32/117154_2.png) [@apella12](https://community.openhab.org/u/apella12)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/page-shows-communication-failure-still-works-wondering-how-to-troubleshoot/170397/6 "2026-09-16T17:26:51Z")
I get this message and believe it is related to a time out. I use an I-pad and if I close it up and come back later the message is there (I don’t have a token set-up). Up to 5.2 it would just go away without any action on my part. Now I have to click Reload. I think this is related [MainUI Sessions Expiring Unexpectedly (Frequent Logouts) - Setup, Configuration and Use / Runtime - openHAB Community](https://community.openhab.org/t/mainui-sessions-expiring-unexpectedly-frequent-logouts/170353/5) Not a big enough of an issue for me. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Free](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/joe_free/32/194317_2.png) [@Joe\_Free](https://community.openhab.org/u/Joe_Free)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/page-shows-communication-failure-still-works-wondering-how-to-troubleshoot/170397/7 "2026-09-16T17:39:02Z")
The browser log indicates that the timeout issue is mine also. It’s completely manageable. It’s just that the less tech savvy folks using it, are confounded by less than perfect operation. I can’t express how impressed I am with the software, how little it took to get it working to the point that I have. Amazing! Rich and Bob - thank you for the help!