Pi-hole, padd & pitft 3.5" error

Troubleshooting
1

Hello,

I need help with a problem involving pi-hole v6, padd 4.1.0, and an Adafruit pitft 3.5".
After restarting today, padd starts up with errors on my pitft. It looks like this:

START UP =======
curl: (3) URL using bad/illegal format or missing URL
curl: (6) Could not resolve host: communicationsauth
curl: (6) Could not resolve host: errorauth
curl: (6) Could not resolve host: toauth
curl: (7) Failed to connect to 127.0.0.1 port 80 after 0ms: Couldn`t connect to server
curl: (6) Could not resolve host: timedauth
curl: (6) Could not resolve host: outauth
API not available: Please check FTL.log
Exiting

The strange thing is that it works maybe once in every 10 boot processes.
The last update was from Pihole to

Pi-hole 6.2.2
Web 6.3
FTL 6.3.2.

The FTL.log doesn’t show me anything unusual either.
In addition, padd works on the console when entering ./padd.sh.
Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be?

2025-10-30 18:25:47.302 CET [656M] INFO: ########## FTL started on pihole! ##########
2025-10-30 18:25:47.303 CET [656M] INFO: FTL branch: master
2025-10-30 18:25:47.303 CET [656M] INFO: FTL version: v6.3.2
2025-10-30 18:25:47.303 CET [656M] INFO: FTL commit: bc5e8b22
2025-10-30 18:25:47.303 CET [656M] INFO: FTL date: 2025-10-28 13:35:29 +0000
2025-10-30 18:25:47.303 CET [656M] INFO: FTL user: pihole
2025-10-30 18:25:47.303 CET [656M] INFO: Compiled for linux/arm64/v8 (compiled on CI) using cc (Alpine 14.2.0) 14.2.0
2025-10-30 18:25:47.307 CET [656M] INFO: Wrote config file:
2025-10-30 18:25:47.307 CET [656M] INFO:  - 161 total entries
2025-10-30 18:25:47.307 CET [656M] INFO:  - 143 entries are default
2025-10-30 18:25:47.307 CET [656M] INFO:  - 18 entries are modified
2025-10-30 18:25:47.307 CET [656M] INFO:  - 0 entries are forced through environment
2025-10-30 18:25:47.311 CET [656M] INFO: Parsed config file /etc/pihole/pihole.toml successfully
2025-10-30 18:25:47.311 CET [656M] INFO: PID file does not exist or not readable
2025-10-30 18:25:47.311 CET [656M] INFO: No other running FTL process found.
2025-10-30 18:25:47.313 CET [656M] INFO: PID of FTL process: 656
2025-10-30 18:25:47.314 CET [656M] INFO: listening on 0.0.0.0 port 53
2025-10-30 18:25:47.314 CET [656M] INFO: listening on :: port 53
2025-10-30 18:25:47.314 CET [656M] INFO: PID of FTL process: 656
2025-10-30 18:25:47.317 CET [656M] INFO: Database version is 21
2025-10-30 18:25:47.318 CET [656M] INFO: Database successfully initialized
2025-10-30 18:25:58.301 CET [656M] INFO: Imported 867075 queries from the on-disk database (it has 1258296 rows)
2025-10-30 18:25:58.301 CET [656M] INFO: Parsing queries in database
2025-10-30 18:25:58.331 CET [656M] INFO:   10000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.351 CET [656M] INFO:   20000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.374 CET [656M] INFO:   30000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.394 CET [656M] INFO:   40000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.412 CET [656M] INFO:   50000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.431 CET [656M] INFO:   60000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.450 CET [656M] INFO:   70000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.471 CET [656M] INFO:   80000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.488 CET [656M] INFO:   90000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.507 CET [656M] INFO:   100000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.525 CET [656M] INFO:   110000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.543 CET [656M] INFO:   120000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.562 CET [656M] INFO:   130000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.580 CET [656M] INFO:   140000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.597 CET [656M] INFO:   150000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.616 CET [656M] INFO:   160000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.633 CET [656M] INFO:   170000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.651 CET [656M] INFO:   180000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.669 CET [656M] INFO:   190000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.687 CET [656M] INFO:   200000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.706 CET [656M] INFO:   210000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.725 CET [656M] INFO:   220000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.744 CET [656M] INFO:   230000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.763 CET [656M] INFO:   240000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.782 CET [656M] INFO:   250000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.803 CET [656M] INFO:   260000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.824 CET [656M] INFO:   270000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.845 CET [656M] INFO:   280000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.866 CET [656M] INFO:   290000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.887 CET [656M] INFO:   300000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.908 CET [656M] INFO:   310000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.930 CET [656M] INFO:   320000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.951 CET [656M] INFO:   330000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.972 CET [656M] INFO:   340000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:58.994 CET [656M] INFO:   350000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.016 CET [656M] INFO:   360000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.038 CET [656M] INFO:   370000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.059 CET [656M] INFO:   380000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.081 CET [656M] INFO:   390000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.103 CET [656M] INFO:   400000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.125 CET [656M] INFO:   410000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.146 CET [656M] INFO:   420000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.168 CET [656M] INFO:   430000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.190 CET [656M] INFO:   440000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.212 CET [656M] INFO:   450000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.234 CET [656M] INFO:   460000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.255 CET [656M] INFO:   470000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.277 CET [656M] INFO:   480000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.298 CET [656M] INFO:   490000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.320 CET [656M] INFO:   500000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.342 CET [656M] INFO:   510000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.363 CET [656M] INFO:   520000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.385 CET [656M] INFO:   530000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.406 CET [656M] INFO:   540000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.428 CET [656M] INFO:   550000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.450 CET [656M] INFO:   560000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.471 CET [656M] INFO:   570000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.493 CET [656M] INFO:   580000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.515 CET [656M] INFO:   590000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.537 CET [656M] INFO:   600000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.559 CET [656M] INFO:   610000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.581 CET [656M] INFO:   620000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.603 CET [656M] INFO:   630000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.624 CET [656M] INFO:   640000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.646 CET [656M] INFO:   650000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.668 CET [656M] INFO:   660000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.690 CET [656M] INFO:   670000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.712 CET [656M] INFO:   680000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.734 CET [656M] INFO:   690000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.756 CET [656M] INFO:   700000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.778 CET [656M] INFO:   710000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.800 CET [656M] INFO:   720000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.823 CET [656M] INFO:   730000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.845 CET [656M] INFO:   740000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.867 CET [656M] INFO:   750000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.890 CET [656M] INFO:   760000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.913 CET [656M] INFO:   770000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.936 CET [656M] INFO:   780000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.960 CET [656M] INFO:   790000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.980 CET [656M] INFO:   800000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:25:59.999 CET [656M] INFO:   810000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:26:00.017 CET [656M] INFO:   820000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:26:00.035 CET [656M] INFO:   830000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:26:00.053 CET [656M] INFO:   840000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:26:00.073 CET [656M] INFO:   850000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:26:00.094 CET [656M] INFO:   860000 queries parsed...
2025-10-30 18:26:00.108 CET [656M] INFO: Imported 867028 queries from the long-term database
2025-10-30 18:26:00.108 CET [656M] INFO:  -> Total DNS queries: 867028
2025-10-30 18:26:00.108 CET [656M] INFO:  -> Cached DNS queries: 371155
2025-10-30 18:26:00.108 CET [656M] INFO:  -> Forwarded DNS queries: 468285
2025-10-30 18:26:00.108 CET [656M] INFO:  -> Blocked DNS queries: 24810
2025-10-30 18:26:00.108 CET [656M] INFO:  -> Unknown DNS queries: 0
2025-10-30 18:26:00.108 CET [656M] INFO:  -> Unique domains: 1478
2025-10-30 18:26:00.108 CET [656M] INFO:  -> Unique clients: 67
2025-10-30 18:26:00.108 CET [656M] INFO:  -> DNS cache records: 287
2025-10-30 18:26:00.108 CET [656M] INFO:  -> Known forward destinations: 2
2025-10-30 18:26:00.222 CET [656M] INFO: Clock disciplining NTP client detected, not starting embedded NTP client/server
2025-10-30 18:26:00.222 CET [656M] INFO: FTL is running as user pihole (UID 999)
2025-10-30 18:26:00.222 CET [656M] INFO: Reading certificate from /etc/pihole/tls.pem ...
2025-10-30 18:26:00.222 CET [656M] INFO: Using SSL/TLS certificate file /etc/pihole/tls.pem
2025-10-30 18:26:00.223 CET [656M] INFO: Web server ports:
2025-10-30 18:26:00.223 CET [656M] INFO:   - 0.0.0.0:8089 (HTTP, IPv4, OK)
2025-10-30 18:26:00.223 CET [656M] INFO:   - 0.0.0.0:8489 (HTTPS, IPv4, OK)
2025-10-30 18:26:00.225 CET [656M] INFO: Restored 4 API sessions from the database
2025-10-30 18:26:00.228 CET [656M] INFO: Blocking status is enabled
2025-10-30 18:26:00.387 CET [656/T1724] INFO: Compiled 0 allow and 9 deny regex for 67 clients in 62.3 msec

Sorry, the OS is of course DietPi v9.18.1 Bullseye on a Pi 5.

2 
API not available: Please check FTL.log
Failed to connect to 127.0.0.1 port 80

Pihole changed it’s API and also the webserver, it has now an embedded one which does not run on port 80 by default.
It’s now http://localhost:8089/api.php

I found also this: https://github.com/pi-hole/PADD/issues/444
Pretty similiar to your symptoms, so maybe it’s a timing issue.

The PADD docs also suggest to add this to bashrc when you using PiTFT:

# Run PADD
# If we’re on the PiTFT screen (ssh is xterm)
if [ "$TERM" == "linux" ] ; then
  while :
  do
    ./padd.sh
    sleep 1
  done
fi
2 Likes
3

PiHole is running on port 80? Because default port on DietPi is 8089

API is active in PiHole?

4

The entry in bashrc is exactly the same.

I’m surprised about port 80, as I haven’t changed anything except for the latest Pi-hole update.

5

The web interface is functioning.
XXX. XXX. XXX. XXX:8089/admin

Is that what you mean?

Or is this what is meant:

http://XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX:8089/admin/api.php outputs the following:

{
“error”: {
“key”: “bad_request”,
“message”: “Bad request”,
“hint”: “The API is hosted at pi.hole/api, not pi.hole/admin/api”
},
“took”: 3.6716461181640625e-05
}

6

Since PiHole v6, the port changed from 80 to 8089. Probably you need to adjust the other tools?

7

I know that, which is why I’m surprised.
It worked fine for months, but since the last Pi-hole update yesterday, I’ve been having problems with PiTFT and Padd.

I know how swearing always sounds, but I haven’t done anything else.
At most, apt update, apt upgrade, apt dist-upgrade, apt autoremove and apt autoclean. (as always)

Something must have gone wrong and I don’t know why.

Pi-hole seems to be working fine, it’s just Padd that’s no longer .

8

not sure if it make sense to ask within PiHole forum as it’s dedicated to PiHole app.

1 Like
9

I had already considered this step.
Regardless, I can always reinstall if necessary. :wink:
Many thanks to everyone involved for attempting to find a solution.