How to Access Airflow UI: Quick Guide

To access the Airflow UI, run airflow webserver to start the web server, then open http://localhost:8080 in your browser. This interface lets you monitor and control your workflows visually.

Syntax

The basic command to start the Airflow web UI is airflow webserver. This launches the web server on the default port 8080. You then open your browser and go to http://localhost:8080 to see the UI.

Optionally, you can specify a different port with airflow webserver -p <port_number>.

bash

airflow webserver
# or to specify a port
airflow webserver -p 8081

Example

This example shows how to start the Airflow webserver and access the UI on the default port.

bash

airflow webserver

Output

Starting the Airflow webserver on port 8080
Serving Flask app 'airflow.www.app' (lazy loading)
Running on http://0.0.0.0:8080/ (Press CTRL+C to quit)

Common Pitfalls

• Webserver not running: Forgetting to start the webserver means the UI won't be accessible.
• Port conflicts: If port 8080 is busy, the webserver won't start unless you specify a free port.
• Firewall or network issues: Accessing the UI remotely requires network access to the server and open ports.
• Airflow not initialized: You must run airflow db init before starting the webserver if this is a fresh setup.

bash

Wrong way:
# Trying to access UI without starting webserver
# Browser shows connection error

Right way:
airflow db init
airflow webserver

Quick Reference

Command	Description
airflow db init	Initialize the Airflow database (run once)
airflow webserver	Start the Airflow web UI on port 8080
airflow webserver -p	Start the webserver on a custom port
http://localhost:8080	Default URL to access the Airflow UI

Key Takeaways

Start the Airflow webserver with 'airflow webserver' to access the UI.

Open your browser at 'http://localhost:8080' to view the Airflow interface.

Run 'airflow db init' first if Airflow is not initialized.

Use '-p' option to change the webserver port if 8080 is busy.

Ensure network and firewall settings allow access if connecting remotely.