Configure Apache on Mac OSX with Environment Variables

configure-apache-path-environment-variable-on-macosx.md

Configure Apache Path Environment Variable on Mac OSX

Problem: Apache2/PHP did not find a program to execute on its configured path

Solution: Add a new path of /usr/local/bin to Apache2's path where the program was installed

1. Edit the Apache2 plist file with whatever editor you like (example using vim):

    $ sudo vim /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.apache.httpd.plist
   

2. Add the following to the the plist file:

    <key>EnvironmentVariables</key>
    <dict>
      <key>PATH</key>
      <string>/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin</string>
    </dict>
   

3. Restart Apache2

    $ sudo /usr/sbin/apachectl stop
    $ sudo /usr/sbin/apachectl start
   

Nice!

Thank you.

It did the trick for me. :)

This should be added at the end? or inside the main block?

On Yosemite it doesn't help. Here is my config

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Disabled</key>
    <true/>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>org.apache.httpd</string>
    <key>EnvironmentVariables</key>
    <dict>
        <key>XPC_SERVICES_UNAVAILABLE</key>
        <string>1</string>
        <key>PATH</key>
        <string>/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin</string>
    </dict>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/sbin/httpd</string>
        <string>-D</string>
        <string>FOREGROUND</string>
    </array>
    <key>OnDemand</key>
    <false/>
</dict>
</plist>

but "echo getenv("PATH");" shows only /usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin

Works fine for me on Yosemite

Like @salex772 it doesn't work for me on 10.10.1. Any idea ?

worked perfectly for 10.10.4! thank you!

Don't work on el Capitan. /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.apache.httpd.plist cannot be edited (rootless)

It doesn't work for me on el Capitan as well.

I had to run command "csrutil disable" in Terminal after rebooting and hitting CMD+R and then I was able to edit this file.

@piotrczyz was right, disabling csrutil works for el capital as he instructed

On Yosemite it doesn't help. Here is my config

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Disabled</key>
    <true/>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>org.apache.httpd</string>
    <key>EnvironmentVariables</key>
    <dict>
        <key>XPC_SERVICES_UNAVAILABLE</key>
        <string>1</string>
        <key>PATH</key>
        <string>/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin</string>
    </dict>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/sbin/httpd</string>
        <string>-D</string>
        <string>FOREGROUND</string>
    </array>
    <key>OnDemand</key>
    <false/>
</dict>
</plist>

but "echo getenv("PATH");" shows only /usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin

I'm getting the same issue.

Solution: For my case

1. I have put the environment variables in the ~/.bash_profile
2. source ~/.bash_profile
3. sudo apachectl stop
4. sudo apachectl start

And now it is working properly on Mojave.

@SubhajitSarkar are you trying to add an environment variable for Apache2 to use or for your terminal?

In Catalina this file is now on the new read-only system volume.

I'm not sure if it was there before but I see an empty /private/etc/apache2/env.plist which is maybe designed as a workaround?

I have the Server app installed, which now has its own instance of apache running, the default apache has this but I'm not sure where to set this env variable:

<IfDefine SERVER_APP_HAS_DEFAULT_PORTS>
    Listen 8080
</IfDefine>
<IfDefine !SERVER_APP_HAS_DEFAULT_PORTS>
    Listen 80
</IfDefine>

I tried setting a SERVER_APP_HAS_DEFAULT_PORTS true in env.plist to no avail but it is possible I had the permissions wrong.

In any case apache won't launch because of httpd (pid 82785) already running and need to stop the Server apps own apache:
sudo launchctl unload -w /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.serviceproxy.plist

I had to run command "csrutil disable" in Terminal after rebooting and hitting CMD+R and then I was able to edit this file.

In catalina I had to mount the root to read/write using sudo mount -uw / after disable csrutil.

I'm getting the same issue.

Solution: For my case (same than SubhajitSarkar)

I have put the environment variables in the ~/.profile (I'm using zsh on M1)

brew install httpd # run as non-root user on port 8080
...

nano ~/.profile
...
export MY_VAR="test"
...

source ~/.profile 
apachectl stop
apachectl start

# php 8.x code
...
echo getenv('MY_VAR')
...
Output: test

And now it is working properly on Monterrey.