FileNotFoundException ☕ Java

java.io.FileNotFoundException: config.properties (No such file or directory)

Java couldn’t open the file — wrong path relative to the working directory, missing file, or a classpath resource read as a file.

Seen on: Java

Meaning

Relative paths resolve from the JVM working directory. Files inside a JAR aren’t files at all; read them with getResourceAsStream.

Common causes

  • Relative path + different working directory
  • Resource inside a JAR opened with new File()
  • Missing file in deployment
  • Permission denied (message says so)

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Load classpath resources with getClass().getResourceAsStream("/config.properties")
  2. Use absolute or configurable paths
  3. Check System.getProperty("user.dir")

Detailed fix by platform

Java

  1. try (InputStream in = App.class.getResourceAsStream("/config.properties")) { props.load(in); }

How to diagnose

  1. Path — Exact path
  2. CWD — user.dir
  3. Packaging — Inside a JAR?

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