sqlite3.DatabaseError: file is not a database

[siebrechtdc]

I am on Unraid 7.1.2 and have been using Huntarr this week to get some missing episodes (very successfully!) This morning, the Docker container was stopped and would not restart. This was what was in the logs ->

WARNING:src.primary.utils.database:WAL mode failed, using DELETE mode: file is not a database
ERROR:src.primary.utils.database:Error configuring database connection: file is not a database
ERROR:settings_manager:Database error loading general: file is not a database
INFO:HuntarrRoot:--- Huntarr Main Process Starting ---
INFO:HuntarrRoot:Python sys.path: ['/app/src', '/app', '/app', '/usr/local/lib/python39.zip', '/usr/local/lib/python3.9', '/usr/local/lib/python3.9/lib-dynload', '/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages']
INFO:stateful_manager:Initializing stateful management system
WARNING:src.primary.utils.database:WAL mode failed, using DELETE mode: file is not a database
ERROR:src.primary.utils.database:Error configuring database connection: file is not a database
ERROR:stateful_manager:Failed to initialize stateful lock: file is not a database
WARNING:src.primary.utils.database:WAL mode failed, using DELETE mode: file is not a database
ERROR:src.primary.utils.database:Error configuring database connection: file is not a database
ERROR:stateful_manager:Failed to check for existing processed IDs: file is not a database
INFO:stateful_manager:Stateful management system initialization complete
WARNING:src.primary.utils.database:WAL mode failed, using DELETE mode: file is not a database
ERROR:src.primary.utils.database:Error configuring database connection: file is not a database
INFO:src.primary.history_manager:History manager initialized with database backend
WARNING:src.primary.utils.database:WAL mode failed, using DELETE mode: file is not a database
ERROR:src.primary.utils.database:Error configuring database connection: file is not a database
ERROR:settings_manager:Database error loading general: file is not a database
CRITICAL:HuntarrRoot:Fatal Error: An unexpected error occurred during initial imports: file is not a database
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/app/main.py", line 107, in
from primary.web_server import app
File "/app/src/primary/web_server.py", line 42, in
from src.primary.apps.blueprints import sonarr_bp, radarr_bp, lidarr_bp, readarr_bp, whisparr_bp, eros_bp, swaparr_bp
File "/app/src/primary/apps/blueprints.py", line 8, in
from src.primary.apps.sonarr_routes import sonarr_bp
File "/app/src/primary/apps/sonarr_routes.py", line 12, in
from src.primary.apps.sonarr import missing, upgrade
File "/app/src/primary/apps/sonarr/init.py", line 6, in
from src.primary.apps.sonarr.missing import process_missing_episodes
File "/app/src/primary/apps/sonarr/missing.py", line 26, in
api_timeout: int = get_advanced_setting("api_timeout", 120),
File "/app/src/primary/settings_manager.py", line 472, in get_advanced_setting
general_settings = load_settings("general")
File "/app/src/primary/settings_manager.py", line 126, in load_settings
db = get_database()
File "/app/src/primary/utils/database.py", line 1706, in get_database
_database_instance = HuntarrDatabase()
File "/app/src/primary/utils/database.py", line 23, in init
self.ensure_database_exists()
File "/app/src/primary/utils/database.py", line 135, in ensure_database_exists
conn.execute('''
sqlite3.DatabaseError: file is not a database
Using configuration directory: /config
2025-06-18 09:41:25 America/Chicago - huntarr - DEBUG - Debug logging enabled for main logger
Using config directory: /config
2025-06-18 09:41:25 America/Chicago - huntarr - DEBUG - Debug logging enabled for main logger
2025-06-18 09:41:25 America/Chicago - huntarr - ERROR - Error initializing state data: file is not a database
2025-06-18 09:41:25 America/Chicago - huntarr - INFO - Stats system initialized using database
2025-06-18 09:41:25 America/Chicago - huntarr.sonarr - DEBUG - Debug logging enabled for sonarr logger

The container will not start so I am not able to get in and look at the file. Please advise. - David

[Admin9705]

It looks like the DB is borked. Go in and delete via /config/huntarr.db

[siebrechtdc]

Thank you! Deleting the db resolved my issue. - David

…

On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 6:41 PM Admin9705 ***@***.***> wrote: Closed #637 <#637> as completed. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#637 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ALFZQAGCEDD2HROHKXI4ATD3EH2KTAVCNFSM6AAAAAB7TOD2TOVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV45UABCJFZXG5LFIV3GK3TUJZXXI2LGNFRWC5DJN5XDWMJYGIYTSOBVGU2TENY> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[timberjoegithub]

I am getting the same problem on a docker install with the latest version .8. Deleting the DB works for a bit then it happens again. sometimes the DB gets messed up during the setup process, sometimes it runs for a few hours before it gets messed up.

[sleighton]

@timberjoegithub Is your Huntarr config volume on an NFS or SMB share? SQLite is known to have issues with corruption when the db is on one of those shares.

[timberjoegithub]

Yes, it is. I will move the DB location, Thanks for your quick and astute response.

[Admin9705]

@timberjoegithub @timberjoegithub @sleighton - i've added database resilience to 8.1.0 including the database properly shuts down when an udpate occurs.