Node fs Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, open - node.js

Question

I get this error in my app:
Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, open 'C:\Program Files
(x86)\Full Menu\db\main.json'
The app I have is built with electron-boilerplate. I am using this function to get the path to the root of the app:
path.dirname(process.execPath)
And this is the script that writes the file:
fs.writeFile(apath + '/db/' + elem + '.json', JSON.stringify(results)
I know what the problem is: permissions. But how could I get this working without running the app as an administrator?

Answer 1

For the benefit of searchers; I has this error. I added full permissions for Everyone as a test, but that didn't fix it. The issue was that the file was set to readonly (by source control).
Unchecking the readonly option in the file properties fixed the issue.

Answer 2

On my Windows 10 machine, I encountered this error when running an old Node JS project. I think Node version 10.16.
In any case, it was trying to modify a dotfile in my project. Be sure that the file isn't hidden on Windows. After unchecking the hidden option in the file properties pop up. Everything worked.
So to fix:
Right click file in Windows Explorer
Select properties
Uncheck Hidden
Click Ok
Re-run your command.

Answer 3

If you have the file that you can't open or modify mounted as a volume in docker restarting docker should fix the issue.

Answer 4

i had to run the node command prompt as administrator and that fixed the issue.

Answer 5

I face this issue when I was deleting a file/folder.
Solution:
Just restart your code editor/ terminal
Or
Restart your computer

Answer 6

If you are facing this issue on Windows 10, then please try the following:
Uncheck readonly options for the folder (if read-only reverts, login as administrator)
Open terminal as administrator (if you are facing this issue on terminal)
Switch off ransomware folder protection
Change chmod of the folder
Check if the folder is hidden or not
Disable antivirus protection (temporarily) and try this
Or move your project folder somewhere else, where antivirus ransomware protection is disable.
If nothing above works, then try the following:
https://appuals.com/how-to-fix-folder-keeps-reverting-to-read-only-on-windows-10/.
Hope this would of help.

Answer 7

I think that you must change the permissions recursively to the file so the user executing your script can read / write this file.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chmod

Answer 8

Restarting my computer fixed this problem for me.

Answer 9

I had this issue too. I'm using TFS (or VSO, Azure DevOps, etc.) for source control. I was trying to compile from .scss to .css and it couldn't open my .css. I just needed to right-click on my .css file and Check Out for Edit...

Answer 10

I had the error because i have already open the file before
var stream = fs.createWriteStream(outputFileName, {flags:'a'})
var output = fs.createWriteStream(outputFileName, {flags:'a'})

Answer 11

this is not an exact answer but may help:
i think if you want to read or readSync a file that doesn't exist you will encounter an EPERM error...
in many programming languages, any permission related error may not
directly means an actual permission issue
for example in PHP Folders (not files) must delete by php rmdir() method but if you want to do that with unlink() , u will encountered with a wrong Warning message that says "permission denied"

Answer 12

I was facing the same problem using the following software:
Windows 10
GitBash
Node v19
I was able to solve it opening GitBash as admin

Answer 13

I had the same problem, when i tried to create and write to a file using NodeJS. I thought it had to do with my windows file/folder access permissions, but after restarting my computer and running the code again, I still got the same error.
However, this time around my antivirus gave me a pop-up message also, stating that it blocked permission for Node.exe to write or open files. So once I flagged Node.exe as safe for my anti-virus program (Avast).
It worked for me. Disabling my antivirus could've also temporarily fixed it, I guess.

Answer 14

If you use windows 10, you must turn off Ransomware protection. Ransomware protection will prevent all folder and file changes.You can turn off it in Windows Security Center. See screenshot below: