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curle_file_couldnt_read_file
Easy Fix
cURL · libcurl & CLI
libcurl code CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE indicates file couldnt read file during DNS/routing/connectivity path.
Quick Answer
Error code CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE on your cURL libcurl & CLI means: libcurl code CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE indicates file couldnt read file during DNS/routing/connectivity path.. This is usually fixable — see the step-by-step guide below.
Affected Models
Likely Causes
  1. CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE was returned while libcurl handled a request stage related to DNS/routing/connectivity path.
  2. Command options, endpoint behavior, or intermediary network components are incompatible with expected transfer flow.
  3. Runtime environment specifics (proxy, cert store, protocol support, or callback behavior) contributed to CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE.
How to Fix It
1
Capture verbose output (-v / --trace) and isolate the exact phase where CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE appears.
2
Reproduce file_couldnt_read_file with a minimal request against a known-good endpoint.
3
Validate protocol, TLS, DNS, proxy, and timeout options tied to DNS/routing/connectivity path.
4
Adjust one option at a time until CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE clears and transfer completes successfully.
5
Lock the fix into scripts/clients and monitor for CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE regression.
Pro Tip
This is a common issue that most users can resolve without specialized tools. Try the first step before moving on to more complex solutions.
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