Fix "Failed to load config file (is the config file corrupt?)" in Oxide plugins
The JSON in oxide/config/<Plugin>.json is not valid, so Oxide cannot deserialize it into the plugin's config class and falls back to defaults. The parser message names the exact path and line; fix the JSON there and reload the plugin.
KillRewards v1.0.0: Failed to load config file (is the config file corrupt?) (Unexpected character encountered while parsing value: }. Path 'Reward amount', line 3, position 1.)
Why it happens
Oxide reads the config file with a JSON deserializer before the plugin's config object is created. JSON has no trailing commas, no comments, and requires double quotes around every key and string value. Common triggers: a comma left after the last property, a key or string typed without quotes, a // or /* */ comment pasted in, single quotes, or a value truncated when the file was edited by hand. The message in brackets is the deserializer's own report: Unexpected character encountered while parsing value: } means it found a closing brace where it expected a value, usually because of a trailing comma or an empty value. Path 'Reward amount' tells you which property the parser was reading when it failed. When loading fails, Oxide prints the warning and the plugin continues with its default config, so in-game behavior silently changes.
How to fix it
- Open
oxide/config/<Plugin>.jsonand go to the line and property named in the error. - Remove any trailing comma before
}or], wrap every key and string value in double quotes, and delete comments. - Validate the whole file with any JSON validator before saving; one bad character anywhere breaks the entire file.
- If the file is too damaged, stop the server, delete it, and let the plugin write a fresh one on next load. Do not leave it half-edited.
- Run
oxide.reload <Plugin>and check the console: theFailed to load config fileline must be gone and your values must appear in game. - Keep a backup copy before editing; a corrupt config is easy to restore from one.
If the error persists after saving valid JSON, confirm you edited the file in the correct folder (
oxide/configfor Oxide,carbon/configsfor Carbon) and that the server user can read it.
Before and after
{
"Reward amount": 100, // how much to give
"Reward item": scrap
}{
"Reward amount": 100,
"Reward item": "scrap"
}FAQ
Does the plugin stop working when its config is corrupt?
No. Oxide prints the warning and loads the plugin with its default config, so it stays loaded but ignores your settings. Behavior such as rewards or prices reverts to code defaults until you fix the file and reload.
Why does one trailing comma break the whole config?
JSON is parsed as a single document. The deserializer stops at the first invalid character, so everything after it is never read. Fixing the reported line usually resolves the whole file.
Can I use comments in oxide/config files?
No. Config files are plain JSON, which has no comment syntax. Lines starting with // or wrapped in /* */ make the file invalid. Keep notes outside the file.
The path names a property my plugin class does not have. What then?
The file is parsed against the current plugin version. After a plugin update, property names may have changed. Delete the old file and reload so the plugin writes a config that matches the new class.
Different error?
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