[WinError 183] Cannot create a file when that file already exists

[heinrichmichael]

Describe the bug

we have an issue to connect to azure cli on our paw since a few days.
already tried to reinstall azure cli on windows and also tried to delete the .azure folder but still not working.

Related command

az login

Errors

The command failed with an unexpected error. Here is the traceback:
[WinError 183] Cannot create a file when that file already exists: 'C:\Users\username\.azure'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\knack/cli.py", line 233, in invoke
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 666, in execute
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 733, in _run_jobs_serially
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 703, in _run_job
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 336, in call
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/command_operation.py", line 121, in handler
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/command_modules/profile/custom.py", line 173, in login
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/_profile.py", line 176, in login
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 167, in login_with_auth_code
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 126, in _msal_app
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 118, in _msal_public_app_kwargs
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 100, in _msal_app_kwargs
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 131, in _load_msal_token_cache
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/persistence.py", line 27, in load_persisted_token_cache
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/persistence.py", line 42, in build_persistence
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 204, in init
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 148, in init
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 40, in _mkdir_p
File "", line 225, in makedirs
FileExistsError: [WinError 183] Cannot create a file when that file already exists: 'C:\Users\username\.azure'

Issue script & Debug output

cli.knack.cli: Command arguments: ['login', '--debug']
cli.knack.cli: init debug log:
Enable color in terminal.
cli.knack.cli: Event: Cli.PreExecute []
cli.knack.cli: Event: CommandParser.OnGlobalArgumentsCreate [<function CLILogging.on_global_arguments at 0x000002628423B2E0>, <function OutputProducer.on_global_arguments at 0x00000262845DC040>, <function CLIQuery.on_global_arguments at 0x0000026284601440>]
cli.knack.cli: Event: CommandInvoker.OnPreCommandTableCreate []
cli.azure.cli.core: Modules found from index for 'login': ['azure.cli.command_modules.profile']
cli.azure.cli.core: Loading command modules:
cli.azure.cli.core: Name Load Time Groups Commands
cli.azure.cli.core: profile 0.004 2 8
cli.azure.cli.core: Total (1) 0.004 2 8
cli.azure.cli.core: Loaded 2 groups, 8 commands.
cli.azure.cli.core: Found a match in the command table.
cli.azure.cli.core: Raw command : login
cli.azure.cli.core: Command table: login
cli.knack.cli: Event: CommandInvoker.OnPreCommandTableTruncate [<function AzCliLogging.init_command_file_logging at 0x0000026286889C60>]
cli.azure.cli.core.azlogging: metadata file logging enabled - writing logs to 'C:\Users\username.azure\commands\2025-03-19.16-45-25.login.4856.log'.
az_command_data_logger: command args: login --debug
cli.knack.cli: Event: CommandInvoker.OnPreArgumentLoad [<function register_global_subscription_argument..add_subscription_parameter at 0x00000262869A1800>]
cli.knack.cli: Event: CommandInvoker.OnPostArgumentLoad []
cli.knack.cli: Event: CommandInvoker.OnPostCommandTableCreate [<function register_ids_argument..add_ids_arguments at 0x00000262869A18A0>, <function register_cache_arguments..add_cache_arguments at 0x00000262869A19E0>, <function register_upcoming_breaking_change_info..update_breaking_change_info at 0x00000262869A1A80>]
cli.knack.cli: Event: CommandInvoker.OnCommandTableLoaded []
cli.knack.cli: Event: CommandInvoker.OnPreParseArgs []
cli.knack.cli: Event: CommandInvoker.OnPostParseArgs [<function OutputProducer.handle_output_argument at 0x00000262845DC0E0>, <function CLIQuery.handle_query_parameter at 0x00000262846014E0>, <function register_ids_argument..parse_ids_arguments at 0x00000262869A1940>]
cli.azure.cli.core.auth.persistence: build_persistence: location='C:\Users\username\.azure\msal_token_cache.bin', encrypt=True
cli.azure.cli.core.azclierror: Traceback (most recent call last):
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\knack/cli.py", line 233, in invoke
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 666, in execute
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 733, in _run_jobs_serially
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 703, in _run_job
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 336, in call
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/command_operation.py", line 121, in handler
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/command_modules/profile/custom.py", line 173, in login
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/_profile.py", line 176, in login
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 167, in login_with_auth_code
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 126, in _msal_app
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 118, in _msal_public_app_kwargs
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 100, in _msal_app_kwargs
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 131, in _load_msal_token_cache
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/persistence.py", line 27, in load_persisted_token_cache
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/persistence.py", line 42, in build_persistence
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 204, in init
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 148, in init
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 40, in _mkdir_p
File "", line 225, in makedirs
FileExistsError: [WinError 183] Cannot create a file when that file already exists: 'C:\Users\username\.azure'

cli.azure.cli.core.azclierror: The command failed with an unexpected error. Here is the traceback:
az_command_data_logger: The command failed with an unexpected error. Here is the traceback:
cli.azure.cli.core.azclierror: [WinError 183] Cannot create a file when that file already exists: 'C:\Users\username\.azure'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\knack/cli.py", line 233, in invoke
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 666, in execute
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 733, in _run_jobs_serially
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 703, in _run_job
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 336, in call
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/command_operation.py", line 121, in handler
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/command_modules/profile/custom.py", line 173, in login
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/_profile.py", line 176, in login
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 167, in login_with_auth_code
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 126, in _msal_app
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 118, in _msal_public_app_kwargs
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 100, in _msal_app_kwargs
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 131, in _load_msal_token_cache
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/persistence.py", line 27, in load_persisted_token_cache
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/persistence.py", line 42, in build_persistence
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 204, in init
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 148, in init
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 40, in _mkdir_p
File "", line 225, in makedirs
FileExistsError: [WinError 183] Cannot create a file when that file already exists: 'C:\Users\username\.azure'
az_command_data_logger: [WinError 183] Cannot create a file when that file already exists: 'C:\Users\usernmae\.azure'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\knack/cli.py", line 233, in invoke
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 666, in execute
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 733, in _run_jobs_serially
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 703, in _run_job
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/init.py", line 336, in call
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/commands/command_operation.py", line 121, in handler
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/command_modules/profile/custom.py", line 173, in login
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/_profile.py", line 176, in login
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 167, in login_with_auth_code
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 126, in _msal_app
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 118, in _msal_public_app_kwargs
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 100, in _msal_app_kwargs
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/identity.py", line 131, in _load_msal_token_cache
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/persistence.py", line 27, in load_persisted_token_cache
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\azure/cli/core/auth/persistence.py", line 42, in build_persistence
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 204, in init
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 148, in init
File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 40, in mkdir_p
File "", line 225, in makedirs
FileExistsError: [WinError 183] Cannot create a file when that file already exists: 'C:\Users\username\.azure'
To check existing issues, please visit: https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli/issues
cli.knack.cli: Event: Cli.PostExecute [<function AzCliLogging.deinit_cmd_metadata_logging at 0x0000026286889EE0>]
az_command_data_logger: exit code: 1
cli.main: Command ran in 1.289 seconds (init: 0.422, invoke: 0.867)
telemetry.main: Begin splitting cli events and extra events, total events: 1
telemetry.client: Accumulated 0 events. Flush the clients.
telemetry.main: Finish splitting cli events and extra events, cli events: 1
telemetry.save: Save telemetry record of length 7335 in cache file under C:\Users\username.azure\telemetry\20250319164526267
telemetry.main: Begin creating telemetry upload process.
telemetry.process: Creating upload process: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Azure\CLI2\python.exe C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Azure\CLI2\Lib\site-packages\azure\cli\telemetry_init.pyc C:\Users\username.azure C:\Users\username.azure\telemetry\20250319164526267"
telemetry.process: Return from creating process 29116
telemetry.main: Finish creating telemetry upload process.

Expected behavior

login window should appear

Environment Summary

azure cli 2.70

Additional context

No response

[yonzhan]

Thank you for opening this issue, we will look into it.

[jiasli]

The call stack shows this line fails:

File "D:\a_work\1\s\build_scripts\windows\artifacts\cli\Lib\site-packages\msal_extensions/persistence.py", line 40, in _mkdir_p
File "", line 225, in makedirs
FileExistsError: [WinError 183] Cannot create a file when that file already exists: 'C:\Users\username\.azure'

However this line does says exist_ok=True:

https://github.com/AzureAD/microsoft-authentication-extensions-for-python/blob/54b682bc9fc940a71ad36fd945f2d2ca428a55c1/msal_extensions/persistence.py#L40

        os.makedirs(path, exist_ok=True)

os.makedirs (L225) also takes racing conditions into consideration:

https://github.com/python/cpython/blob/v3.12.9/Lib/os.py#L225

    try:
        mkdir(name, mode)
    except OSError:
        # Cannot rely on checking for EEXIST, since the operating system
        # could give priority to other errors like EACCES or EROFS
        if not exist_ok or not path.isdir(name):
            raise

It doesn't seem to be possible for FileExistsError to be raised. Which package have you installed? Could you share the URL please?

[heinrichmichael]

tried several ways to install.

Initially it was installed using chocolately.
But i removed and installed using MSI from the official github repo:

I tried also previous versions:
2.67.0: https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli/releases/download/azure-cli-2.67.0/azure-cli-2.67.0-x64.msi
2.70.0: https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli/releases/download/azure-cli-2.70.0/azure-cli-2.70.0-x64.msi

Also tried to install / update via winget but the error remains.

If i install 2.70.0 on my local client everything is working fine.

The issue appears only in a remote azure virtual desktop environment with FSLogix profile containers attached

[jhayes-acb]

I also am experiencing this same issue, just discovered this yesterday with an identical setup, azure virtual desktop with FSLogix profile container - tried installing 2.70.0 and 2.69.0 using both winget and msi installer (I wouldn't normally have commented, but wanted to identify that this wasn't a singular issue)

[jiasli]

The only possibility is path.isdir(name) returns False.

Could you get the status of C:\Users\<username>\.azure with (Get-Item C:\Users\<username>\.azure).PSisContainer to see if that is a directory?

It is expected to be

> (Get-Item C:\Users\<username>\.azure).PSisContainer
True

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/39825440/check-if-a-path-is-a-folder-or-a-file-in-powershell