How to fix SQLITE_READONLY_DBMOVED: Database file has been moved since opened in SQLite

Use OS tools to inspect the open file path and detect renames. On Linux/macOS you can run:

PID=$(pgrep -f my-app)
lsof -p $PID | grep database.db
stat database.db

Re-run stat or ls immediately after your deployment script finishes and compare the inode. If the inode changes while the handle stays active, SQLite will classify the database as moved and block writes. On Windows, use Process Explorer or the Handle utility to inspect which process keeps the file open.

Wrap your rename/copy logic so every connection closes first. For example, with node-sqlite3:

await db.close();
fs.renameSync(tempPath, mainPath);
const reopened = new sqlite3.Database(mainPath, sqlite3.OPEN_READWRITE);

Closing ensures SQLite knows the file move happened, so the new handle opens the database at the new path instead of seeing it as moved.

If an update must replace the file, discard the old Database object and create a new one after the rename. Always call sqlite3_close_v2 (or the async equivalent) on every connection before moving the file, then call sqlite3_open again once the file sits in its new place.

When you need to refresh data without stopping the app, keep the live file untouched and write to a temporary database instead:

1. Use sqlite3_backup_init/sqlite3_backup_step to copy data into a temporary file while the main connection stays open.
2. After the backup completes, close all connections, rename the temporary file into place, and restart your app.
3. Alternatively, run VACUUM INTO 'new.db' to produce a new copy without deleting the old one until you are ready to swap.

If multiple nodes share a mounted volume (NFS, SMB, etc.), rewrite the deployment so each node uses a local database or a client-server database. SQLite lacks multi-writer coordination, so moving the shared file while writers are active will always trigger SQLITE_READONLY_DBMOVED. Keep the file path stable and only replicate data via controlled snapshots or migrations.