FileNotFoundError
openai.error.FileNotFoundError
Stack trace
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "app.py", line 42, in <module>
response = client.chat.completions.create(
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/openai/api_resources/chat_completion.py", line 34, in create
raise openai.error.FileNotFoundError("Requested file not found in retrieval tool storage.")
openai.error.FileNotFoundError: Requested file not found in retrieval tool storage. Why it happens
This error occurs when the retrieval tool tries to access a file or document that does not exist in the configured vector store, file system, or database. It often happens due to incorrect file IDs, missing uploads, or misconfigured retrieval paths.
Detection
Log and monitor retrieval tool calls for missing file IDs or empty search results, and catch FileNotFoundError exceptions to identify missing files before the app crashes.
Causes & fixes
The file ID provided to the retrieval tool does not exist in the vector store or file system.
Verify the file ID is correct and that the file has been successfully uploaded or indexed before retrieval.
The retrieval tool is configured with an incorrect or outdated storage path or index name.
Update the retrieval tool configuration to point to the correct storage location or index where files are stored.
The file was deleted or moved after indexing but before retrieval.
Re-index the storage or update the retrieval references to reflect the current file locations.
Code: broken vs fixed
from openai import OpenAI
import os
client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"])
# This will raise FileNotFoundError if file_id is invalid
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-4o-mini",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Retrieve file content"}],
retrieval_tool={"file_id": "nonexistent-file-id"} # triggers error
)
print(response)from openai import OpenAI
import os
client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"])
# Fixed: Use valid file_id and correct retrieval config
valid_file_id = "existing-file-id"
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-4o-mini",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Retrieve file content"}],
retrieval_tool={"file_id": valid_file_id} # fixed file ID
)
print(response) # prints retrieved contentWorkaround
Catch FileNotFoundError exceptions around retrieval calls and fallback to a default response or prompt the user to upload the missing file.
Prevention
Implement validation checks to confirm files exist in the retrieval storage before querying, and automate re-indexing after file changes to keep retrieval references up to date.