# Ansible: Vault Password File Not Found

## Error

```
[WARNING]: Error getting vault password file (default): The vault password file /Users/majorlinux/.ansible/vault_pass was not found
[ERROR]: The vault password file /Users/majorlinux/.ansible/vault_pass was not found
```

## Cause

Ansible is configured to look for a vault password file at `~/.ansible/vault_pass`, but the file does not exist. This is typically set in `ansible.cfg` via the `vault_password_file` directive.

## Solutions

### Option 1: Remove the vault config (if you're not using Vault)

Check your `ansible.cfg` for this line and remove it if Vault is not needed:

```ini
[defaults]
vault_password_file = ~/.ansible/vault_pass
```

### Option 2: Create the vault password file

```bash
echo 'your_vault_password' > ~/.ansible/vault_pass
chmod 600 ~/.ansible/vault_pass
```

> **Security note:** Keep permissions tight (`600`) so only your user can read the file. The actual vault password is stored in Bitwarden under the "Ansible Vault Password" entry.

### Option 3: Pass the password at runtime (no file needed)

```bash
ansible-playbook test.yml --ask-vault-pass
```

## Diagnosing the Source of the Config

To find which config file is setting `vault_password_file`, run:

```bash
ansible-config dump --only-changed
```

This shows all non-default config values and their source files. Config is loaded in this order of precedence:

1. `ANSIBLE_CONFIG` environment variable
2. `./ansible.cfg` (current directory)
3. `~/.ansible.cfg`
4. `/etc/ansible/ansible.cfg`

## Related

- [Ansible Getting Started](../01-linux/shell-scripting/ansible-getting-started.md)
- Vault password is stored in Bitwarden under **"Ansible Vault Password"**
- Ansible playbooks live at `~/MajorAnsible` on MajorAir/MajorMac