ErrorException in Filesystem.php

Stefan Bogdanescu

Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29

Laravel Company
Title: ErrorException in Filesystem.php: A Comprehensive Guide to Resolving Session Storage Issues in Laravel 5+ Applications

Issue with session storage

Many developers have experienced the "ErrorException in Filesystem.php" issue when working on Laravel applications. The issue usually occurs after uploading the application to a web server, and it presents itself as follows:
ErrorException in Filesystem.php line 74: file_put_contents(): Exclusive locks are not supported for this stream
This error is typically associated with session storage and can be easily mistaken as a quick fix by removing the reference to $lock on line 74 in Filesystem.php, however, this approach may lead to other issues later on. To truly address the root cause of this problem and ensure a stable Laravel application, follow these steps:

Approach 1: Upgrade your PHP version

The exclusive locks issue in Filesystem.php is a known problem that exists only in older versions of PHP. To resolve the issue, consider updating your PHP version to at least PHP 7.4. Ensure that your web server has the latest PHP interpreter installed and configured properly. If you're using a shared hosting service, contact their support team for assistance with upgrading your PHP version.

Approach 2: Use another storage driver

If updating your PHP version is not an option or presents other issues, consider changing the storage driver used in your Laravel application. By default, Laravel uses the file system for storing sessions, but you can switch to another storage like Memcached, Redis, or a database. These alternative drivers are much more reliable and provide better performance than the deprecated one mentioned earlier.

How do I take care of the root cause?

Before making any changes, it's crucial to understand that removing the reference to $lock in Filesystem.php might lead to further issues. The error is likely due to an underlying problem with your PHP installation or configuration. To address this, consult documentation and troubleshooting guides for the specific version of PHP you are using. In case none of these approaches fix the issue, it may be necessary to reach out to your hosting provider's support team or a PHP specialist for assistance.

References

To learn more about session storage issues and troubleshooting in Laravel applications, refer to these helpful resources: - Laravel 5 File_Put_Contents Exclusive Locks Are Not Supported for this Stream on Stackoverflow - Laravel 5 New Install Error: File_Put_Contents Exclusive Locks Are Not Supported for This Stream on Laracasts In conclusion, the root cause of the "ErrorException in Filesystem.php" issue is related to certain PHP versions or configurations that don't support exclusive locks in file systems. Upgrading your PHP version or switching to a more reliable storage driver can help resolve this problem while ensuring a stable Laravel application. Remember to always research and consult documentation before making any significant changes to your system configurations.