argocd: failed to load initial config: invalid character

The CLI config file at ~/.config/argocd/config got truncated or corrupted (killed write, disk-full, bad merge) - every command fails parsing it before doing anything. Move it aside and log in again; argocd recreates a clean config. Your clusters and servers are unaffected - only the local session cache is rebuilt.

The error

FATA[0000] failed to load initial config: invalid character 'x' looking for beginning of value

What to do

1. Quarantine the broken file:

mv ~/.config/argocd/config ~/.config/argocd/config.broken

Expected: No output.

2. Log in fresh:

argocd login [server] --grpc-web --username [user]

Expected: Login succeeds; clean config written.

3. Re-add any other server contexts you used. Expected: All contexts restored.

4. Optional: diff the broken file to learn what corrupted it, then delete it. Expected: Cleanup done.

When this applies

• the exact failed to load initial config message
• every argocd command failing identically
• after disk-full or killed-write incidents

When it does NOT apply

• single commands failing (not a config parse issue)
• login failures with valid config (auth problem)

Works with

argocd CLI 2.x/3.x

failed to load initial config: unexpected end of JSON input

Same corruption, truncated file. Same move-aside fix.

Why it happens

The CLI loads its JSON config on every invocation before parsing flags. A partially written file fails the JSON parse, and the error surfaces before any command logic runs.

Edge cases

• Back up the config before bulk edits or disk-cleanup scripts touch ~/.config.
• Multiple contexts live in the one file - note which servers you used before deleting it.

Resolved from

computingforgeeks argocd login guide - https://computingforgeeks.com/argocd-cli-login-authentication/

Asked: Every argocd command fails with failed to load initial config after a disk-full incident. Verified answer: Move ~/.config/argocd/config aside and log in again; the CLI recreates it. Source: https://computingforgeeks.com/argocd-cli-login-authentication/ (thread computingforgeeks argocd login guide). Tool: argocd-cli.