ahmetb/kubectx · error

failed to save previous context name: %w

Error message

failed to save previous context name: %w

What it means

writeLastContext failed to persist the previous context name into the kubectx state file so that '-' can switch back. Fires when creating the state file's parent directory or writing the file fails (permissions, unwritable home).

Source

Thrown at cmd/kubectx/switch.go:84

		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get current context: %w", err)
	}
	exists, err := kc.ContextExists(name)
	if err != nil {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to check context: %w", err)
	}
	if !exists {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("no context exists with the name: \"%s\"", name)
	}
	if err := kc.ModifyCurrentContext(name); err != nil {
		return "", err
	}
	if err := kc.Save(); err != nil {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to save kubeconfig: %w", err)
	}

	if prev != name {
		if err := writeLastContext(prevCtxFile, prev); err != nil {
			return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to save previous context name: %w", err)
		}
	}
	return name, nil
}

// swapContext switches to previously switch context.
func swapContext() (string, error) {
	prevCtxFile, err := kubectxPrevCtxFile()
	if err != nil {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to determine state file: %w", err)
	}
	prev, err := readLastContext(prevCtxFile)
	if err != nil {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to read previous context file: %w", err)
	}
	if prev == "" {
		return "", errors.New("no previous context found")
	}

View on GitHub (pinned to 12ad6fb22e)

Solutions

1. Ensure the state directory (under ~/.kube or XDG state dir) is writable
2. Fix HOME if it points to an unwritable location
3. Note the kubeconfig switch itself already saved; only the '-' history is lost

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at cmd/kubectx/switch.go:84 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of ahmetb/kubectx@12ad6fb22e (2026-09-02). Data as JSON: /api/errors/7ed7cf73903572d3. Report an issue: GitHub.