# Persistent "secrets.system.0 length must be \>= 16, but got 0" Error in Pydio Cells

**URL:** <https://forum.pydio.com/t/persistent-secrets-system-0-length-must-be-16-but-got-0-error-in-pydio-cells/7704>\
**Category:** Pydio Cells\
**Tags:** install, docker\
**Created:** [July 11, 2025, 10:12am UTC](https://forum.pydio.com/t/persistent-secrets-system-0-length-must-be-16-but-got-0-error-in-pydio-cells/7704 "2025-07-11T10:12:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Facundo\_Alvarez](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex032/user_avatar/forum.pydio.com/facundo_alvarez/32/3238_2.png) [@Facundo\_Alvarez](https://forum.pydio.com/u/Facundo_Alvarez)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 10:12am UTC](https://forum.pydio.com/t/persistent-secrets-system-0-length-must-be-16-but-got-0-error-in-pydio-cells/7704/1 "2025-07-11T10:12:07Z")

</div>

Hello everyone,

I’m currently experiencing an issue with my Pydio Cells installation on Unraid. My system was working fine until I attempted to modify the token lifespan settings (i wanted longer no activity logouts) in the `pydio.json` configuration file. Specifically, I tried to add:

```auto
"defaults": {
  "accessTokenLifespan": "8h",
  "refreshTokenLifespan": "24h"
}

```

After making this change and restarting the container, Pydio Cells stopped working completely and I started getting the following error in the logs:

```auto
{"level":"error","ts":"2025-07-11T11:14:50+02:00","logger":"pydio.gateway.websocket","msg":"The configuration contains values or keys which are invalid:"}
{"level":"error","ts":"2025-07-11T11:14:50+02:00","logger":"pydio.gateway.websocket","msg":"secrets.system.0: "}
{"level":"error","ts":"2025-07-11T11:14:50+02:00","logger":"pydio.gateway.websocket","msg":" ^-- length must be >= 16, but got 0"}

```

### What version of Cells are you using?

4.4.15

### What is the server OS? Database name/version? Browser name or mobile device description (if issue appears client-side)?

- Unraid version: 7.1.2
- MongoDB
- Pydio Cells container: [lscr.io/linuxserver/pydio-cells:latest](http://lscr.io/linuxserver/pydio-cells:latest)

### What steps have you taken to resolve this issue already?

What I’ve tried so far:

1. Added the `CELLS_SYSTEM_SECRET` environment variable with a value longer than 16 characters
2. Attempted to edit the `pydio.json` configuration file to include:

json

1. 

```auto
"secrets": {
  "system": ["abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456"]
}

```

1. Restarted the container multiple times

The error persists despite these attempts. It appears that my configuration change somehow corrupted the system secret or its validation.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![c12simple](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex032/user_avatar/forum.pydio.com/c12simple/32/90_2.png) [@c12simple](https://forum.pydio.com/u/c12simple)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 7:21am UTC](https://forum.pydio.com/t/persistent-secrets-system-0-length-must-be-16-but-got-0-error-in-pydio-cells/7704/2 "2025-07-17T07:21:16Z")

</div>

Hi,

To change token lifespan, you may visit [Changing Token Lifespan - Pydio Documentation](https://docs.pydio.com/cells-v4/knowledge-base/access-control/changing-token-lifespan/?h=lifespan)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex032/uploads/pydio/original/2X/6/61f19fa52ec15fd4250db51aea351adba0e831fd.png) [@system](https://forum.pydio.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 7:22am UTC](https://forum.pydio.com/t/persistent-secrets-system-0-length-must-be-16-but-got-0-error-in-pydio-cells/7704/3 "2025-09-15T07:22:11Z")

</div>

Closed on September 15, 2025, 7:22am UTC

This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.