# X_DEV_LOCK_UNREADABLE

## Means

the dev lock file cannot be read or removed

## Typical cause

`.x/dev.lock` parses as no lock and `unlink` refused it — a directory left at that path, or a file this user may not delete. Its own code because the alternative was `X_DEV_ALREADY_RUNNING` naming the READER's own pid as the holder, whose `fix:` was `kill <self>`

## Fix

`rm .x/dev.lock`, then re-run `x dev`

[Config and environment](/error-codes#config-and-environment)