How to fix An abstract factory could not create an instance of magentoframeworkappdeploymentconfig in Magento 2

When performing version updates in Magento 2 through Composer, it is not uncommon to encounter various challenges. One such issue is the “An abstract factory could not create an instance of magentoframeworkappdeploymentconfig(alias: Magento\Framework\App\DeploymentConfig).” error in Magento 2. This error often occurs while running bin/magento commands.

Understanding the underlying causes and implementing the appropriate solutions can help resolve this error efficiently. In this blog post, we will explore the potential reasons behind the error and provide step-by-step instructions to fix it.

Possible Causes of the “An Abstract Factory Could Not Create an Instance of Magento\Framework\App\DeploymentConfig” Error

To have solutions to fix this error, we will take a look at some common causes of the error

• Incompatible PHP Version: One possible cause of this error is using an incompatible PHP version for the Magento version you are running. Magento has specific PHP version requirements, and using an unsupported version can lead to this error message. Verifying and updating the PHP version on your server can help resolve this issue.
• Unupdated Setup Folder: Another common cause of the error is an outdated setup folder. When performing a Composer upgrade, the setup folder(and vendor folder) may not be properly updated, resulting in references to the old Zend Framework packages instead of the new Laminas ones.

Solutions to Resolve this error

Solution 1: Switch to the appropriate PHP version

To choose a PHP version compatible with Magento, follow these steps:

1. Find your current Magento version:

• In the admin panel, locate the footer where the Magento version is displayed.
• If you are unable to access the admin panel, you can use the command bin/magento --version in your terminal to retrieve the Magento version.

2. Check Magento system requirements:

Refer to the official system requirements document from Magento. Then install a compatible PHP version

3. Execute the bin/magento command with the appropriate PHP executable path:

Determine the correct PHP executable path on your server. In this example, we will use /usr/bin/php7.3 as the PHP executable path. Replace it with the appropriate PHP executable path for your system. Run the following command in your terminal:

/usr/bin/php7.3 bin/magento

This command will run the bin/magento script using the specified PHP executable.

Solution 2: Clear and re-update the vendor folder

1. Clear the vendor folder:

Open your terminal or command prompt, and navigate to your Magento installation directory. Execute the following command to remove the contents of the vendor folder:

rm -rf vendor/*

Note: This command will delete all files and folders within the vendor directory.

2. Run Composer install:

While still in the Magento installation directory, run the following command:

composer install

This command will reinstall the dependencies defined in your composer.json file and populate the vendor folder with the necessary packages.

3. Execute setup:upgrade

After the Composer installation is complete, run the following command:

php bin/magento setup:upgrade

By clearing the vendor folder, and reinstalling dependencies via Composer, you can resolve this error. However, if this solution still doesn’t help you fix the error, don’t be discouraged. Let’s continue with the next solution.

Solution 3: Update the setup folder by copying from the new Magento 2 project

As mentioned in the cause section, another reason is that the setup folder was not updated during the process of upgrading the Magento 2 version. So the simple way is to use Composer to create a new Magento 2 project with the version you want, then copy the setup folder from here and paste it into the current project. Follow these steps:

1. Create a new Magento 2 project:

Use Composer to create a new Magento 2 project with the version to upgrade and the path you want by running the following command in your terminal:

composer create-project --repository-url=https://repo.magento.com/ magento/project-community-edition=2.3.7 /var/www/magento237

2. Copy the setup folder to the error project:

Once the new Magento 2 project is successfully created, navigate to its directory. Copy the entire setup folder and paste it into the error project. Use the following command:

cp -r /var/www/magento237/setup /var/www/magento

Note: To be sure, delete the setup folder in the error project before copying

3. Run the necessary command:

Execute the following command in your terminal to perform setup tasks:

php bin/magento setup:upgrade

By updating the setup folder using a new Magento 2 project and copying it into your existing codebase, you can ensure that references to the old Zend Framework packages are replaced with the new Laminas ones. This approach allows for a more accurate and updated configuration, which should resolve the error.

Conclusion

Encountering the “An abstract factory could not create an instance of magentoframeworkappdeploymentconfig” error during Magento 2 development or upgrade can be frustrating. However, with a systematic approach, you can overcome this issue and ensure the smooth execution of your Magento commands.

Remember, troubleshooting errors in Magento requires patience and a systematic approach. If one solution doesn’t work, don’t lose heart. Move on to the next solution, and continue exploring alternative approaches until you find the resolution that works for your specific scenario.

By following these steps and applying the appropriate solutions, you can overcome the “An abstract factory could not create an instance of Magento\Framework\App\DeploymentConfig” error, enabling you to proceed with your Magento 2 development or upgrade smoothly. If you find it too complicated, you can use our Magento Development Service.

Happy coding and best of luck in resolving this error!