Unable to start EmbeddedWebApplicationContext due to missing EmbeddedServletContainerFactory bean

If you’re working on a Spring Boot application and you encounter the following error message: “Unable to start EmbeddedWebApplicationContext due to missing EmbeddedServletContainerFactory bean”, it can be a bit confusing as to what’s causing the issue. In this blog post, we’ll explore the possible causes of this error and how to fix it.



Possible Causes:

  1. One common cause of this error is that the Spring Boot starter for the web module is not included in your project’s dependencies. To fix this, you’ll need to add the following dependency to your project’s pom.xml file (if you’re using Maven) or build.gradle file (if you’re using Gradle):
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
</dependency>
  1. Another possible cause is that you’re using a custom EmbeddedServletContainerFactory bean in your application, but it’s not being picked up by the Spring context. To fix this, you’ll need to ensure that your custom bean is properly configured and that it’s being loaded by the Spring context.
  2. In case you are using Spring Boot 2.0 or later version, You may need to use SpringBootServletInitializer in your project.
  3. Another cause of this error could be that you are using a version of Spring Boot that is not compatible with the version of Spring Framework that you are using. To fix this, you’ll need to ensure that you are using a version of Spring Boot that is compatible with the version of Spring Framework that you are using.
  4. It could also be that you have multiple EmbeddedServletContainerFactory beans defined in your application, and Spring is unable to determine which one to use. In this case, you’ll need to ensure that you only have one EmbeddedServletContainerFactory bean defined in your application, or that you are explicitly specifying which bean to use.
  5. It could also be that there is a problem with the way that your application is being deployed. Make sure that you are deploying your application using the correct method, such as using the embedded Tomcat or Jetty servers or deploying it to an external application server such as Apache Tomcat or JBoss.
  6. This error can also occur if there is a problem with the way that your application is being configured. Make sure that you are configuring your application correctly and that all the required properties and configuration options are set correctly.
  7. Another cause of this error can be that there is a conflict between the dependencies that your application is using. Make sure that you are not using conflicting dependencies and that all the dependencies are compatible with each other.
  8. Sometimes, this error can also be caused by a problem with the Java version that you are using. Make sure that you are using a version of Java that is compatible with Spring Boot and Spring Framework.


Solution

  1. First, make sure that the Spring Boot starter for the web module is included in your project’s dependencies.
  2. If you’re using a custom EmbeddedServletContainerFactory bean, check that it’s properly configured and that it’s being loaded by the Spring context.
  3. In case you are using Spring Boot 2.0 or later version, make sure you have extended the SpringBootServletInitializer in your project and also have the required annotation.
  4. Ensure that you are using a version of Spring Boot that is compatible with the version of Spring Framework that you are using.
  5. Ensure that you only have one EmbeddedServletContainerFactory bean defined in your application, or that you are explicitly specifying which bean to use.
  6. Make sure that you are deploying your application using the correct method. Check that your application is being deployed correctly to an external application server or that the embedded Tomcat or Jetty servers are being configured correctly.
  7. Ensure that your application is configured correctly and that all the required properties and configuration options are set correctly.
  8. Check for conflicting dependencies and ensure that all the dependencies are compatible with each other.
  9. Make sure that you are using a version of Java that is compatible with Spring Boot and Spring Framework.


Conclusion

In this blog post, we’ve discussed several possible causes of the “Unable to start EmbeddedWebApplicationContext due to missing EmbeddedServletContainerFactory bean” error and provided solutions for each of them. Remember that the root cause of this issue can vary and it is important to check all the above possibilities to fix the issue. If you are still facing the same issue, it is always better to check the spring boot documentation for the version you are using for more information.



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