# Cannot convert undefined or null to object

**URL:** <https://community.localwp.com/t/cannot-convert-undefined-or-null-to-object/51865>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [February 17, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://community.localwp.com/t/cannot-convert-undefined-or-null-to-object/51865 "2026-02-17T00:10:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 8

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**Author:** ![Nick-B](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.localwp.com/nick-b/32/16140_2.png) [@Nick-B](https://community.localwp.com/u/Nick-B)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.localwp.com/t/cannot-convert-undefined-or-null-to-object/51865/8 "2026-02-24T19:28:33Z")

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Thank you for your patience here @jon_stormbox

This issue has been tough to nail down. It’s possible that your `sites.json` has been corrupted, but there might also be something strange happening within the workflow of using the external drive as well. I did some searching and found a similar topic and issue from you back in 2024.

> [@Unable to Start Sites](https://community.localwp.com/t/unable-to-start-sites/45724/15):
>
> I think I may have found what the issue was. The hard drive was plugged into a dock due to lack of usb-c/thunderbolt ports on my mac mini. I have plugged directly into the mac now and it looks like I have been able to shut down over the weekend and start my sites. As for the mailpit issue, I always get the “Missing Mailpit” error that say it will resolve on start up. It is always there though, even after starting sites [Screenshot 2024-12-03 at 8.59.55 am]

Is that something that you’ve tested again?

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