# django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: You're using the staticfiles app without having set the STATIC_ROOT setting to a filesystem path.

- **ID:** `python/django-static-file-not-found`
- **Domain:** python
- **Category:** config_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

STATIC_ROOT is not configured when using collectstatic or serving static files in production.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| 3.x | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Set STATIC_ROOT in settings.py** (95% success)
   ```
   STATIC_ROOT = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'staticfiles')
   ```
2. **Run collectstatic after setting** (90% success)
   ```
   python manage.py collectstatic
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **Setting STATIC_ROOT to a non-existent path** — Directory must exist or be created. (80% fail)
- **Ignoring the setting and using STATICFILES_DIRS only** — collectstatic requires STATIC_ROOT. (90% fail)