How to configure spring-boot to use file based H2 database

I am adding this answer to avoid confusion and further research.

Actually I have the same problem and none of the answer worked for me completely rather than the mix for some answers worked.

Here is the minimal configuration which is required to persist H2 db in spring boot.

application.properties

# H2
spring.h2.console.enabled=true
spring.h2.console.path=/h2
# Datasource
spring.datasource.url=jdbc:h2:file:~/spring-boot-h2-db
spring.datasource.username=sa
spring.datasource.password=
spring.datasource.driver-class-name=org.h2.Driver
spring.jpa.hibernate.ddl-auto=update

Here spring.jpa.hibernate.ddl-auto=update does the trick. Nothing else is required.

No need to add spring-boot-starter-jdbc in pom.xml

No need to add any parameter in jdbc url.

Refer to http://www.h2database.com/html/cheatSheet.html

I guess it might be problem with the jdbc.url, change it like this:

# from:
spring.datasource.url=jdbc:h2:file:~/test;DB_CLOSE_ON_EXIT=FALSE

# to:
spring.datasource.url=jdbc:h2:~/test;DB_CLOSE_ON_EXIT=FALSE

Using the following setting on application.properties, I manage to keep the data persisted even after shutting down and restarting SpringBoot, and even after restarting the computer.

spring.datasource.name=japodb
spring.datasource.initialize=false
spring.datasource.driverClassName=org.h2.Driver

spring.datasource.url=jdbc:h2:file:~/japodb;DB_CLOSE_ON_EXIT=FALSE;IFEXISTS=TRUE;DB_CLOSE_DELAY=-1;

Don't Close a Database when the VM Exits, yes, but also don’t make a new database if it’s already there.

jdbc:h2:<url>;IFEXISTS=TRUE

spring.jpa.hibernate.ddl-auto = update