Claude API 429 (rate_limit_error)
Is there an outage right now?
Claude API official status is operational. If this error persists, it is likely an implementation or environment issue on your side.
Updated: Jul 21, 2026, 8:41 PM UTC
View Claude API status →What this error means
429 means you hit a rate limit: RPM/ITPM/OTPM (per-minute input/output tokens) exceeded.
Common causes
- •Per-minute request/token limit exceeded
- •Too much concurrency
- •Low limits on your tier
- •Temporary demand spike on Anthropic side
How to fix
- 1.Exponential backoff honoring Retry-After
- 2.Lower concurrency and rate
- 3.Use prompt caching / batch to cut usage
- 4.Check/raise your tier limits
- 5.Check status at top of page
When waiting helps (and when it won't)
May clear over time if demand-driven. If it is your own limit, waiting will not help—reduce rate.
Alternatives when Claude API is down
Related errors
FAQ
What is 429 rate_limit_error?
429 means you hit a rate limit: RPM/ITPM/OTPM (per-minute input/output tokens) exceeded.
How do I fix 429 rate_limit_error?
Exponential backoff honoring Retry-After / Lower concurrency and rate / Use prompt caching / batch to cut usage / Check/raise your tier limits / Check status at top of page