Claude Code "the service is overloaded / busy" (switch model)
Is there an outage right now?
Claude Code official status is operational. If this error persists, it is likely an implementation or environment issue on your side.
View Claude Code status →What this error means
The "the service is busy—try again later, or switch to a different model" banner is shown by Claude Code (and the Claude apps) when Anthropic is temporarily overloaded. Internally it corresponds to the API's overloaded condition (HTTP 529), and it is usually transient.
Common causes
- •An Anthropic-wide demand spike causing overload
- •Capacity pressure on the selected model (especially top models like Opus)
- •A surge right after a new model launch
- •Fallout from a broader incident or outage
- •Free/lower-tier plans being deprioritized at peak times
How to fix
- 1.Click "try again" after a short wait, spacing out retries (backoff-style)
- 2.Switch to a different model as the message suggests (e.g. Opus to Sonnet or Haiku)
- 3.Retry during off-peak hours
- 4.Check this page or the Anthropic status page for an outage
- 5.Split long or heavy tasks to reduce load
- 6.Pro/Max plans tend to get priority during high demand
When waiting helps (and when it won't)
It is server-side overload, so it usually clears within minutes to about an hour. Space out your retries instead of hammering, or switch models as suggested. If it persists across attempts, check the status section above for an outage.
Alternatives when Claude Code is down
Related errors
FAQ
What is Service overloaded (busy)?
The "the service is busy—try again later, or switch to a different model" banner is shown by Claude Code (and the Claude apps) when Anthropic is temporarily overloaded. Internally it corresponds to the API's overloaded condition (HTTP 529), and it is usually transient.
How do I fix Service overloaded (busy)?
Click "try again" after a short wait, spacing out retries (backoff-style) / Switch to a different model as the message suggests (e.g. Opus to Sonnet or Haiku) / Retry during off-peak hours / Check this page or the Anthropic status page for an outage / Split long or heavy tasks to reduce load / Pro/Max plans tend to get priority during high demand