Whether you are a website owner or a common internet user, you might have definitely encountered the HTTP status codes at some point. The web server sends these status codes a response to a client’s request. While some status codes are simple and quick to resolve, some are extremely intricate and consume a lot of time. The HTTP Error 429 Too Many Requests is one of the most common HTTP status codes.
As the name implies, the web server responds to you with HTTP Error 429 Too Many Requests when you try to access a certain website repeatedly or multiple times beyond the limit. Most of the time, this error will prevent you from accessing the admin panel of a website, making the website inaccessible to you.
Moreover, the web server only provides you with the status code and a few words of description, and no other details. As a result, it becomes challenging to troubleshoot the error, as you don’t know its cause.
In this article, I will make you aware of some common solutions to identify the cause of the 429 error and fix it. So, let us explore!
Also, read our articles on common errors like HTTP Error 401, HTTP Error 500 and HTTP Error 404.
What is the HTTP Error 429 Too Many Requests?
The HTTP Error 429 Too Many Requests is the HTTP status code the web server returns when a client sends multiple requests to the resource within the specified period of time. In other words, this error indicates that the client application has surpassed the rate limit.
Each browser displays this error in its own fashion. Here are a few variations of the error:
- 429 Error
- HTTP 429
- 429 Too Many Requests
- Error 429 (Too Many Requests)
Along with the status code, the web server also specifies when the client should send the next request.
More important to note here is that this status code also serves as a response to security measures. Too many requests signify Brute-force or DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks. As a result, the IP address of a user sending too many requests may get blocked as a security measure.
Causes of the HTTP Error 429 Too Many Requests
Technically, HTTP Error 429 is not an error; instead, it is a response from the web server indicating to access a particular website after some time and stop sending requests at that moment. When the web server does not have sufficient memory required to process the client request, it sends the HTTP 429 code.
The two primary causes of this error are as follows:
- A user trying to access the website with the wrong credentials.
- A hacker trying to damage the website.
When this happens, the system will turn on a rate-limiting mechanism, which will result in an HTTP 429.
When an API detects that there are more activities taking place than the allowed number of times in a given period of time, it will utilize a technique called rate limiting to reduce network traffic. This feature minimizes the load on the web server by preventing malicious behaviour from bots or hackers.
How to Fix HTTP Error 429 Too Many Requests?
Here are a few effective solutions to fix HTTP Error 429 Too Many Requests:
1. Clear the Browser Cache
To improve surfing, the browser cache maintains website files and account information, such as passwords and usernames. The next time you visit the same web page, the browser loads it more quickly, thanks to cached data.
However, as this data builds up, the 429 error may appear. So, the first step is to clear the browser cache.
It is important to note that clearing the browser cache increases the load time, deletes your website history, and resets your personalized settings.
2. Disable All WordPress Plugins
Conflicting plugins on your WordPress website can be a major cause of HTTP 429. This may either completely shut down your website or cause an error. So, make sure to inspect all third-party plugins you use on your WordPress website, as they may not be reliable. Disable all those third-party plugins and check whether the HTTP Error 429 gets resolved.
3. Modify the default login URL for WordPress
One of the main reasons WordPress websites experience the 429 error is brute-force login attempts. Change your WordPress login page’s default URL so that attackers can’t locate it in the first place. This will help you quickly stop them from attempting to hack your site.
The default URL of your WordPress login page will be yourwebsite.com/wp-admin. This is extremely risky, as it will be accessible to everyone online since it is so easy to remember. So, the better way is to modify that default URL.
4. Stick to a Default WordPress Theme
If you encounter the HTTP Error 429 even if you disable all plugins on your WordPress website, your current WordPress theme may be a cause. This is because third-party themes are not reliable, like plugins. To find out that the current theme is a problem, disable it manually and switch to one of the default WordPress themes.
Once you switch to the default theme, access the website and check whether the error has been resolved or not.
5. Restore the Site From a Backup
With a website backup, you can avoid data loss, security threats, and malware infection to your website. When you restore the website backup, you undo the changes that may be the cause of HTTP 429.
Also Read: 9 Best Data Recovery Software (Free & Paid)
6. Contact Your Host
If none of the above solutions helps you troubleshoot HTTP 429, the last option is to contact your host.
Many times, the problem may not reside on your side; instead, the server may be responsible for it. If this is the case, none of the above tips will work. Simply contact your hosting provider and ask them to grant your requests.
If the limitation to access the website imposed by your hosting provider is not the cause, ask them for valuable advice that could help you out of the problem.
Recommended: 5 Best Free VPNs You Can Use in 2023
To Sum It Up!
It might be frustrating when your website encounters errors. The problems with numerical codes, on the other hand, at least provide you with enough details to begin correcting them. If you see the HTTP Error 429 Too Many Requests, finding the cause becomes easy, as it lets us know that the server is overloaded with too many requests.
If you run into the same error, follow any of the aforementioned solutions to troubleshoot the error. Good Luck!
