Claude Code error
Claude Code: API Error: Repeated 529 Overloaded errors. The API is at capacity
API Error: Repeated 529 Overloaded errors. The API is at capacityStatus: WorkaroundLast verified 4 documented fixes3 sources
What it means
The API is temporarily at capacity across all users and Claude Code has already retried several times before showing this. A 529 is not your usage limit and does not count against your quota. Older versions showed API Error: 529 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"overloaded_error","message":"Overloaded"}}. A related prompt reads Opus is experiencing high load, please use /model to switch to Sonnet.
Causes
- Temporary API capacity limits, tracked per model
How to fix it
- Fix 1.
Check status.claude.com, or the provider status page named in the message, for capacity notices, then try again in a few minutes.
- Fix 2.
Run /model and switch to a different model, since capacity is tracked per model.
Slash command/model - Fix 3.
Configure the fallbackModel setting (added in v2.1.166) with up to three fallback models tried in order when the primary model is overloaded or unavailable; --fallback-model also applies to interactive sessions.
- Fix 4.
Lengthen retry backoff for overloaded requests with CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_BASE_DELAY_MS (v2.1.292) and CLAUDE_CODE_OVERLOADED_RETRY_MAX_DELAY_MS (v2.1.296).
More Claude Code errors
All 18 Claude Code errorsAPI Error: 500 Internal server error. This is a server-side issue, usually temporaryStatus: WorkaroundAPI Error: 400 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"invalid_request_error","message":"messages.5: `tool_use` ids were found without `tool_result` blocks immediately after: toolu_01FRvEykWmCgrgJ22mvBbKhV. Each `tool_use` block must have a corresponding `tool_result` block in the next message."}}Status: OpenUnable to connect to API. Check your internet connectionStatus: WorkaroundUnable to connect to API: SSL certificate verification failed (UNABLE_TO_GET_ISSUER_CERT_LOCALLY).Status: WorkaroundPlease run /login · API Error: 401 OAuth token has expiredStatus: WorkaroundOAuth error: timeout of 15000ms exceededStatus: OpenPrompt is too longStatus: WorkaroundYou've hit your session limit · resets 3:45pmStatus: By design
Related reading
- Claude Code Idle Compaction: What It Does and How to Turn It OffClaude Code 2.1.299 compacts sessions over 200K tokens after about 54 idle minutes. How the cache math works, the setting to turn it off, and when to keep it.
- Claude Code Desktop SneakPeek Flaw: Fixed Version and What To DoSneakPeek (CVSS 8.7) let a poisoned HTML file read SSH keys and cloud credentials via the Claude Code Desktop preview pane. Fixed in Claude Desktop 1.30096.1.
- Reverse Engineer Anything (REA): What the MCP Server Does and Where the Line IsREA (Reverse Engineer Anything) is an MIT-licensed MCP server that lets Claude Code, Codex or Cursor inspect binaries, Electron apps and APKs. How to try it.
- Claude Code Projects: Coordinator, Threads, and LimitsClaude Code Projects is open to waitlisted Pro and Max users. How the coordinator and cloud threads work, what they cost in plan limits and where it breaks.
- Agent Harness Lessons From a 500B-Token Decompile: Give Agents a PASS/FAIL OracleAgent harness lessons from a 500B+ token decompile: a byte-matching PASS/FAIL oracle beat the reviewer agent. How agents cheated it and what to copy.
- Claude for Startups Offer Paused: What Founders Do NowClaude for Startups paused its free Claude Team year and $1,000 API credit offer at capacity. What the program page says now and how to cover the gap.
FAQ
What does "API Error: Repeated 529 Overloaded errors. The API is at capacity" mean in Claude Code?
The API is temporarily at capacity across all users and Claude Code has already retried several times before showing this. A 529 is not your usage limit and does not count against your quota. Older versions showed API Error: 529 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"overloaded_error","message":"Overloaded"}}. A related prompt reads Opus is experiencing high load, please use /model to switch to Sonnet.
How do I fix "API Error: Repeated 529 Overloaded errors. The API is at capacity"?
There are 4 documented fixes. Start with the first: Check status.claude.com, or the provider status page named in the message, for capacity notices, then try again in a few minutes.
Is this Claude Code error fixed?
Status: Workaround. No release removes the cause. The documented fixes work around it. Affected versions: All versions (server-side capacity). v2.1.284 fixed an overloaded error right after a thinking block ending the turn instead of being retried.
Sources
Last verified against 3 sources: official docs, maintainer replies and release notes.
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