SocialRails
Social Media Strategy

Twitter API Error Codes: Guide to Fix Common Errors

Matt
Matt
· Updated 11 min read

Getting X API error codes when using apps or posting? Most are easy to fix once you know what they mean.

First, check which error format you are looking at, because it tells you which API you are calling and half the advice online applies to only one of them.

  • A numeric code like 32, 187 or 226 is the v1.1 style. Everything on this page is one of these.
  • A JSON object with title, detail and type fields and no numeric code is X API v2. If that is what you have, searching an error number will not find your problem, because there isn't one. Read the detail string and the HTTP status instead.

One thing that is true of every code below: none of them is fixed by your password. API calls authenticate with keys and OAuth tokens, and the password is not part of that exchange. If a fix anywhere tells you to re-enter or reset your X password to clear an API error, it is wrong, and a tool that asks you for the password directly rather than sending you to X's own authorisation screen should not get it.

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Most Common Twitter API Error Codes

Error Code 32: Could Not Authenticate You

What it means: the request was not signed with valid credentials. Either the app's tokens were revoked, or the keys are wrong, or the OAuth signature is malformed. Despite the wording, this is rarely about who you are and almost always about how the call was signed.

How to fix it:

  1. Reauthorise the app through X's own authorisation screen
  2. Check the app still appears under Settings and privacy, Security and account access, Apps and sessions. If it is not there, the connection was revoked
  3. If you built the integration: confirm you are sending the right key pair for the right auth method. A Bearer token on an endpoint expecting OAuth 1.0a produces this
  4. Check your server clock. OAuth 1.0a signatures include a timestamp and a clock more than a few minutes out will fail every request

Not a fix: re-entering your X password. It is not part of API authentication.

Error Code 63: User Has Been Suspended

What it means: Twitter suspended your account.

How to fix it:

  1. Check your email for suspension notifications from Twitter
  2. Go to Twitter.com and try to log in
  3. Follow Twitter's appeal process if you think it's a mistake
  4. Wait for Twitter to review your account
  5. Follow all Twitter rules going forward

Complete guide: Learn how to unlock your Twitter/X account with step-by-step instructions for suspensions and locks.

Error Code 89: Invalid or Expired Token

What it means: The app's connection to Twitter expired.

How to fix it:

  1. Disconnect the app from your X account
  2. Go to Settings and privacy, then Security and account access, then Apps and sessions
  3. Remove the problematic app
  4. Reconnect the app with fresh permissions
  5. Try your action again

Error Code 135: Could Not Authenticate You

What it means: Twitter can't verify your identity (similar to error 32).

How to fix it:

  1. Check your system clock is correct
  2. Clear your browser cookies for Twitter
  3. Log out and log back into Twitter
  4. Reauthorize the app
  5. Make sure you have a stable internet connection

Error Code 186: Tweet Needs to Be a Bit Shorter

What it means: the post is longer than the account is allowed to publish. The limit is not one number: it is 280 characters without X Premium and 25,000 with it, so the same text can fail from one account and succeed from another. If you are posting on behalf of users, this error is account-dependent and worth handling rather than preventing.

How to fix it:

  1. Count characters the way X does. Every URL counts as 23 characters regardless of its real length, so shortening a link saves you nothing
  2. Check whether the posting account has X Premium before assuming 280 is the ceiling
  3. Shorten, or split into a thread
  4. Remember the display rule is separate from the limit: long-form posts still truncate in the timeline at roughly 280 characters behind a Show more link, so length past that buys you depth for people who click, not visibility

Error Code 187: Status is a Duplicate

What it means: You're trying to post the same tweet twice.

How to fix it:

  1. Change your tweet text slightly
  2. Add a timestamp or emoji
  3. Wait a few minutes then try again
  4. Check if the tweet already posted successfully

Error Code 215: Bad Authentication Data

What it means: the credentials sent with the request were missing or malformed. In practice this is nearly always a build problem rather than an account problem: no Authorization header at all, a Bearer token where OAuth 1.0a was required, or a signature assembled incorrectly.

How to fix it:

  1. Confirm an Authorization header is actually being sent. This error frequently means it was dropped, not that it was wrong
  2. Match the auth method to the endpoint: app-only Bearer token for public reads, OAuth 1.0a or OAuth 2.0 user context for anything acting on behalf of an account
  3. Regenerate the keys in the developer portal and swap them in, in case one was truncated when copied
  4. Check for stray whitespace or a newline in whatever holds the key. This is a common cause and an invisible one

Not a fix: resetting your X password, or checking caps lock. Neither is involved.

Error Code 226: Automated Request

What it means: Twitter thinks you're using automation tools too much.

How to fix it:

  1. Slow down your posting frequency
  2. Wait 15-30 minutes before trying again
  3. Post more varied content
  4. Avoid posting the same message repeatedly
  5. Mix automated posts with manual posts

Less Common Twitter API Errors

Error Code 34: Page Does Not Exist

Fix: The user or tweet you're trying to access was deleted. Check the username or tweet URL.

Error Code 50: User Not Found

Fix: The Twitter user doesn't exist or changed their username. Verify the correct username.

Error Code 64: Account Suspended

Fix: The account you're trying to interact with is suspended. You can't fix this - only the account owner can.

Error Code 88: Rate Limit Exceeded

Fix: you exceeded the endpoint's allowance for the current 15-minute window. Read the x-rate-limit-reset header and wait until that timestamp rather than guessing.

Worth knowing in 2026: X bills the API per call now, so an uncapped retry loop against a 429 is a spending problem as well as a rate-limit problem. Cap your retries and back off exponentially. See our X API setup and pricing guide for what individual calls cost.

Error Code 161: Unable to Follow

Fix: You hit Twitter's following limit. Unfollow some accounts first.

Error Code 179: Not Authorized to See Status

Fix: The tweet is from a private account you don't follow. Follow the account first.

Error Code 185: User Over Daily Status Update Limit

Fix: You posted too many tweets today. Wait until tomorrow to tweet again.

General Twitter API Error Fixes

Check Twitter Status First

Before troubleshooting:

  1. Check the X Developer Platform status page at docs.x.com/status, which covers the v2 API, enterprise APIs, the Ads API and the streaming endpoints
  2. Look for current incidents and recent history
  3. Wait it out if X is the one with the problem
  4. Check @XDevelopers for announcements. The old @TwitterAPI handle and the old api.twitterstat.us status page are both retired

Common Fixes That Work for Most Errors

  1. Wait and retry - Many errors are temporary
  2. Refresh your browser - Simple but often effective
  3. Clear cookies and cache - Removes corrupted data
  4. Check internet connection - Weak connections cause errors
  5. Update your app - Old versions have more bugs
  6. Restart your device - Clears memory issues

App-Specific Fixes

For social media management tools:

  1. Disconnect and reconnect your Twitter account
  2. Check app permissions in Twitter settings
  3. Update the app to the latest version
  4. Contact app support if errors persist

For custom applications:

  1. Check your API keys are correct
  2. Verify your app's permissions
  3. Make sure you're using the latest API version
  4. Review Twitter's API documentation

Preventing Twitter API Errors

To avoid future errors:

  • Don't post identical content repeatedly
  • Space out your posts (don't post too frequently)
  • Keep your apps updated
  • Follow Twitter's automation rules
  • Don't exceed API rate limits
  • Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication

To prevent API errors while managing your Twitter presence professionally, legitimate social media tools like SocialRails use official X APIs with proper rate limiting and authentication, ensuring your posts go through without triggering error codes that often plague unauthorized automation tools.

When to Contact Support

Contact Twitter support if:

  • Errors persist for more than 24 hours
  • You think your account was suspended by mistake
  • App developers aren't responding to error reports
  • Multiple users report the same error

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Twitter API error code 32 mean?
Error 32, "Could not authenticate you", means the request was not signed with valid credentials. The app's tokens may have been revoked, the keys may be wrong, or the OAuth signature may be malformed. Reauthorise the app, check it still appears under Settings and privacy, Security and account access, Apps and sessions, and check your server clock, because OAuth 1.0a signatures carry a timestamp. Your password is not involved.
Do X API errors ever mean I should reset my password?
No. API calls authenticate with API keys and OAuth tokens; the account password is not part of the exchange, so no error code is cleared by changing it. Treat any tool that asks for your X password directly, rather than sending you to X's own authorisation screen, as a red flag.
How do I fix Twitter API error 186?
The post is too long for the posting account. The limit is 280 characters without X Premium and 25,000 with it, so the same text can fail from one account and succeed from another. Count URLs as 23 characters each regardless of their real length. Shorten, split into a thread, or check whether the account has Premium before assuming 280 is the ceiling.
Why am I getting Twitter API error 215?
Error 215, bad authentication data, almost always means the credentials were missing or malformed rather than wrong. Check that an Authorization header is being sent at all, that the auth method matches the endpoint (Bearer token for app-only reads, OAuth user context for acting on behalf of an account), and that no stray whitespace or newline crept into the key when it was copied.
Why do I keep getting Twitter API error 226?
Error 226 means X's automation detection flagged the request. Slow the posting rate, vary the content, and avoid repeating near-identical messages. If it persists on a bot you own, review X's automation rules, because sustained flagging leads to suspension rather than just failed calls.
My error has no number, just a title and detail. What is it?
That is X API v2, which returns a JSON problem object with title, detail and type fields plus an HTTP status, instead of a numeric code. The numeric codes on this page are the v1.1 format. If you are on v2, searching an error number will not find anything relevant: read the detail string and the HTTP status.
What should I do if I get error code 63?
Error 63 means the account is suspended. Check your email for a notification from X, try signing in on x.com, and use the appeal process if you think it is a mistake. No code change will work around it, because the suspension is on the account rather than the app.
How do I stop error 88 from costing me money?
Error 88 is a rate limit, and under X's pay-per-use billing every retry against it is a billable call. Read the x-rate-limit-reset header and wait for that timestamp rather than retrying immediately, cap the number of retries, and set a spending limit in the developer console so a runaway loop cannot run up a bill.
Where do I check whether the X API is down?
The X Developer Platform status page at docs.x.com/status, which covers the v2 API, enterprise APIs, the Ads API and streaming endpoints, plus @XDevelopers for announcements. The old api.twitterstat.us page and the @TwitterAPI handle are both retired.
Do Twitter API errors fix themselves over time?
Some do. Rate limits clear at the end of the window, and platform incidents resolve on X's side. Authentication errors, permission errors and suspensions do not: waiting on those just delays the fix. Check the status page first so you know which kind you have.

Quick Error Code Reference

ErrorMeaningQuick Fix
32Request not validly signedReauthorise, check keys and server clock
63Account suspendedCheck email, appeal if needed
89Token expiredReconnect app
135Authentication failedCheck system time, reauth
186Post too long for that accountShorten, or check for X Premium
187Duplicate tweetChange text slightly
215Missing or malformed credentialsCheck the Authorization header and auth method
226Too automatedSlow down posting

Many Twitter API errors fix themselves within a few minutes. If you keep getting the same error, follow the specific steps above or wait for Twitter to resolve server issues.

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