Chris Schutte

November 23, 2022

How To Fix the WordPress “429 Too Many Requests” Error

Reading Time: 4 minutes

You’re working hard to keep your website running smoothly, but sometimes things go wrong.

One of the most common website errors is the WordPress “429 Too Many Requests” error. This can cause missed scheduled posts and a general slowdown in website performance.

We’ve got the solution for you.

This article will walk you through how to fix the WordPress “429 Too Many Requests” error and show you how to identify and address the problem quickly and easily with website maintenance.

What Is the HTTP “429 Too Many Requests” Error?

The HTTP 429 Too Many Requests error tells you that the server is too busy to handle your request. This can happen for several reasons, but the most common reason is that you’re making too many requests quickly.

For example, let’s say you’re trying to load a webpage that has 20 different images on it. Each time you try to load the page, your browser will send a separate request to the server for each image. If too many people are trying to load the same page simultaneously, the server can get overwhelmed and start returning 429 errors.

Similarly, if you’re making requests to an API (e.g., using a plugin that makes many API calls), the API servers can also get overloaded and start returning 429 errors

Why You Need To Fix This Error with Website Maintenance

The “429 Too Many Requests” error can have several consequences for your website.

If you’re making too many requests to your website, it can cause your website to slow down or even crash. This can lead to missed scheduled posts and a poor user experience for your website visitors.

If you’re making too many requests to an external API (e.g., a social media API), it can result in missed API calls and data not being correctly updated on your website. For example, if you’re using a plugin that displays your latest Twitter tweets on your website, the plugin may stop working if you start getting 429 errors from the Twitter API.

Furthermore, it can hurt your website’s ranking in Google and other search engines. This is because website errors can be seen as poor website quality. In general, Google prefers websites that are fast and error-free.

If you’re seeing a lot of 429 errors on your website, it’s a good idea to investigate the cause and fix them with website maintenance as soon as possible. This will help improve your website’s performance and help keep you ranked high in Google and other search engines.

Here are the four methods you can implement to diagnose and fix the WordPress “429 Too Many Requests” Error:

Method 1: Check Your Plugins

If you see a lot of 429 errors, the first thing you should do is check your plugins. If any of your plugins are making too many requests, they may cause the problem.

Here are the steps to check your WordPress plugins:

  1. To check your plugins, go to your WordPress admin dashboard and click “Plugins.”
  2. Look through the list of plugins and see if any of them are making many requests.
  3. You can also use a plugin like Query Monitor to get more detailed information about which plugins are making many requests.
  4. If you find a plugin making too many requests, you can try disabling the plugin and see if that fixes the problem.
  5. If it does, you can either leave the plugin disabled or find an alternative plugin that doesn’t cause as many requests.

Method 2: Check Your Theme

If your plugins aren’t the cause of the 429 error, the next thing you should check is your theme. If your theme makes too many requests, it can also cause the 429 error.

Here are the steps to check your WordPress theme:

  1. To check your theme, go to your WordPress admin dashboard and click on “Appearance” and then “Editor.”
  2. Check the code in your theme files and see if any unnecessary or excessive requests are being made.
  3. You can also use a plugin like Query Monitor to get more detailed information about which theme files are making many requests.
  4. If you find that your theme is making too many requests, you can try switching to a different theme and see if that fixes the problem.

Method 3: Change Your Default Login URL

If you’re still seeing 429 errors, the next thing you can try is changing your default WordPress login URL. By default, WordPress uses the /wp-login.php URL for logging in. However, this URL can be overloaded with requests, which can cause the 429 error.

Fortunately, a plugin called WPS Hide Login lets you change your default login URL. This can help reduce the number of requests made to your login page and help fix the 429 error.

Here are the steps to change your default WordPress login URL:

  1. First, install and activate the WPS Hide Login plugin.
  2. Once the plugin is activated, go to Settings, click General and scroll down to the “WPS Hide Login” section.
  3. In the “Login URL” field, enter a new login URL for your website.
  4. Click on the “Save Changes” button to save your changes.
  5. After changing your default login URL, you can try logging in to your website again and see if the 429 error is fixed.

Method 4: Contact Your Web Host

If you’ve tried all of the above methods and you’re still seeing 429 errors, the next thing you should do is contact your web host. There may be a problem with your website’s server that is causing the 429 error.

Your web host should be able to help you troubleshoot the problem and get it fixed. Once the problem is fixed, the 429 errors should stop appearing on your website.

Get WordPress Website Maintenance With Us

So, if you’re seeing the WordPress 429 error on your website, don’t panic. There are a few things that you can do to try and diagnose the problem and fix it yourself. We’ve walked through some methods for doing just that in this post, so hopefully, one of them will work for you.

If you need help with your WordPress website, we’re here for you. Launch Digital is a Johannesburg-based agency helping businesses in South Africa create an impactful online presence. We offer a full range of WordPress services, from design and development to website maintenance and security.

So, if you need help with your WordPress website, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’ll be happy to help you fix the 429 error and get your website back up and running smoothly.

wordpress care plan support

You might also like…

Is Google Ads Worth It For Small Businesses In South Africa

Is Google Ads Worth It For Small Businesses In South Africa

Is Google Ads worth it for your business? Most small business owners have heard of Google Ads (formerly Google Adwords). But not all of them have tried it, for various reasons like budget, time or simply just not knowing how it works. The truth is that whilst most...

4 Best eCommerce Platforms In South Africa [2024 Update]

4 Best eCommerce Platforms In South Africa [2024 Update]

Ready for some scary stats? eCommerce sales are expected to reach R225 billion by 2025. That is a lot of money people will be spending online. It's no wonder you want to jump on the eCommerce train. But where does one even start? In this article, we will compare the 4...