Twitter Rate Limit Exceeded: Causes and Solutions

What Does “Twitter Rate Limit Exceeded” Mean?

If you’ve encountered the “Twitter rate limit exceeded” error message, you’re not alone. This message indicates that you’ve reached Twitter’s cap on the number of times you can perform specific actions within a certain timeframe. These limits are in place to ensure the platform remains stable and to prevent misuse by automated systems and malicious users.

Twitter, now known as X, has over 611 million monthly active users, all generating a massive amount of content daily. To manage this load effectively and maintain a smooth experience for everyone, Twitter imposes rate limits. These limits apply to various actions, including posting tweets, following accounts, and sending direct messages (DMs). By doing so, Twitter ensures that its infrastructure isn’t overwhelmed and that all users can enjoy a reliable service.

What Are the Rate Limits on Twitter?

Twitter’s rate limits vary depending on the action you’re performing. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Tweets and Retweets: You can post up to 2,400 tweets, including retweets, per day. However, Twitter also restricts the number of tweets you can post within 30 minutes to prevent spamming.
2. Direct Messages: You can send up to 500 DMs per day.
3. Following Accounts: The platform allows you to follow up to 400 accounts daily. Once you’ve followed 5,000 accounts, additional restrictions may apply.
4. Changing Email Address: You can change the email address linked to your Twitter account up to four times per hour.

These limits ensure that Twitter functions smoothly, especially during high-traffic periods. If Twitter’s servers are under heavy load, these limits might be reduced temporarily to manage the situation better.

Why Did Elon Musk Impose Rate Limits on Twitter?

On July 1, 2023, Twitter users were hit with unexpected rate limits, and Elon Musk, Twitter’s owner, provided some insight into the sudden restrictions. According to Musk, Twitter was experiencing high levels of data scraping, primarily by AI companies looking to gather massive amounts of data from the platform. This excessive scraping was putting an immense strain on Twitter’s servers.

To combat this, Musk introduced temporary rate limits. Initially, new and unverified users were limited to viewing just 300 posts daily, while verified users could view up to 6,000 posts. These limits were later increased to 500 for new users, 1,000 for unverified users, and 10,000 for verified users.

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How to Fix the “Twitter Rate Limit Exceeded” Error

If you encounter the “Twitter rate limit exceeded” error, here are three solutions to try:

1. Check Twitter’s Status: Before troubleshooting, ensure that Twitter isn’t experiencing any widespread issues. Websites like DownDetector can help you verify if the platform is down or facing problems. If Twitter is the culprit, you’ll need to wait until they resolve the issue.
2. Wait for the Cooldown Period: Twitter’s rate limits reset after a specified period. For example, if you’ve hit the limit for tweets, you might need to wait 30 minutes before you can tweet again. In some cases, like following users or sending DMs, you may need to wait 24 hours.
3. Manage Your Follower Ratio: If you’ve followed more than 5,000 accounts, Twitter may restrict further follows based on your follower-to-following ratio. To bypass this, try unfollowing some accounts or focus on increasing your followers.

How to Bypass Twitter’s Rate Limits

For those who want to avoid encountering the “Twitter rate limit exceeded” message in the future, here are a few strategies:

1. Subscribe to X Premium: Upgrading to Twitter’s premium service, X Premium, increases your rate limits. Verified users can perform more actions on the platform, making it an effective way to bypass standard restrictions.
2. Use Browser Extensions: Some users recommend using browser extensions like the Old Twitter Layout, which might help you bypass certain limitations imposed by the platform’s newer interface.
3. Switch to OperaGX: OperaGX, a browser designed for gamers, offers features that can help you bypass Twitter’s rate limits. This browser has built-in tools to manage resource usage, making it easier to avoid triggering rate limits.

In conclusion, encountering the “Twitter rate limit exceeded” error can be frustrating, but understanding why these limits exist and how to work around them can help you continue using the platform effectively. Whether by waiting out the limits, managing your account strategically, or upgrading to a premium service, you can navigate Twitter’s restrictions and enjoy a smoother experience.