# Errors

Using the API

Every error code, its HTTP status, whether a later retry can succeed, and what to do about it.

Errors return a non-2xx status and a JSON body with one `error` object. Everything a program or an agent needs to react is in the body, so a client that only sees the JSON can still decide what to do:

400 response:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "invalid_input",
    "message": "unknown parameter \"username\"; did you mean \"handle\"? This endpoint accepts: handle, max_age, fields.",
    "request_id": "req_3f9c2a7d1e8b4c6a9f0e2d4b6a8c0e1f",
    "status": 400,
    "retryable": false,
    "param": "username",
    "remediation": "Fix the parameter named in param (the message says how); for a link of the wrong kind, call the endpoint the message names.",
    "doc_url": "https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/#invalid_input",
    "details": {
      "accepted_params": [
        "handle",
        "max_age",
        "fields"
      ],
      "suggestion": "handle"
    },
    "charged": false
  }
}
```

> [!IMPORTANT]
>
> Branch on `error.code`: its values are stable. `error.message` is for people, and its wording may change.

Every field is always present:

| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `error.code` | `string` | Machine-readable error code (see the error codes list); stable. |
| `error.message` | `string` | What went wrong and how to fix it, for humans and agents; wording may change. |
| `error.request_id` | `string` | Unique request ID; include it when contacting support. |
| `error.status` | `integer` | The HTTP status of the response, repeated for clients that only see the body. |
| `error.retryable` | `boolean` | True when repeating the same request later may succeed (after details.retry_after when present). |
| `error.param` | `string` or `null` | The query parameter or header the error is about; null when it is not about one input. |
| `error.remediation` | `string` | What to do about this code, one sentence. |
| `error.doc_url` | `string` | URL of this code's documentation. |
| `error.details` | `object` | The code's dynamic values (the error codes list documents each code's keys); {} when none. |
| `error.charged` | `boolean` | Whether the request was charged: always false, failed requests are free. |

- **`error.param`** names the query parameter or header the error is about, so you can fix the call without parsing the message.
- **`error.details`** holds the code's dynamic values: the parameter you most likely meant, the endpoint a link belongs to, the credits a request needed. The table below lists each code's keys. Keys are only ever added.
- **`error.charged`** is always false: failed requests are free (see [Credits](https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md)), so a retry costs nothing.

## Error codes

**Retry** says whether sending the same request again later can get a different answer. **What to do** is the recommended reaction. Codes marked **Reserved** are documented ahead of the feature that returns them; nothing returns them yet.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | details |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `invalid_input` | 400 | No | The request parameters are missing or malformed, or the URL is not a supported link for this endpoint. | Fix the parameter named in param (the message says how); for a link of the wrong kind, call the endpoint the message names. | `suggestion` `string`: For an unknown parameter: the accepted parameter it most likely means; absent when nothing is close.`accepted_params` `string[]`: For an unknown parameter: every query parameter this endpoint accepts.`url_kind` `string`: For a link of the wrong kind: what the link points to (profile, video, post, …).`url_platform` `string`: For a link of the wrong kind: the platform the link belongs to.`accepted_url_kinds` `string[]`: For a link of the wrong kind: the kinds of link this endpoint takes.`endpoints` `string[]`: For a link of the wrong kind: IDs of the endpoints that take it; empty when none does yet.`fields` `string[]`: For an unknown fields path: every path fields accepts on this endpoint. |
| `invalid_cursor` | 400 | No | The cursor is malformed, expired, belongs to another endpoint, or the other parameters differ from the request that issued it. | Repeat the original request without cursor to start the list again. | `reason` `string`: Why: malformed, expired, wrong_endpoint, params_changed or pin_lost (the upstream exit a cursor-bound list was pinned to is gone; new values may be added). |
| `unauthorized` | 401 | No | The x-api-key header is missing, unknown or revoked (or, on the dashboard's routes, the session cookie is missing or expired). | Send a valid API key in the x-api-key header; without one, get a key at details.signup_url (AI agents: POST details.agent_signup_url). | `signup_url` `string`: Where a human gets an API key (self-serve signup).`agent_signup_url` `string`: POST an email address here to get a test key at once and a live key once the human confirms. |
| `forbidden` | 403 | No | The API key is valid but may not make this request: its account is suspended, its scopes do not include the route, it is waiting for its owner's email confirmation, it is past its expiry, or the request came from an IP its allowlist does not include. A running job stops the same way when its account is suspended or the key that created it is revoked or expires. It is about the key, never the item (a private item is private_or_unavailable, also 403): branch on the code. | Do what details.reason says: if suspended, contact [support](https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md); otherwise use a key whose scopes cover the route (details.required_scope), have the owner confirm the emailed link, create a new key, or call from an allowed IP. | `reason` `string`: Why: suspended (an operator suspended the account), scope (the key lacks details.required_scope), key_pending (an agent signup's live key before its owner confirms), key_expired, key_revoked (a job's creating key was revoked while it ran), ip_not_allowed, test_mode (a test key asked for something live, such as a live key) or csrf (a dashboard request from another site). New values may be added.`required_scope` `string`: For reason scope: the scope the route needs (endpoints, jobs, account:read or admin). |
| `insufficient_credits` | 402 | No | The account does not have enough credits for this request. | Buy credits (a human pays: details.purchase_url, or details.checkout makes a checkout link), then repeat the request; do not retry automatically. | `credits_required` `integer`: Credits this request needed at the point it stopped (to start, or to finish a longer item).`credits_available` `integer`: Credits the account could spend at that moment (in-flight requests hold part of the balance).`max_credits` `integer`: For a job's item: the job's max_credits, when that cap (not the balance) stopped the item.`purchase_url` `string`: Where a human buys credits (the dashboard); absent when a job's max_credits, not the balance, stopped it.`checkout` `object`: The API call that makes a checkout link for a human to pay: {method, path (an absolute URL), packs (the pack IDs its body's pack takes)}. |
| `spend_limit_reached` | 402 | No | The API key reached its spend limit for the current period; the account may still have credits. | Wait until details.resets_at or raise the key's spend limit (PATCH /v1/api_keys/{id}); do not retry automatically. | `api_key_id` `string`: The key whose limit was reached.`spend_limit` `integer`: The limit: most credits the key may spend per interval.`interval` `string`: day or month (UTC calendar).`used` `integer`: Credits the key spent this interval, plus what its requests in flight hold.`credits_required` `integer`: Credits this request needed.`resets_at` `string`: When the interval ends and the limit is free again, RFC 3339 UTC. |
| `rate_limited` | 429 | Yes, later | The account exceeded its runaway-protection ceiling: plans do not limit request rate, but a high per-account safety ceiling stops broken client loops. Support raises it on request. Without an API key (signup, the MCP server's tool listing and find_endpoint), requests are limited per IP address instead. | Wait for the number of seconds in the retry-after header, then retry; ask [support](https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md) to raise the ceiling if your sustained traffic needs more (calls without an API key: use one). | `retry_after` `integer`: Seconds to wait before retrying; equals the retry-after header. |
| `method_not_allowed` | 405 | No | The endpoint exists but does not accept this HTTP method. | Use the method in the allow header (GET for every data endpoint). | — |
| `endpoint_retired` | 410 | No | The endpoint passed its sunset date and no longer answers. | Call the replacement endpoint (details.replacement); the changelog describes the migration. | `sunset_at` `string`: When the endpoint stopped answering, RFC 3339 UTC.`replacement` `string`: ID of the endpoint to use instead; absent when there is none. |
| `idempotency_key_reused` | 422 | No | The Idempotency-Key was already used with a different request (another route, or another body). | Send a new Idempotency-Key for a different request; reuse a key only to retry the identical request. | — |
| `idempotency_key_in_progress` | 409 | Yes, later | A request with this Idempotency-Key is still running. | Retry after the number of seconds in the retry-after header to get that request's result. | `retry_after` `integer`: Seconds to wait before retrying; equals the retry-after header. |
| `job_not_found` | 404 | No | No job with this ID exists for the account: unknown, or past its retention. | Check the job ID; finished jobs are kept for a limited time. | — |
| `unknown_endpoint` | 404 | No | No endpoint or route has this path: a typo, a platform that does not have this endpoint yet, or a path that is not part of the API. Nothing was fetched or charged. | Call the path in details.suggestion when it is set (it is the one the path most likely means), or pick one of details.endpoints; do not retry the same path. | `suggestion` `string`: The endpoint path this one most likely means; absent when nothing is close.`endpoints` `string[]`: Every public data endpoint's path. |
| `not_found` | 404 | No | The item does not exist or was deleted. | Check the URL or ID; do not retry. | — |
| `private_or_unavailable` | 403 | No | The item exists but is private, age- or region-gated, or requires a login to view. It shares 403 with forbidden (which is about the key): branch on the code. | Only public items can be fetched; do not retry. | — |
| `no_transcript` | 404 | No | The media exists but has no transcript: no caption track and no speech to transcribe. | Do not retry; try another language with lang if the platform offers one. | — |
| `upstream_blocked` | 503 | Yes, later | The platform refused every attempt. | Retry later with backoff; failed requests are free. | — |
| `upstream_error` | 502 | Yes, later | The platform failed or returned something unexpected. | Retry with backoff; failed requests are free. | — |
| `overloaded` | 503 | Yes, later | SocialTap was momentarily at capacity and did not start the request: nothing was fetched or charged. | Retry after the number of seconds in the retry-after header; failed requests are free. | `retry_after` `integer`: Seconds to wait before retrying; equals the retry-after header. |
| `internal` | 500 | Yes, later | Unexpected SocialTap error. | Retry with backoff; contact [support](https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md) with the request_id if it persists. | — |

## Retrying

- **Retry: yes.** Retry with exponential backoff and a cap on attempts. For [`rate_limited`](https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#rate_limited), wait at least the number of seconds in the `retry-after` header (also in `error.details`) first, then retry. It is not a plan limit but the per-account safety ceiling against runaway clients (see [Rate limits](https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/docs/authentication/index.md#rate-limits)).
- **Retry: no.** The code describes your request or the item, and the same request gets the same answer on every attempt: fix the input, top up your balance, or treat the item as unavailable, as the table says.
- `retry-after` is only ever sent with codes you may retry. Credit errors such as [`insufficient_credits`](https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) never carry it: buy credits, then repeat the request.

---

[HTML version](https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/) · [Docs index for AI agents](https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/llms.txt) · [All docs in one file](https://staging-fly.socialtap.dev/llms-full.txt)