HTTP 413 Payload Too Large — What It Means & How to Fix It

The HTTP 413 Payload Too Large status code indicates the request body exceeds the maximum size the server is willing to accept. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: Previously known as "Request Entity Too Large" in older HTTP specifications.. The server may close the connection to prevent the client from continuing to send data.. The Retry-After header may indicate when the client can retry if the condition is temporary.. Common when uploading files that exceed the server size limit.. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: A file upload exceeds the server maximum file size limit.. A JSON or XML request body is larger than the server allows.. Server configuration limits (like nginx client_max_body_size) are too restrictive.. Base64-encoded data in the request body inflates the payload size.. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Reduce the size of your request body or uploaded file.. Check the server documentation for maximum allowed payload size.. Compress files before uploading if the server supports it.. Use chunked uploads or multipart requests for large files.. If you control the server, increase the maximum body size configuration.. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our HTTP Status Codes collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.