Struggling with OPenClaw API failures or connection timeouts? This guide walks you through the most common errors with practical steps to help you get back to work—no more staring at error messages.
API 401 Unauthorized Error: Check Your Key and Permissions
A 401 error usually means your request lacks valid credentials. First, double-check that your API key is correctly pasted into the environment variable or config file—watch out for extra spaces or line breaks before and after. If you copied the key directly from the console, manually re‑type it instead; many issues come from missing characters during copy. Also, some models or endpoints require additional permission toggles—log into your developer dashboard and make sure the "Allow Access" option is enabled.
429 Rate Limit Exceeded: Adjust Call Intervals and Quota
Sending too many requests in a short period triggers rate limiting and returns a 429 code. Don't blindly retry—pause for 5–10 seconds first, then use an exponential backoff strategy. You can avoid exceeding the rate limit by setting up a request queue or adding a sleep mechanism. If this happens frequently, check whether your account is on a free trial (trial quotas are often lower). Upgrading your plan or requesting a higher quota solves the root cause. Also, confirm whether other applications are using the same API Key—shared keys easily hit the limit.
Connection Timeout or Socket Hang Up: Check Network and Proxy
“Connection Timeout” or “Socket Hang Up” usually points to unstable network or incorrect proxy settings. First, try a direct connection to OPenClaw’s official servers using ping or curl to test latency. If you’re using a proxy, verify the protocol and port are correct and that the proxy isn’t blocking traffic. Some corporate networks block non‑standard ports—switching to HTTPS port 443 can bypass certain restrictions. Also, a timeout setting that’s too short can cause false positives—increase the request timeout from the default 10 seconds to 30 and try again.
500 Internal Server Error: First Check Your Request Body Format
When the server returns a 500 error, don’t assume the server is down—it’s often a malformed request. Check that your JSON is valid and field names are spelled correctly (e.g., "model" isn’t mistakenly written as "module"). Pay special attention to boolean values and numbers that accidentally got quoted—for example, "temperature": true will break the request. If your request body is large, try sending it in smaller chunks, or check whether your message array includes an unsupported role (e.g., you used a "function" role but the model doesn’t support it).
403 Access Denied: Account Status and Regional Restrictions
A 403 error could mean your account is locked or there’s a geographic restriction. First, log into the OPenClaw dashboard to check your account status—look for any billing issues or policy violations. Some models are only available in specific regions; if you’re using an IP from an unsupported area, switch to a different node or use global mode. Also, certain free trial accounts have decreasing access over time—renewing or upgrading to a paid plan usually resolves the 403.
