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Twitter Rate Limit Exceeded: Meaning And How to Bypass

November 12, 2024

Imagine this: you’re going about your day, typing another one of your many daily tweets until…out of nowhere, you get a "Twitter rate limit exceeded" message. You were already having a stressful day and trying to vent out, X being your coping mechanism, and now this! But why does this usually happen? In this article, we share all about how and why it does, and whether there are ways to avoid this situation. 

Twitter Rate Limit—What is it? 

The Twitter rate limit—also known as the "rate limit exceeded" message, happens when users reach the platform’s maximum allowed actions, like viewing tweets or making API requests, within a set time (API, or Application Programming Interface, is like a set of tools that lets different software talk to Twitter to perform specific actions.)Twitter, now known as X, enforces this limit to maintain platform stability and security, according to Elon Musk. So it’s a good thing both for you and the platform. 
With hundreds of millions of daily active users, 611 million in particular for X—each interacting, posting, and real-time searching, or unrestricted usage could quickly overwhelm X’s infrastructure. Thus, when users see messages like "you are being rate limited" or "Twitter rate limit exceeded," it’s usually a temporary restriction used to reduce strain on the platform. 

Why is Twitter Rate Limit a Good Thing? 

The Twitter rate limit is there to prevent: 
  • Data scraping by third parties and those who work on developing different AI models, 
  • Spammers or any spammy activity, 
  • Any other harmful use cases by bots,
In response to all of this, X implemented a hierarchical system where verified accounts can view more posts than unverified or new accounts, aiming to curb excess data use without compromising everyday user access.

What Does Rate Limit Exceeded Mean on Twitter / X Today?

As of November, 2024, 
  • You can go through 500 posts daily if you’re a new account owner (previously, 300 posts every 24 hours,)
  • You will be limited to 1,000 posts if you don’t have the blue checkmark (previously, 600 posts per day,)
  • The daily post limit for X Premium, formerly Twitter Blue, verified accounts is 10,000 (previously, it was 6,000 tweets.)
Aside from these, there are also other restrictions you should keep in mind: 
  • DMs on this platform are limited to 500 per person, 
  • Tweets are limited to 2,400 per day,
  • The email associated with your Twitter account can be updated four times an hour.,
  • You are limited to following 400 accounts a day,
  • As soon as you follow 5,000 accounts, you must get more followers to continue following more.

4 Factors Getting You to the Rate Limit Exceeded Twitter/X

The “Twitter rate limit exceeded” message is there to remind you that the app wants your best, and does everything to protect the security of your experience with it. However, there are activities that some users intentionally or unintentionally do triggering the limit to reach faster. Here are the top reasons: 

API Usage 

If you're using the Twitter API for tasks like sending tweets/posts or extracting data, you might exceed your usage limit. This error can also occur when sending automated messages. 

High-traffic Hashtags

When you engage with popular Twitter hashtags, the high activity levels can increase request volumes and lead to a Twitter rate limit. Using trending hashtags might push you over your limit.

Spam-like Activities

Twitter's system can detect and block accounts with spammy actions such as bulk following and unfollowing, duplicate content, and misleading links. If your account or activity is flagged as spam, you might hit your limits and see an "exceeded" error.

Third-party Apps

Some external Twitter apps may not be optimized to follow Twitter's rate limits, which can lead to limit overflows and trigger errors when used.
Remember, getting the X rate limit exceeded message isn’t always intentional. Many of these triggers, like interacting with trending hashtags or using third-party apps, can unintentionally push your account over the edge. Being mindful of these factors can help you avoid unexpected limits and keep your Twitter experience smooth.

How Long Do Rate Limits Last on Twitter?

Twitter’s rate limits vary based on the action and account type. For most actions, the limits reset after a short wait, usually between a few minutes to several hours. For instance, certain API requests reset every 15 minutes, while other actions may reset within 24 hours. If you’ve hit a rate limit, simply waiting until the reset time should allow you to resume your activities. Check Twitter’s official resources for the latest on specific limits, as they can change over time.

How to Bypass Twitter Rate Limit?

As promised, here are several “Twitter rate limit exceeded solutions” or simply ways to bypass the frustrating limited situation on Twitter/X:

  1. Wait Until the Restriction Passes—It’s Temporary

For those encountering the “you are being rate limited” alert, a little patience might be the quickest solution. Since Twitter rate limits are often temporary, taking a short break may be all you need. Typically, after a few minutes or hours, you can resume using Twitter without seeing the rate limit exceeded message. 

2. Create an Extra Account to Satisfy Your Urgent X Needs

Here are times when you need to inform someone about something, check analytics, or something that requires your X account. Thus, if you’re urgently trying to access Twitter during a rate-limited period, consider using an additional account. By switching between accounts, you might be able to bypass the rate limit exceeded restriction without impacting your primary account. However, remember that this workaround isn’t always foolproof: rate limits apply universally across devices and accounts.

3. Join the Premium Users Club (it Comes With Perks)

Twitter’s premium or verified subscription service can help reduce the chances of seeing the Twitter rate limit exceeded notification (details discussed in the second paragraph.) This option allows users to view more tweets daily and access exclusive features. Verified accounts generally have higher thresholds, so subscribing can provide more flexibility if you frequently hit rate limits.

4. Make Sure Nothing Technical is the Reason

Before trying other fixes, confirm that a technical issue isn’t behind the rate limit exceeded message. Poor network connections or outdated app versions can sometimes trigger errors that look like Twitter rate limit restrictions. Refreshing your browser or clearing the app cache may solve the problem without waiting for the limit to lift.

5. Try Using the OperaGX as Your Browser

Try using Opera GX as an alternative browser, which may help with Twitter’s rate limit issues. With features like network and CPU limiters, it can reduce data use, possibly helping you avoid the "rate limit exceeded" message. Additionally, Opera GX offers options to switch to an older Twitter interface, which some users find more stable. While not a guaranteed fix, it’s worth exploring if you frequently hit Twitter's limits.

6. Delete Older Tweets to Free up Space Faster

Clearing out older tweets can help you avoid the Twitter rate limit exceeded message by reducing the content volume your account needs to manage. If you remove outdated or irrelevant posts you can help your profile lessen the load on your account. Tools like TweetDeleter offer efficient ways to bulk-delete tweets. Here's how you can use it:
  • Visit TweetDeleter and sign in with your Twitter account,
  • To access and delete older tweets, upload your Twitter archive. You can request this archive from your Twitter account settings.
  • Use TweetDeleter's advanced search features to filter tweets by date, keyword, or media type.
  • After filtering, select the tweets you wish to delete and confirm the deletion.
The more frequently you clean up your tweet history, the more relevant your profile is and you are less likely to experience rate limit issues.

Key Takeaways

Facing the “Twitter rate limit exceeded” message can be frustrating, but there are ways to work around it. Whether you try creating a secondary account, clearing out older tweets, or upgrading to a premium plan, each tip can help you manage limits more effectively. Understanding and adjusting to these restrictions will help you enjoy a smoother, uninterrupted Twitter experience.

Twitter Rate Limit FAQ

Why won't Twitter let me change my name?
Twitter allows name changes, but issues may arise due to temporary technical glitches, account restrictions, or if the desired username is already taken.
Why is there a daily limit on Twitter?
Daily limits help Twitter manage system stability, prevent spam, and ensure fair resource access for all users.