Guides API Calls Permissions & ErrorsCommon Errors

Common Errors

The Box APIs uses HTTP status codes to communicate if a request has been successfully processed or not.

Most client errors in the HTTP 4XX, and some server errors in the HTTP 5XX range returns a standard client error JSON object.

{
  "type": "error",
  "status": 400,
  "code": "bad_digest",
  "help_url": "http://developers.box.com/docs/#errors",
  "message": "The specified content-md5 did not match what we received",
  "request_id": "abcdef123456"
}

Please see the Client Error resource for more details.

Please check our Developer Troubleshooting Articles for solution to common errors encountered when working with the Box APIs.


Error	`bad_digest`
Message	The specified `content-md5` did not match what we received
Solution	While uploading a file, a `content-md5` header with the SHA-1 hash of the file can be supplied to ensure that the file is not corrupted in transit. The SHA-1 hash that was supplied in the request did not match what was received in the upload. Supply a valid SHA-1 hash of the uploaded file.

Error	`bad_request`
Message
Solution	Required parameters supplied in the API request are either missing or invalid. Check the extended error message in the response body for more details.

Error	`cannot_make_collaborated_subfolder_private`
Message	Cannot move a collaborated folder to a private folder unless the new owner is explicitly specified
Solution	Specify the ID of the user that the content should be transferred to by setting the `owned_by.id` field in the request.

Error	`collaborations_not_available_on_root_folder`
Message	Root folder cannot be collaborated
Solution	You cannot set collaborators on a user's root folder (folder ID 0). Use a different folder ID than the root folder.

Error	`cyclical_folder_structure`
Message	Folder move creates cyclical folder structure
Solution	The folder ID specified in the folder move would create a cyclical folder structure (for example moving a folder to a subfolder within itself). Change the folder ID for the folder move request.

Error	`folder_not_empty`
Message	Cannot delete – folder not empty
Solution	Delete all content from the folder before attempting to delete it.

Error	`invalid_collaboration_item`
Message	Item type must be specified and set to 'folder'
Solution	The `item.type` field of the collaboration item should be set to folder.

Error	`invalid_grant`
Message	Verify the authorization code is set correctly in your request, or your application likely needs to get a new authorization code.
Solution	The authorization code supplied in the API request is missing or no longer valid. Possible solutions are to verify that the access token is added correctly in the request. If correctly set, the access token may have expired. Attempt to refresh the access token or fetch a new one.

Error	`invalid_grant`
Message	Current date time must be before the expiration date time listed in the 'exp' claim.
Solution	This error occurs when the Unix time on your local machine and the Box server are out of sync. To fix this error, update the Unix time on your machine to match a synchronized time server, then try the request again.

Error	`invalid_limit`
Message	Limit is not a valid number
Solution	Add a valid numeric value for the supplied limit value.

Error	`invalid_offset`
Message	Offset is not a valid number
Solution	Add a valid numeric value for the supplied offset value.

Error	`invalid_request_parameters`
Message	Invalid input parameters in request
Solution	Invalid parameters were sent in the API request. Check the API reference documentation for the correct request parameters that should be supplied for the API operation.

Error	`invalid_status`
Message	You can change the status only if the collaboration is pending
Solution	The status of a collaboration can only be updated to accepted or rejected by the user specified in the `accessible_by` field when the current status is set to pending.

Error	`invalid_upload_session_id`
Message	The upload session ID provided in the URL is not of a valid format.
Solution	The session ID supplied when making a chunked upload API request was invalid. Use the same session ID from the session that was created.

Error	`item_name_invalid`
Message	Item name invalid
Solution	Verify that the file's name is valid. Box only supports file or folder names that are 255 characters or less. File names containing non-printable ASCII, "/" or "", names with leading or trailing spaces, and the special names “.” and “..” are also unsupported.

Error	`item_name_too_long`
Message	Item name too long
Solution	Shorten the length of the name that is being supplied for the item. The maximum length of a file or folder name in Box is 255 characters or less.

Error	`metadata_after_file_contents`
Message	Metadata is included after file contents in a file upload request.
Solution	Include the file metadata before the file's contents.
Error	`password_reset_required`
Message	User needs to reset password
Solution	The user has not yet completed account setup steps.

Error	`requested_page_out_of_range`
Message	Requested representation page out of range
Solution	The range header supplied does not fit within the size of the specified item. Adjust the bounds to fit within the size of the item and try again.

Error	`requested_preview_unavailable`
Message	Requested preview unavailable
Solution	The thumbnail size requested for the file is not valid. See the reference docs for the API operation for available format sizes.

Error	`sync_item_move_failure`
Message	Cannot move a synced item
Solution	The item is set to be synced by the Box sync clients and cannot be moved. A possible solution is to set the `sync_state` of the item to `not_synced`.

Error	`task_assignee_not_allowed`
Message	Assigner does not have sufficient privileges to assign task to assignee
Solution	The user who is attempting to assign the task does not have the appropriate permissions to do so. Adjust the user permissions to allow the assignment of tasks.

Error	`terms_of_service_required`
Message	User must accept custom terms of service before action can be taken
Solution	The admin of your Box account has set custom terms of service and the user has not logged in to accept the terms yet. The user will need to accept the terms of service, or the admin will have to disable them, in order to proceed. More information is available here.

Error	`user_already_collaborator`
Message	User is already a collaborator
Solution	The user that you are attempting to collaborate in on an item is already collaborated on that item. This request is not needed.


Error	`unauthorized`
Message	Unauthorized
Solution	Authorization token is not authorized, check extended error message in body for more details.


Error	`access_denied_insufficient_permissions`
Message	Access denied – insufficient permission
	This error is typically produced when scopes that are needed for the API operation were not enabled. See here for solution information.

Error	`access_denied_item_locked`
Message	Access denied – item locked
Solution	You are attempting to access a locked item without appropriate permissions to access it. Unlock the item first, then try to access it again.

Error	`access_from_location_blocked`
Message
Solution	You’re attempting to log in to Box from a location that has not been approved by your admin. Please talk to your admin to resolve this issue.

Error	`file_size_limit_exceeded`
Message	File size exceeds the folder owner’s file size limit
Solution	See here for maximum file size limits based on account type.

Error	`forbidden`
Message
Solution	Client does not have permission to upload to this session. Only the user who initiated the upload session may upload to it.

Error	`forbidden_by_policy`
Message	Access denied – Blocked by Shield Access Policy
Solution	Shield access policies applied on your enterprise have prevented this action. Contact your enterprise admin to adjust the applied Shield access policies.

Error	`forbidden_by_policy`
Message	Access denied – Blocked by Shield Malware Detection Rule
Solution	An active Shield malware detection rule prevents download or local editing of potentially malicious content, but preview and online editing remain available. Contact your enterprise admin to adjust the applied Shield policies.

Error	`incorrect_shared_item_password`
Message
Solution	A password is required for the shared item, but it was either incorrect or not supplied.

Error	`storage_limit_exceeded`
Message	Account storage limit reached
Solution	The storage limit of the account has been reached. Either upgrade your account or permanently delete content to continue. Content that is simply moved to the trash will still count towards the account total until it is permanently deleted.

Error	`user_email_confirmation_required`
Message	User needs to complete email confirmation
Solution	The user has not yet completed steps for email confirmation.


Error	`not_found`
Message
Solution	The resource could not be found. Check the extended error message in the response body for more details.

Error	`not_trashed`
Message	Item is not trashed
Solution	The item that is to be permanently deleted is not in the trash. Send the item to the trash first.

Error	`preview_cannot_be_generated`
Message	Preview cannot be generated
Solution	You are not able to generate a preview thumbnail for the specified file.

Error	`trashed`
Message	Item is trashed
Solution	The item that is to be accessed is in the trash and unavailable for modification. Move the item out of the trash and try again.


Error	`method_not_allowed`
Message	Method Not Allowed
Solution	The HTTP method used for the API operation is not allowed. Check the API reference documentation for the HTTP verb needed for the API operation.


Error	`conflict`
Message	A resource with this value already exists
Solution	This error may be produced when the resource to be created already exists. Check the extended error message in the response body for more details.

Error	`item_name_in_use`
Message	Item with the same name already exists
Solution	This error is produced when a resource with the same name already exists. Ensure that the resource name being added / modified is unique.

Error	`name_temporarily_reserved`
Message	The item name is reserved by another processing item. Wait and then retry the request, or wait and check the parent folder to see if the name is in use.
Solution	Two duplicate requests have been submitted at the same time. Box acknowledges the first and reserves the name, but a second duplicate request arrives before the first request has completed. Allow the first request to complete before sending the second.

Error	`operation_blocked_temporary`
Message	The operation is blocked by another ongoing operation
Solution	This error is returned when trying to access a folder that is blocked by another folder operation, such as a move or copy. Try again at a later interval.

Error	`recent_similar_comment`
Message	A similar comment has been made recently
Solution	A similar comment was recently made, and the API has flagged it as a potential duplicate. Verify that the comment was indeed made, or modify the comment content and try again.

Error	`user_login_already_used`
Message	User with the specified login already exists
Solution	A user with the same email already exists. Either refer to the existing user or specify a different email.


Error	`session_expired`
Message
Solution	The upload session associated with the given upload session ID has expired and can no longer be accessed.

Error	`upload_failed`
Message
Solution	The upload session is in an unrecoverable failed state and cannot continue. This or other requests have resulted in the upload session reaching a bad state (for example parts overlapping). Possible situations where this may arise include when the maximum number of parts has been exceeded or when overlapping parts have been uploaded.


Error	`length_required`
Message	content-length header was required, but not provided.
Solution	Supply a content-length header within your API request.


Error	`precondition_failed`
Message	The resource has been modified. Please retrieve the resource again and retry
Solution	Check the extended error message in the response body for more details.

Error	`sync_state_precondition_failed`
Message	The resource has been modified. Please retrieve the resource again and retry
Solution	Check the extended error message in the response body for more details.


Error	`request_entity_too_large`
Message	Request Entity too Large
Solution	This error is produced when the size of the upload is more than the allowed maximum. Check the extended error message in the response body


Error	`unsupported_media_type`
Message	Previews for `boxnote` files are not yet supported.
Solution	This error is produced when requested an embed preview of a Box Note. Embedded previews are currently unsupported for Box Notes.


Error	`rate_limit_exceeded`
Message	Request rate limit exceeded, please try again later
Solution	The client is performing operations too quickly and has been rate limited. Client is advised to retry their request after the amount of time specified by the `retry-after` header. There are four rate limits to be aware of.


Error	`internal_server_error`
Message	Internal Server Error
Solution	Client should retry using exponential back-off strategy


Error	`bad_gateway`
Message
Solution	Client should retry using exponential back-off strategy


Error	`unavailable`
Message	Unavailable
Solution	Please check our API status page for information.

Common Errors

Common Errors

Client error

Common error codes

400 Bad Request

401 Unauthorized

403 Forbidden

404 Not Found

405 Method Not Allowed

409 Conflict

410 Gone

411 Length Required

412 Precondition Failed

413 Request Entity Too Large

415 Unsupported Media Type

429 Too Many requests

500 Internal Service Error

502 Bad Gateway

503 Unavailable