If you are using Cloudflare as your web performance and security provider, you may encounter an error message that says “You are being rate limited (Error 1015)”. This error means that your request to access a website has been blocked by Cloudflare because it exceeded the limit of requests per second that the website owner has set.
In this article, we will illustrate what Error 1015 is, what causes it, and how to resolve it.
What is Error 1015 in Cloudflare?
Error 1015 is a rate-limiting error that appears when Cloudflare detects that a visitor is sending too many requests to a website in a short period. Cloudflare uses rate limiting to protect websites from denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, which are malicious attempts to overwhelm a website with traffic and make it unavailable for legitimate users. Rate limiting also helps websites to manage their resources and bandwidth more efficiently.
Importance of DNS Settings
DNS stands for Domain Name System, which is a system that translates domain names (such as www.example.com) into IP addresses (such as 192.168.0.1) that computers can comprehend. DNS settings are the designs that choose how a domain name is resolved to an IP address.
Its settings are important for the performance and security of a website, as they affect how fast a website loads, how it handles traffic, and how it prevents malicious attacks.
Technical Issues with DNS Settings, Servers, or Networks
Sometimes, Error 1015 can be caused by technical issues that are not related to the visitor’s behavior, but to the website’s DNS settings, servers, or networks. For example, if the website’s DNS settings are incorrect, outdated, or corrupted, Cloudflare may not be able to resolve the domain name to the correct IP address, and thus block the request.
Similarly, if the website’s servers are overloaded, down, or under maintenance, Cloudflare may not be able to connect to them, and thus reject the request. Additionally, if the website’s network is experiencing congestion, latency, or packet loss, Cloudflare may not be able to deliver the request, and thus limit the request.
Common causes of Error 1015
However, most of the time, Error 1015 is caused by the visitor’s behavior, such as sending too many requests to a website in a short period.
This can happen for various reasons, such as:
- Refreshing a webpage repeatedly or rapidly
- Using a browser extension, plugin, or script that automates requests to a website
- Using a VPN, proxy, or Tor service that masks or changes the visitor’s IP address
- Sharing a network or device with other users who are accessing the same website
- Having malware, virus, or bot on the visitor’s device that generates requests to a website
How to Fix Cloudflare Error 1015?
If you experience Error 1015, you can test the following steps to troubleshoot and fix the error:
- Review your internet connection and make sure it is steady and fast
- Remove your browser’s cache, cookies, and history
- Disable or uninstall any browser extensions, plugins, or scripts that may interfere with the website
- Change your VPN, proxy, or Tor service settings or switch to another one
- Scan your device for any malware, virus, or bot and eliminate them
- Wait for a few minutes and try to access the website again
Importance of Returning to Normal Online Routine
Once you have fixed the error, you can return to your normal online routine and enjoy the website that you want to visit. However, you should also be mindful of the website’s rate limit and avoid sending too many requests in a short period. This will help you to prevent Error 1015 from happening again and to respect the website owner’s policies and preferences.
