402 Payment Required — Causes & Fix
HTTP 402 (Payment Required) means the request cannot proceed until a payment is made — a status reserved for paid content, quotas, or billing.
- Applies to
- Any website or web server (HTTP standard)
- Time to fix
- 5–30 minutes
What it means
Returned by APIs/services when a subscription has lapsed, a usage quota is exceeded, or payment is due. HTTP status 402 is defined in RFC 9110 (HTTP Semantics). This is a client-side (4xx) error — the request itself had a problem, so the fix is usually on the requester's side or in how the server validates the request.
Symptoms
- "402 Payment Required" from an API or service
- Access blocked pending payment
How to fix it
- 1
Check billing/subscription
1. Confirm your subscription is active and payment details are current.
- 2
Review usage/quota
1. If it is a usage limit, upgrade the plan or wait for the quota to reset.
Frequently asked questions
Is 402 an official code?
Yes, but it was historically "reserved for future use." Modern APIs use it for billing/quota issues — check your account's payment status.
Last updated July 20, 2026
Guidance only — always consult a qualified professional or the official service manual before carrying out repairs.