Telegram Bot API errors

Introduction

This is a non-official list of actual errors you can encounter while developing your bot using the Telegram Bot API.

The meaning, explanations, codes and other stuff in these errors may change at any given time, so don't trust too much on this list and use your common sense.

If you want to contribute, ensure to include:

• The actual json output
• Optional textual description
• Whether there is interaction needed from the developer
• What method did create the error

The error list

This is the actual list that has been composed so far. Feel free to add more.

JSON	Human Description	Action needed?	Methods raising
Bad Request: BUTTON_URL_INVALID	Invalid URL format in inline keyboard button	Correct the URL format or protocol	sendMessage, editMessageText
Bad Request: chat not found	The chat is unknown to the bot.	Double check the provided chat_id	any
Bad Request: entities too long	Too many formatting entities in message (9500 char limit for markdown)	Reduce number of formatted entities or split message	sendMessage, editMessageText
Bad Request: file is too big	File size exceeds the allowed limit (20MB for bots)	Reduce file size or split into smaller parts	sendDocument, sendPhoto, sendVideo
Bad Request: group is deactivated	Target group has been deactivated	Remove chat_id from bot database	sendMessage
Bad Request: Group migrated to supergroup	Occurs when a group chat has been converted/migrated to a supergroup	Check the provided chat_id and make sure the new Super Group ID is passed	sendMessage
Bad Request: Invalid file id	The file id you are trying to retrieve doesn't exist	Try to call getFile before downloading	getFile
Bad Request: member not found	The specified user is not a member of the target chat	Ensure the user is in the chat and has interacted with the bot	getChatMember, banChatMember, getChatAdministrators
Bad Request: message can't be deleted	Insufficient permissions to delete message	Check bot permissions and message age (48h limit)	deleteMessage
Bad Request: message can't be edited	The message text cannot be edited	Check is message belong to chat or is message exist in chat	editMessageText
Bad Request: Message not modified	The current and new message text and reply markups are the same	Actually chanange the text or reply markup of the message to be edited	editMessageText
Bad Request: message text is empty	The message text is empty or not provided	Provide a valid message text	sendMessage, editMessageText
Bad Request: message to delete not found	Message with specified ID doesn't exist	Verify message ID exists in chat	deleteMessage
Bad Request: message to edit not found	The message for editing has been deleted or is unavailable	Verify the existence of the message and bot rights	editMessageText, editMessageCaption
Bad Request: not enough rights to send photos to the chat	Bot lacks permission to send photos	Grant appropriate permissions to bot	sendPhoto
Bad Request: not enough rights to send text messages to the chat	Bot lacks permission to send text messages	Grant appropriate permissions to bot	sendMessage
Bad Request: PEER_ID_INVALID	Invalid chat/user ID. It often occurs when the bot has not seen the user in a group or private chat	-	sendMessage, getChat
Bad Request: reply message not found	Message being replied to doesn't exist	Remove reply_to_message_id or verify message exists	sendMessage
Bad Request: user not found	User_id is incorrect	Correct user_id	any
Bad Request: Wrong parameter action in request	Occurs when the action property value is invalid	Provide a valid value to the action property as specified in the documentation	sendChatAction
Conflict: can't use getUpdates method while webhook is active; use deleteWebhook to delete the webhook first	You are trying to use getUpdates while a webhook is active	Use deleteWebhook to delete the webhook first	getUpdates
Conflict: Terminated by other long poll	You have already set up a webhook and are trying to get the updates via getUpdates	Do not use getUpdates	getUpdates
Forbidden: bot blocked by user	The user have blocked the bot		any
Forbidden: bot can't initiate conversation with a user	User must start conversation with bot first	Wait for user to start the bot	sendMessage
Forbidden: bot can't send messages to bots	You tried to send a message to another bot. This is not possible		sendMessage
Forbidden: bot is not a member of the channel chat	Bot is not a member of the channel	Add bot to the channel	sendMessage, deleteMessage
Forbidden: bot is not a member of the supergroup chat	Bot is not a member of the supergroup	Add bot to the supergroup	sendMessage, getChatAdministrators
Forbidden: bot was kicked	Bot was kicked	Delete chat_id on your side	sendMessage
Forbidden: user is deactivated	You're trying to perform an action on a user account that has been deactivated or deleted	Double check the user I	sendMessage
Too many requests	You are hitting the API limit, more information here		sendMessage
Unauthorized	Bot token is incorrect	Correct your bot token and try again	any