X/Twitter error library

When using a scheduling tool like Buffer, there will be instances when a social network refuses the post and replies with an error message. Find your error below and follow the troubleshooting steps to get back on track.

In this article:

• Daily posting limit reached
• Post may have been shared recently (duplicate post)
• Already reposted this post
• X/Twitter profile was locked
• X/Twitter account has been suspended
• Link identified as potentially harmful
• Direct messages can't be sent through Buffer

Daily posting limit reached

Error message: "The daily posting limit for this channel has been reached! Please try reducing the amount of times per day in your schedule and try again later."

Why this happens: You've hit X/Twitter's daily posting limit. X/Twitter allows up to 2,400 posts per day, but also breaks this down into smaller limits across semi-hourly intervals — so you can hit the limit even without reaching 2,400 posts.

What to do: Slow down your posting schedule and try publishing again in a few hours.

Post may have been shared recently (duplicate post)

Error message: "It looks like this post may have been shared recently. Check out our guide to repeating posts in the FAQs."

Why this happens: X/Twitter has detected the post as a duplicate. X/Twitter has a strict policy against posting identical or nearly identical content repeatedly, and compares the text of any new post against your recent posts before publishing.

What to do: Edit the post copy — change the wording or keywords — then retry the failed post. Make sure any similar posts are spaced well apart in your schedule.

Already reposted this post

Error message: "It looks like you may have already reposted this post. Unfortunately, we're only able to repost once per post. If the post is your own, you can find some tips for re-sharing this post in our FAQs."

Why this happens: X/Twitter has detected that you've already reposted this content recently. X/Twitter's policy against repeated sharing applies to reposts as well as original posts.

What to do: Avoid reposting the same content repeatedly. If you need to reshare something, make sure posts are spaced well apart in your schedule.

X/Twitter profile was locked

Error message: "Oops, it looks like that X/Twitter profile was locked when we tried to publish this. Please visit Twitter.com and send a post from their dashboard to unlock your account and then retry the post."

Why this happens: X/Twitter has temporarily locked your account due to detected spam activity. Buffer is unable to publish on your behalf until the account is unlocked.

What to do:

1. Head to X/Twitter and sign into your account to see why it was locked.
2. Follow any instructions X/Twitter provides to unlock your account.
3. Once unlocked, head back to your Buffer.com dashboard, click Manage Channels, and refresh your X/Twitter channel.
4. Retry your post.

X/Twitter account has been suspended

Error message: "So sorry, it looks like this X/Twitter account has been suspended. It might be worth getting in touch with X/Twitter."

Why this happens: X/Twitter has suspended your account. Buffer is unable to publish on your behalf until access is restored.

What to do:

1. Head to X/Twitter and sign into your account to understand why it was suspended.
2. Follow any instructions X/Twitter provides.
3. If you believe your account was suspended by mistake, file an appeal with X/Twitter.
4. Once your account is restored, head back to your Buffer.com dashboard, click Manage Channels, and refresh your X/Twitter channel.

Link identified as potentially harmful

Error message: "We can't complete this request because this link has been identified by X/Twitter or our partners as being potentially harmful."

Why this happens: The post contains a link that X/Twitter has flagged as potentially harmful. This can include malicious links, spammy links, or links associated with hateful conduct. Unfortunately, if X/Twitter has blocked the link, there's nothing Buffer can do to reverse that decision.

What to do:

1. Edit the post and remove the link, then retry publishing.
2. If you believe the link has been blocked by mistake, report it to X/Twitter using this form.
3. For more on the types of links X/Twitter is likely to block, see X/Twitter's guide to phishing, spam, and malware links.

Direct messages can't be sent through Buffer

Error message: "Sorry, direct messages can't currently be sent through Buffer."

Why this happens: Your post begins with the letter "D" or "d" followed by a @username. This matches X/Twitter's SMS command format for sending a direct message (e.g. D @username message), which Buffer isn't able to process.

What to do: Edit your post so it doesn't begin with "D" or "d" followed by a @username, then retry. If you need to send a direct message, you'll need to do that directly on X/Twitter.