# Handle Rate Limits

## Overview

This guide explains how to detect and handle rate limit errors when making requests with the Discord Social SDK.

When an SDK operation is rate limited, the callback receives a failed [`ClientResult`] where [`ClientResult::Retryable`] is `true` and [`ClientResult::RetryAfter`] contains the number of seconds to wait before retrying.

***

## Checking the Result

Every SDK operation that makes a network request passes a [`ClientResult`] to its callback. Always check [`ClientResult::Successful`] first. If the operation failed, inspect [`ClientResult::Retryable`] to decide whether to retry:

```cpp
client->SendLobbyMessage(lobbyId, message, [](discordpp::ClientResult result, uint64_t messageId) {
  if (result.Successful()) {
    return;
  }

  if (result.Retryable()) {
    float delaySeconds = result.RetryAfter();
    // Schedule a retry after delaySeconds — see below
  } else {
    std::cerr << "Unrecoverable error: " << result.ToString() << "\n";
  }
});
```

[`ClientResult::Retryable`] is set for rate limit responses (HTTP 429) as well as transient network errors. It is `false` for permission errors, validation failures, and other non-recoverable failures — don't retry those.

***

## Implementing Retry Logic

Use [`ClientResult::RetryAfter`] as the minimum delay before your next attempt. Retrying before this elapses will trigger continued rate limiting.

:::callout{intent="tip"}
Always respect the `RetryAfter` period. Retrying before it elapses will continue to fail.
:::

A simple retry helper using your game engine's timer system:

```cpp
void SendMessageWithRetry(
    std::shared_ptr<discordpp::Client> client,
    uint64_t lobbyId,
    std::string message,
    int attemptsLeft)
{
  client->SendLobbyMessage(lobbyId, message,
    [client, lobbyId, message, attemptsLeft](discordpp::ClientResult result, uint64_t messageId) {
      if (result.Successful()) {
        std::cout << "Message sent\n";
        return;
      }

      if (result.Retryable() && attemptsLeft > 1) {
        float delay = result.RetryAfter();
        ScheduleCallback(delay, [client, lobbyId, message, attemptsLeft]() {
          SendMessageWithRetry(client, lobbyId, message, attemptsLeft - 1);
        });
      } else {
        std::cerr << "Failed after retries: " << result.ToString() << "\n";
      }
    });
}
```

`ScheduleCallback` here represents whatever timer mechanism your engine provides (e.g. a delayed task queue, coroutine sleep, or engine tick callback).

***

## Rate Limit Reference

For more information on rate limits and how to apply for increased limits for production releases, see [Communication Features](/guides/core-concepts-communication-features). For general information on how Discord rate limiting works, see [Discord's rate limiting documentation](/guides/api-reference-topics-rate-limits).

***

## Next Steps

::::card-grid
:::card{title="Managing Lobbies" href="/guides/lobbies-voice-development-guides-managing-lobbies"}
Create and manage game lobbies with text and voice chat.
:::

:::card{title="Sending Direct Messages" href="/guides/direct-messages-development-guides-sending-direct-messages"}
Send direct messages to Discord users from your game.
:::

:::card{title="Debug & Log" href="/guides/how-to-debug-log"}
Use logging and debugging tools to troubleshoot issues.
:::
::::

Need help? Join the [Discord Developers Server](https://discord.gg/discord-developers) and share questions in the `#social-sdk-dev-help` channel for support from the community.

If you encounter a bug while working with the Social SDK, please report it here:  https://dis.gd/social-sdk-bug-report

***

## Change Log

| Date           | Changes         |
| -------------- | --------------- |
| April 27, 2026 | Initial release |

[`ClientResult`]: https://discord.com/developers/docs/social-sdk/classdiscordpp_1_1ClientResult.html#a685015ca8d29a50d47fd1ed5d469ac2e
[`ClientResult::Retryable`]: https://discord.com/developers/docs/social-sdk/classdiscordpp_1_1ClientResult.html#a0d220638f4a36c0b8b731f601e0ac02d
[`ClientResult::RetryAfter`]: https://discord.com/developers/docs/social-sdk/classdiscordpp_1_1ClientResult.html#ac739adca52b90d6b4cbed5753c30fd65
[`ClientResult::Successful`]: https://discord.com/developers/docs/social-sdk/classdiscordpp_1_1ClientResult.html#aef3b1aca3cd156daf488ca13ae87313b

## Related pages

- [API Reference](./api-reference-index.md)
- [App Fundamentals](./app-fundamentals-index.md)
- [Best Practices](./best-practices-index.md)
- [Bots & Companion Apps](./bots-companion-apps-index.md)
- [Building Games](./building-games-index.md)
- [Building on Discord](./building-on-discord-index.md)
- [Change Log](./change-log-index.md)
- [Communities & Servers](./communities-servers-index.md)
- [Components](./components-index.md)
- [Core Concepts](./core-concepts-index.md)

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