The HTTP Status Code 507 means that the server is unable to store the data needed to complete the request successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does HTTP 507 Insufficient Storage mean?
HTTP 507 Insufficient Storage is a server-side error indicating that the server cannot store the data needed to complete the request successfully. The request itself may be perfectly valid, but the server lacks the available storage capacity to fulfill it. It belongs to the 5xx family of status codes, which all point to problems on the server rather than the client.
When does a server return a 507 status code?
A server returns 507 when it has run out of disk space, hit a storage quota, or reached an internal resource limit that prevents it from processing or persisting the request. Common triggers include file uploads, WebDAV operations, and database writes where the server would need to create or store a new resource. Notably, the request does not have to include a body — any request that would cause resource creation can produce this error.
Is the HTTP 507 error temporary or permanent?
HTTP 507 is considered a temporary condition. Once the server's storage situation is resolved — for example, by freeing disk space or raising a quota — the same request can succeed. This is an important distinction from errors that indicate a permanent problem with the request itself.
What is the difference between HTTP 507 and HTTP 413?
HTTP 413 Content Too Large means the client's request body exceeds a size limit the server will accept, making it a client-side constraint that is effectively permanent for that payload. HTTP 507 Insufficient Storage means the server has run out of capacity, which is a server-side and temporary condition. In short: 413 is about the size of what the client sent, while 507 is about the resources the server has available.
How do I fix an HTTP 507 error?
The fix depends on which side of the request you control. Server operators should free up disk space, increase storage quotas, or archive old data to restore capacity. Developers building client applications should handle 507 responses gracefully by catching the error and displaying a clear message to users, such as prompting them to try again later. Implementing upload size limits on the client side can also reduce the likelihood of hitting server storage ceilings.
Where did the HTTP 507 status code originate?
HTTP 507 was originally defined in RFC 4918 for use with WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning), a protocol that extends HTTP to support collaborative file management on remote servers. Over time its use has spread beyond WebDAV to any HTTP context where a server needs to signal that it cannot store the data required to fulfill a request.
