Firebase Storage errorFirebase Storage: storage/retry-limit-exceeded

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Why it gives up, and the fix

1. 01

   A large file on a slow connection

   “The maximum time limit on an operation (upload, download, delete, etc.) has been exceeded. Try uploading again.” Firebase, Handle errors (storage/retry-limit-exceeded)

   A phone video or a full-size photo on mobile data can take longer than the retry time allows. Resize images and compress video on the device first, and show progress so the user keeps the app open.

2. 02

   Progress and resume help, but the limit still applies

   uploadBytes gives you no progress events. uploadBytesResumable reports progress, and you can pause, resume or cancel it, which suits large files and flaky networks. It can carry on after a short drop, but it still fails once the retry time runs out.

   // Web SDK; uid and setProgress come from your app
   import { getStorage, ref, uploadBytesResumable } from 'firebase/storage';
   
   const task = uploadBytesResumable(ref(getStorage(), `uploads/${uid}/${file.name}`), file);
   task.on('state_changed',
     (snap) => setProgress(snap.bytesTransferred / snap.totalBytes),
     (err) => console.error(err.code), // e.g. storage/retry-limit-exceeded
     () => console.log('done'),
   );

3. 03

   The retry time is too short for the app

   “The maximum time to retry uploads in milliseconds.” Firebase, FirebaseStorage.maxUploadRetryTime

   The web SDK lets you set how long uploads, and other operations, keep retrying. Raise it only when big uploads on slow networks are expected, and still show progress and a retry button.

   import { getStorage } from 'firebase/storage';
   
   const storage = getStorage();
   storage.maxUploadRetryTime = 30 * 60 * 1000; // example value: 30 minutes, in milliseconds

4. 04

   The request never reaches the bucket

   A wrong storageBucket in the Firebase config, an ad blocker or a firewall that blocks the Storage host, or a connectStorageEmulator call left on in production can make every try fail until the time runs out. Check the network tab for the failed requests.

5. 05

   Deletes, metadata and download URL requests time out too

   “The maximum time to retry operations other than uploads or downloads in milliseconds.” Firebase, FirebaseStorage.maxOperationRetryTime

   The same error can come from a delete, a metadata call or a getDownloadURL request. Those use a separate limit, maxOperationRetryTime, which is set the same way as the upload limit.

Checked against the vendor’s docs on November 9, 2026: Firebase docs: Handle errors for Cloud Storage on Web; Firebase JS SDK reference: FirebaseStorage.

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