I am using the Gemini API (gemini-2.0-flash-lite-preview-02-05), and I encounter a 429 error if I make multiple requests within a minute. However, if I immediately switch to another API key, it starts working again.
I am a paid user, and I have confirmed that my paid account is properly linked to the Gemini API project. I also checked the API usage reports and did not receive any warnings about exceeding the quota.
Why am I experiencing these rate limits despite having a paid account? How can I prevent this issue?
Thanks
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Hi @XiaoLong_Zhang ,
You’re encountering HTTP 429 errors with the Gemini API (gemini-2.0-flash-lite-preview-02-05), which typically indicate that too many requests are being made in a short period. Even with a paid account, rate limits still apply, especially on a per-minute or per-region basis.
The fact that switching to another API key temporarily resolves the issue suggests that the rate limit is being applied at the key or project level. This is common when usage spikes exceed the configured quota, even if your overall monthly quota hasn’t been reached.
To address this:
- Please check your per-minute and regional quotas in the Google Cloud Console under IAM & Admin > Quotas, filtering by
generativelanguage.googleapis.com.
- Ensure your billing account is correctly linked to the Gemini API project. Some users have found that quota enforcement can behave unexpectedly if the linkage isn’t fully established.
- Consider implementing exponential backoff in your request logic to gracefully handle temporary rate limits.
- If the issue persists despite staying within expected limits, it may be helpful to contact Google Cloud Support for clarification or a quota increase.