Google AI Studio Search Grounding API limits

Gemini API
, ,
1

Hello everyone!
I have a question regarding API limits and potential solutions for a specific issue.
In Google AI Studio, the following restrictions are listed for Search Grounding:

  • Gemini 2 & Default: 1.5k
  • Gemini 3: 0
    Here is a quick example of a setup that works fine directly in AI Studio, but throws an error when executed via the API:
tools = [{
    'type': 'google_search',
}]

interaction = client.interactions.create(
    model='models/gemini-3.6-flash',
    input='Katty roa',
    system_instruction='Here is a partial song title, correct it and return it in the format: artist - title [t], t - duration',
    tools=tools,
)
  • Input: Katty roa
  • Expected Result: Katy Perry - Roar [3:43][1][2]
  • API Response: 429 Too Many Requests
    Has anyone encountered this or found a workaround? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
2

Hello @Hedigehog ,

We are unable to reproduce this issue on our end, could you please check your project’s limits on the Rate Limits Page and monitor your current requests on the Usage Dashboard in Google AI Studio to see if your Search Grounding quota has been reached?

3

image
image1404×381 21.2 KB

with search:
{“error”:{“message”:"You exceeded your current quota, please check your plan and billing details. For more information on this error, head to: https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/rate-limits. To monitor your current usage, head to: https://ai.dev/rate-limit. ",“code”:“too_many_requests”}}

only chat:
“usageMetadata”: {
“promptTokenCount”: 8,
“candidatesTokenCount”: 68,
“totalTokenCount”: 571,
“promptTokensDetails”: [
{
“modality”: “TEXT”,
“tokenCount”: 8
}
],
“thoughtsTokenCount”: 495,
“serviceTier”: “standard”
},
“modelVersion”: “gemini-3.6-flash”

All of this is on the Free Tier

4

It is exactly equal to zero for It’s exactly equal to zero for Gemini 3

5

Hi @Hedigehog ,

The search/map grounding capabilities are unavailable in the Gemini 3.x API free tier. It is available for testing in AI Studio. You can read more about it here.

6

Thank you so much! I didn’t pay attention before.