Request timed out

The Request timed out error means that a client sent a network request but did not receive a response within the allowed time limit. This is a global timeout condition that can occur across operating systems and applications, including Linux and Windows systems, Java and Spring Boot services, Docker containers, databases, APIs, and remote servers. The error indicates that communication was attempted but the target system failed to respond in time.

When does this error occur?

  • Connecting to a remote server or API that is slow or unresponsive
  • Network packets being dropped due to firewall or routing issues
  • Calling an external service with a timeout value that is too low
  • Database or microservice taking too long to process a request
  • DNS resolution or network congestion delaying the connection

Root cause of Request timed out

At the OS and network level, Request timed out occurs when a TCP or UDP request does not receive a response within the configured timeout window. This can happen due to packet loss, blocked ports, overloaded servers, slow application processing, or misconfigured timeout settings in the client or runtime environment.

How to fix the error (step-by-step)

Linux / macOS

Check basic network connectivity and reachability of the target host. 

ping example.com
traceroute example.com

Verify that the destination port is open and reachable. 

nc -vz example.com 443

Inspect firewall rules that may block outgoing or incoming traffic. 

sudo iptables -L
sudo ufw status

Windows

Test network reachability from the command prompt. 

ping example.com
tracert example.com

Ensure that Windows Firewall is not blocking the request. 

netsh advfirewall show allprofiles

Java / Spring Boot

Increase client-side timeout values if the remote service responds slowly. 

HttpURLConnection connection = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
connection.setConnectTimeout(10000);
connection.setReadTimeout(10000);

For Spring Boot REST clients, ensure timeout properties are properly configured.

Docker / containers

Verify container network configuration and DNS resolution. 

docker network ls
docker inspect <container_id>

Check if the container can reach the external service. 

docker exec -it <container_id> ping example.com

Database / network services

Confirm that the database or service is running and listening on the expected port. 

netstat -tuln
ss -tuln

Verify the fix

After applying the fixes, repeat the original request or connection attempt. The error is resolved when the request completes successfully within the expected time and the service responds normally without delays.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Increasing timeouts without investigating network or server health
  • Ignoring firewall or security group restrictions
  • Assuming the issue is always on the client side
  • Not monitoring server load and resource usage
  • Hardcoding very high timeout values in production

Quick tip

Always configure reasonable timeout values and monitor response times to detect slow services early before they cause Request timed out errors.

FAQ

Q: Is Request timed out a server error?

A: Not always. It can be caused by client-side timeout settings, network issues, or server delays.

Q: Can DNS issues cause Request timed out?

A: Yes. Slow or failing DNS resolution can delay connections and trigger timeouts.

Conclusion

The Request timed out error indicates a response delay at the network or runtime level. Understanding connectivity, timeout settings, and server performance helps resolve it effectively. For related global errors, explore other ROOT error references on ErrorFixHub.

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