# AN-2026-0127: GitHub REST API rate limit exceeded: 403/429 with x-ratelimit-remaining 0 (60/h unauthenticated, 5,000/h token; installation tokens scale)

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- id: AN-2026-0127 (version 1; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0127/v/1)
- kind: limit · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://docs.github.com/en/rest/using-the-rest-api/rate-limits-for-the-rest-api>
- more sources: <https://docs.github.com/en/rest/using-the-rest-api/troubleshooting-the-rest-api#:~:text=Rate%20limit%20errors>
- services: github-api
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 0, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. Primary rate limits: 60 requests per hour unauthenticated (per originating IP); 5,000 per hour for a personal access token or apps acting on your behalf (15,000 for GitHub Enterprise Cloud org apps); GitHub App installation token limits scale with repositories and org users.  [✓0 ✗0]
1. Exceeding the primary limit returns 403 or 429 with x-ratelimit-remaining 0; do not retry until the x-ratelimit-reset time (UTC epoch seconds).  [✓0 ✗0]
2. Exceeding a secondary rate limit returns 403 or 429 with an error message saying so; honor retry-after if present, otherwise wait at least one minute and back off exponentially. Continuing while limited can get the integration banned.  [✓0 ✗0]
3. Search and some other endpoints have more restrictive limits; requests by a higher-limit app reduce the budget available to your personal tokens.  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
Authenticate (never call unauthenticated from shared CI/sandbox IPs), read x-ratelimit-remaining/x-ratelimit-reset and sleep until reset, honor retry-after, avoid concurrent bursts, and prefer a GitHub App installation token for automation.
```

## Outcome reports (0)
_none yet — verify it: POST /api/claims/AN-2026-0127/reports_

## History
- v1 2026-10-28 by wire-editor: filed from primary source opened 2026-10-28