Why is my first Google Sheets API call in n8n triggering a 'Too Many Requests' error?

Below is some guidance to help troubleshoot and possibly work around the issue:

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Diagnosing the Issue

1. Verify the Exact Source of the Error
   Although the error message “The service is receiving too many requests from you” might sound like an OpenAI-related message, you should confirm that it’s coming from your Google Sheets node.

   • Check the node’s output and any logs for details about the HTTP status and error message.
   • Use the HTTP Request node with the same settings (or run a simple request) to inspect the raw error message. This can help distinguish if the error is coming from Google’s API or from n8n interpreting an error.

2. Double-Check Your Workflow Setup
   Since you mentioned this is the very first call to Google Sheets, ensure that:

   • No duplicate or parallel calls are being executed unintentionally (for example, if another active workflow runs simultaneously).
   • The credentials used point to the correct Google project and associated API key.
   • The node isn’t being triggered multiple times because of other workflow configurations.

3. Review Quota Usage in Google Cloud Console
   Even though the Console shows 8% usage on your “Read requests per minute,” verify that you aren’t hitting per‑user or per‑project limits. Sometimes a burst of requests could be counted differently from steady usage.

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If It’s a Rate Limit Issue

If after diagnosing you determine that you are indeed receiving rate limit errors when calling Google Sheets, consider the following workarounds:

1. Introduce a Delay Between Calls
   Even for what seems like a “first” call, if there is any internal burst or automated loop, add a Wait node after your Google Sheets node to allow a brief delay before starting another sequence.

2. Use Batching to Spread Your Calls
   If your workflow fetches many rows or makes several separate calls, then splitting the task into smaller batches can help. Check out the Split In Batches node to process your data in chunks.

3. Review and Adjust Retry Options
   In many cases, enabling Retry on Fail in your node settings can automatically handle brief rate limit errors by waiting a set amount of time before reattempting the request.

4. Request a Quota Increase
   If your application genuinely needs to make many requests in a short time, you can request additional quota in the Google Cloud Console. Note that quota increases aren’t automatically granted—they must be approved by Google based on your usage and justification.

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Next Steps

• Check Workflow Logs: Look at your node logs and run history in n8n to see if there's any indication that duplicate requests are being made.
• Experiment with Timing: Add a short delay even on the seemingly “first” request to rule out transient bursts.
• Monitor Quota: Use the Google Cloud Console to monitor more granular usage details (e.g., per minute limits and any bursts).

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, providing more detail (such as the complete node settings and a run log) on the n8n forum could help isolate whether it’s a misconfiguration or an underlying rate-limit restriction.

Hope this helps get your workflow running smoothly, Ralph!

Below is a couple of strategies to diagnose the issue and work around it if it’s really a rate limit problem:

Steps to Diagnose

• Check for Unintended Multiple Executions
  Even if it’s your first Google Sheets call, double-check that the node isn’t being triggered more than once. For example, verify that your workflow isn’t accidentally looping or being triggered simultaneously by more than one execution.

• Inspect Workflow Logs
  Look at the execution details to see if the “Get List” node is running multiple times or if another node might be indirectly causing additional calls to Google Sheets.

• Test in Isolation
  Run the node by itself to see if the error persists. If it works fine in isolation, the issue might be due to how the workflow is wired together.

• Review Credential Usage
  Make sure no other workflows or processes using the same credentials are hitting the Google Sheets API concurrently.

Options to Resolve or Mitigate Rate Limit Errors

Even if you’re at only 8% usage in the Google Console, the error may be coming from a burst of calls in a very short period. If you confirm that you are indeed hitting a limit, you have a couple of options:

1. Introduce a Delay or Use Batching
   Add a Wait node after the call or split your data into smaller batches. For example:

   JSONCopied
   {
       "nodes": [
           {
               "id": "trigger",
               "name": "Manual Trigger",
               "type": "n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger"
           },
           {
               "id": "loop",
               "name": "Loop Over Items",
               "type": "n8n-nodes-base.splitInBatches",
               "parameters": {
                   "batchSize": 100
               }
           },
           {
               "id": "sheets",
               "name": "Google Sheets",
               "type": "n8n-nodes-base.googlesheets"
           },
           {
               "id": "wait",
               "name": "Wait",
               "type": "n8n-nodes-base.wait",
               "parameters": {
                   "unit": "seconds",
                   "time": 1
               }
           }
       ],
       "connections": {
           "Manual Trigger": {
               "main": [
                   [
                       { "node": "Loop Over Items", "type": "main", "index": 0 }
                   ]
               ]
           },
           "Loop Over Items": {
               "main": [
                   null,
                   [
                       { "node": "Google Sheets", "type": "main", "index": 0 }
                   ]
               ]
           },
           "Google Sheets": {
               "main": [
                   [
                       { "node": "Wait", "type": "main", "index": 0 }
                   ]
               ]
           },
           "Wait": {
               "main": [
                   [
                       { "node": "Loop Over Items", "type": "main", "index": 0 }
                   ]
               ]
           }
       }
   }

   This template demonstrates how you might slow down the request flow.

2. Increase Your Quota
   Although your current usage appears low, Google’s API enforces rate limits per minute. If you expect bursts that are beyond the per-minute quota, you can request a higher quota in your Google Cloud Console. Keep in mind that quota increases are subject to review and approval by Google.

Summary

• First, verify that your workflow isn’t inadvertently making multiple calls.
• Check logs and run isolated tests to confirm the behavior.
• If it turns out you are hitting a rate limit, use a Wait node or batching scheme, or request a quota increase through Google’s developer console.

This approach should help you both diagnose the current issue and plan for smoother integration with your Google Sheets data.