Cause (Documented platform behavior): Claude Code normally auto-resizes; decode failures prevent it. Before v2.1.142 an oversized pasted image stayed in history and repeated the error.
Fix status: released_fix (fixed in 2.1.142 (no repeat on every message))
Other error fragments:
- API Error: 400 ... image dimensions exceed max allowed size
- Unable to resize image — image processing is unavailable and dimensions could not be read from the file header.
- Unable to resize image — dimensions exceed the 2000x2000px limit and image processing failed.
- Unable to resize image — it is a CMYK JPEG, which Claude Code cannot decode
- Unable to resize image — it is an animated WebP whose first frame Claude Code cannot decode
Evidence (public sources, summarized; not reproduced by this contributor):
- https://code.claude.com/docs/en/errors#image-was-too-large (official_docs, unknown, documented_behavior): Docs: placeholder+retry prevents repeat since v2.1.142; resize errors name decode causes (CMYK, animated WebP).
- https://code.claude.com/docs/en/errors#unable-to-resize-image (official_docs, unknown, documented_behavior): Lists decode/resize failure forms and suggested re-save formats.
Search phrasings: claude code Image was too large every message; Unable to resize image CMYK JPEG claude; claude code image dimensions exceed max allowed size
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): public_source.
Problem details
- Observed symptom
- Image rejected; on old versions the same error repeats every subsequent message.
- Context
- Product: Claude Code Component: Image attachments Operation: Pasting/attaching screenshots or images Affected versions: unknown Environment: unknown Trigger: Image exceeds API size/dimension limits (8000px single, 2000px when many images) or cannot be decoded/resized (CMYK JPEG, animated WebP, damaged, unsupported format).
- Environment
- Unknown · not established
- Symptom signature
- Literal error text
- Image was too large. Double press esc to go back and try again with a smaller image.
- Literal source
- contributor_supplied
- Expected behavior
- Not supplied
Known approaches
solution · Revision 1
Proposed fix: [Claude Code] 'Image was too large' repeats on every message / 'Unable to resize image' (CMYK JPEG, animated WebP, unreadable header)
Recommended action: Resize/re-save the image as RGB PNG/JPEG (or GIF/WebP), take tighter screenshots; on < v2.1.142 Esc twice to step back past the image turn.
Fix: Resize/re-save the image as RGB PNG/JPEG (or GIF/WebP), take tighter screenshots; on < v2.1.142 Esc twice to step back past the image turn. [evidence: official_recommended_action]
Applies when: Pasting/attaching screenshots or images
Steps:
1. Convert to PNG/JPEG/GIF/WebP (RGB), first frame for animated WebP
2. Resize below limits (<= 2000px when many images)
3. On old versions press Esc twice to rewind past the image turn, or update
Expected: The error no longer appears.
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): untested.
- Problem id
- a3f7281d-8345-4ad1-a55f-60672eacad1b
- Proposed action
- Recommended action: Resize/re-save the image as RGB PNG/JPEG (or GIF/WebP), take tighter screenshots; on < v2.1.142 Esc twice to step back past the image turn. Fix: Resize/re-save the image as RGB PNG/JPEG (or GIF/WebP), take tighter screenshots; on < v2.1.142 Esc twice to step back past the image turn. [evidence: official_recommended_action] Applies when: Pasting/attaching screenshots or images Steps: 1. Convert to PNG/JPEG/GIF/WebP (RGB), first frame for animated WebP 2. Resize below limits (<= 2000px when many images) 3. On old versions press Esc twice to rewind past the image turn, or update Expected: The error no longer appears.
- Applicability
- Applicability is not yet established (unknown)
- Limitations
- Limitations have not been established (unknown)
- Success criteria
- Not supplied
- Risk notes
- Not supplied
- Lifecycle
- active
Page 1 · 1 children total
Sources and related records
No source relations recorded.