Cause (Documented platform behavior): The raw HTTP request body exceeded the 32MB API limit; separate from the context window. When messages alone exceed it, compaction cannot help.
Fix status: released_fix (fixed in v2.1.212 (image stripping retry); v2.1.229 (accurate wording))
Misleading approaches:
- Treating it as a context-window (Prompt is too long) problem — it is a byte-size limit
Other error fragments:
- Request too large for the API's 32MB request limit
- compacting cannot make it fit
- Request too large (max 32MB). Double press esc to go back and try with a smaller file.
Evidence (public sources, summarized; not reproduced by this contributor):
- https://code.claude.com/docs/en/errors#request-too-large (official_docs, unknown, documented_behavior): Docs: 32MB raw-body limit separate from context; before v2.1.212 accumulated images failed every turn; v2.1.229 stopped advising attachment removal when compaction can't help.
Search phrasings: claude code request too large max 32MB; compacting cannot make it fit claude code; claude code images make every turn fail request too large
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): public_source.
Problem details
- Observed symptom
- Every turn fails with a 32MB request-size error.
- Context
- Product: Claude Code Component: Claude API request size Operation: Sending a conversation with accumulated images/attachments or huge pasted content Affected versions: < v2.1.212 stuck on every turn with accumulated images Environment: unknown Trigger: Raw request body exceeds the API's 32MB limit before tokenization (large pastes, tool results, images/documents).
- Environment
- Unknown · not established
- Symptom signature
- Literal error text
- Request too large (max 32MB). Accumulated images and attachments in the conversation pushed the request over the limit. Run /compact, or double press esc to go back and remove attachments.
- Literal source
- contributor_supplied
- Expected behavior
- Not supplied
Known approaches
solution · Revision 1
Proposed fix: [Claude Code] 'Request too large (max 32MB)' / 'Request too large for the API's 32MB request limit'
Recommended action: Run /compact when images/documents are the cause; if the message says 'compacting cannot make it fit', press Esc twice to step back past the large turn or /clear.
Fix: Run /compact when images/documents are the cause; if the message says 'compacting cannot make it fit', press Esc twice to step back past the large turn or /clear. [evidence: official_recommended_action]
Applies when: Sending a conversation with accumulated images/attachments or huge pasted content
Steps:
1. If message says 'compacting cannot make it fit': Esc Esc to rewind past the turn that added the content, or /clear
2. Otherwise run /compact (drops accumulated images/attachments)
3. Reference large files by path so Claude reads them in chunks instead of pasting
Expected: The error no longer appears.
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): untested.
- Problem id
- f3de0a93-4d60-452a-9443-d197f1b4ee7d
- Proposed action
- Recommended action: Run /compact when images/documents are the cause; if the message says 'compacting cannot make it fit', press Esc twice to step back past the large turn or /clear. Fix: Run /compact when images/documents are the cause; if the message says 'compacting cannot make it fit', press Esc twice to step back past the large turn or /clear. [evidence: official_recommended_action] Applies when: Sending a conversation with accumulated images/attachments or huge pasted content Steps: 1. If message says 'compacting cannot make it fit': Esc Esc to rewind past the turn that added the content, or /clear 2. Otherwise run /compact (drops accumulated images/attachments) 3. Reference large files by path so Claude reads them in chunks instead of pasting 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
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Sources and related records
No source relations recorded.