How to Fix HTTP 405 Method Not Allowed

You’re happily web scraping, submitting forms, or testing an API when you suddenly hit a 405 Method Not Allowed error. Annoying, right? Don’t worry, it happens to a lot of people that work with web apps, APIs, or any kind of automation.

The 405 error code appears when you send a request that the server clearly recognizes. However, the server refuses to process it because the HTTP method you used is not allowed for that specific resource. The URL might look perfect, the endpoint exists, but the server’s not having it. In simple terms, the server understands what you’re asking for, but it won’t allow that action on that route.

What is a 405 Error?

The 405 error means “Method Not Allowed”. A 405 error appears when a website or server blocks the type of action you want to perform. The page or endpoint exists, but the server refuses to process your request.

You’ll usually bump into this error after hitting submit on a form or sending a request that just doesn’t go through. When you see “405 Method Not Allowed,” it might seem like the whole site broke, but that’s not really the case. The server’s running just fine, it just doesn’t like what you’re asking it to do. 

The 405 error code occurred because you used an HTTP method that the server does not allow for the resource you intend to access. The server recognizes the method, but it rejects it for that URL or endpoint.

The 405 error can appear when:

• You submit a form using the wrong request method
• You call an API endpoint with POST when it only accepts GET
• An automation or scraping script sends a method the server blocks

How to Fix Error 405

Follow the steps below to fix HTTP 405 Method Not Allowed errors:

Step 1. Make Sure You’re Using the Right HTTP Method

Start by checking if the endpoint actually accepts the HTTP method you used. Every API route only works with certain methods. If you use the wrong one, the server shuts it down right away and throws back a 405 Method Not Allowed error.

Common HTTP methods include:

• GET — retrieve data
• POST — create data
• PUT — update data
• DELETE — remove data
• PATCH, HEAD, and others

Step 2. Look at the Allow Header

Most servers return an Allow header that helps you understand what went wrong with your request. This header lists all the methods the endpoint accepts. So, if you’re not sure what went wrong, glance at the Allow header, it’s one of the fastest ways to figure out what the server actually wants from you.

Step 3. Verify the URL or Endpoint Path

A tiny typo in your URL can send your request to the wrong place, one that just doesn’t support the method you’re using. Look closely at the path, parameters, even the spelling. If the backend expects a method on a certain sub-route and you pick the wrong one, you’ll still get hit with a 405 error, even if everything else is right.

Step 4. Clean Up Your Request Formatting

Servers want requests that make sense, no weird headers, body, or mismatched content type. If your request isn’t put together the way the API expects, the backend struggles to match your method with the right handler. That confusion usually ends in a 405 Method Not Allowed Error. Always match your request headers and body to what the API asks for.

Step 5. Review Your Server or Application Routing

If you’re working on the backend, make sure every route actually handles every method you want to use. Sometimes a route is there, but if you forget to hook up, say, POST or PUT to a controller, the server just throws a 405 error at you. Your routing needs to line up with the methods your API is supposed to support.

Step 6. Check Firewall or Security Rules

Firewalls or security layers sometimes block methods like PUT, DELETE, or PATCH right out of the box. If that’s happening, your request can fail with a 405 error, even when your code is fine. Check your firewall rules and make sure the allowed methods actually match your API’s design.

Step 7. Test the Endpoint With Different Methods

Try hitting the endpoint with a few different methods, GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, use Postman or your browser, whatever’s handy. This helps you see if the problem is in your request or if the endpoint itself isn’t set up right. It’s a quick way to zero in on what’s causing the 405 error code.

Step 8.  If You’re Scraping or Automating  

If you’re running a scraper or automating something, make sure your script is sending the right method and format for each endpoint. Some scraping tools just use GET by default, but the endpoint might want POST instead. Rotating proxies won’t cause a 405 error, but they might make it show up faster since servers get pickier with different IPs. If your method is off, the server will hit you with a 405, no matter where your request is coming from.

What Causes the HTTP 405 Error?

Several configuration and request-related issues can trigger a 405 Method Not Allowed response. Here are a number of possible causes:

1. Wrong HTTP Method

This is the most common cause. If you send POST to a URL that only accepts GET, or vice versa or the server does not allow the method you used, then it will reject the request with HTTP 405 Error.

2. Server Configuration Issues

Servers like Nginx, Apache, or IIS can block certain HTTP methods on purpose, mostly to keep things safe. Methods like PUT, DELETE, and PATCH let users change or remove data. If developers let anyone use these, troublemakers or bots could mess with sensitive stuff or even wipe things out. That’s why server configs usually spell out exactly which HTTP methods each endpoint accepts. If you try anything else, the server blocks you and throws a 405 Method Not Allowed error.

3. Wrong Formats or Request Errors

Sometimes the HTTP 405 Error Method Not Allowed happens even when the method itself is correct. In these cases, the problem sits inside the request format rather than the method you chose.

This usually includes issues like:

• Malformed requests: Broken JSON, missing fields, or invalid characters.
• Incorrect headers: If you miss Content-Type, wrong Accept header, or inconsistent method-related headers.
• Invalid payloads: If you send a body in a GET request, and use the wrong structure for POST/PUT, or attach unsupported data types.

The server may fail to match your request to the correct handler. If the handler cannot validate the request, it blocks the method. This leads to a 405 error.

Let’s say your API endpoint expects a simple POST request with a JSON body. Double-check that your script actually sends what the API wants. If you use a GET request by mistake, or skip the Content-Type header, the API gateway won’t let the request through. Instead, it’ll stop it right there and send back a 405 error. The backend never even sees your request. The server recognizes the HTTP method, but the format just doesn’t fit what the route expects.

This can also happen when the application uses middleware with strict method validation. Frameworks check your method, headers, and payload before they route the request. If the middleware finds a mismatch, like an unsupported method with bad formatting, it will reject the request. It will then respond with a 405 Method Not Allowed message.

4. Routing Problems

Sometimes the server just doesn’t know what to do with the HTTP method you picked, even if the URL is right. This usually happens when the routing setup doesn’t connect your method to any handler or function. If you misconfigure routes in your framework or web server, your request gets rejected and you hit a 405 Method Not Allowed error.

5. API Endpoint Limitations

APIs always have their own rules about which HTTP methods each endpoint will accept. Developers set these restrictions to keep things safe and to make sure people don’t do something they shouldn’t.

For example:

• Read-only endpoints only allow GET requests i.e. they just give you data.
• Create endpoints want POST requests, those add new data.
• Update endpoints accept PUT or PATCH so you can change what’s already there.

6. Security Filters or Firewalls

Security tools can also cause a 405 error by blocking certain HTTP methods. These filters look at every request and shut down anything that seems risky, even if the endpoint normally accepts the method.

You’ll see this happen when:

• Web app firewalls block methods like PUT, DELETE, or PATCH because attackers often use these to mess with the server.

• API gateways set strict method rules to protect backend services. If your request uses a method that’s not allowed, it gets blocked before it reaches the server.

• Middleware or security plugins override what methods are allowed on certain routes.

In all these situations, the server understands the method, but the security layer steps in and blocks it. That’s what triggers a 405 Method Not Allowed response, it’s the system’s way of staying safe.

405 Error vs 504 Error: What’s the Difference?

A 405 Method Not Allowed error and a 504 Gateway Timeout error might look similar at first glance, but they come from two completely different problems.

A 405 error occurs when the server blocks the HTTP method you used. The endpoint exists, but it refuses that specific method. While a 504 error occurs when a gateway or proxy server waits too long for an upstream server to respond. It’s a timeout issue, not a method issue

Here’s what differentiates them can be summarized in the following table:

405 Error Method Not Allowed	504 Gateway Timeout Error
The request uses an unsupported HTTP method	The server took too long to respond
The endpoint exists but rejects the method	The server didn’t respond before the timeout
Caused by method restrictions or routing issues	Caused by upstream server delays or network timeouts
Fix by using the correct HTTP method	Fix by improving server performance or network paths
Client-side or developer-side issue	Server-side or gateway-side issue

Conclusion

The HTTP 405 error (Method Not Allowed) occurs when a server receives a valid request but rejects the HTTP method used for that endpoint. You have learned that this can happen if you mismatch methods, misconfigure your routes, or face API restrictions. It can also occur due to server rules that block certain HTTP verbs.

Key takeaways:

• A 405 error happens when the server blocks the HTTP method used.
• Wrong HTTP methods, routing issues, and server configurations could trigger it.
• Scraping and automation workflows often expose method-related problems.
• You can fix it if you use the correct method and confirm endpoint rules.

Now you know what the HTTP error code 405 means, how to fix it and the different situations that can cause it. Make sure you pay enough attention to the HTTP Methods if you do not want to run into this error again. You need to validate your endpoints before you send requests.  Follow API documentation closely, and test automation workflows early.

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