405 Method Not Allowed: What It Means and How to Fix It Fast

What is 405 Error?

POST /api/data HTTP/1.1  
Host: example.com  
Content-Type: application/json

{"key": "value"}

HTTP/1.1 405 Method Not Allowed  
Allow: GET, HEAD  
Content-Type: text/html

How to Fix the 405 Error

1. Validate the HTTP Method

curl -X GET <https://api.example.com/data> -i

2. Dig Into Server Configs

<Limit GET POST>  
    Order Allow,Deny  
    Allow from all  
</Limit>

 <Limit GET POST PUT>  
    Order Allow,Deny  
    Allow from all  
</Limit>

 location /api {  
    limit_except GET POST {  
        deny all;  
    }  
}

 location /api {  
    limit_except GET POST DELETE {  
        deny all;  
    }  
}

3. Confirm API Endpoint Rules

curl -X OPTIONS <https://api.example.com/users> -i

HTTP/1.1 200 OK  
Allow: POST, GET

4. Check Security Filters

5. Fix Framework Routing

app.delete('/posts/:id',(req, res) => {  
  // Delete logic  
});

6. Permissions Check

curl -X DELETE <https://api.example.com/posts/1> -H "Authorization: Bearer <token>"

7. Parse Server Logs

Common Scenarios Triggering the 405 Error

1. Wrong HTTP Method: You’re using POST when the endpoint demands PUT. REST APIs are picky—/users might allow POST for creation but reject PUT because it’s not built for updates at that level.
2. Server Config Blocks: Apache or Nginx might restrict methods. Security policies often lock down DELETE or PUT to prevent chaos, but a sloppy config can overreach and block legit methods.
3. API Endpoint Rules: APIs enforce method restrictions. Hit a GET-only endpoint with a DELETE? Instant 405. Check the docs—devs often miss this.
4. Security Overreach: Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or server rules might nix methods like TRACE or OPTIONS to dodge exploits, triggering 405s even when the method’s valid.
5. Framework Routing Snafus: In Express.js or Flask, if a route only handles GET and you sling a POST at it, you’re toast. No handler, no dice.

// Express.js  
app.get('/posts', (req, res) => res.json(posts));  
app.post('/posts', (req, res) => res.status(201).json(newPost));

HTTP/1.1 405 Method Not Allowed  
Allow: GET, POST

How Tools Handle Real-Life 405 Cases

• Postman: Fire off requests with different methods and see the Allow header in the response. Real case: testing a /users endpoint. POST works, PUT fails with 405. Postman shows Allow: POST, GET. You adjust the method instantly. Downside: no server config insights—you’re still digging manually.

 curl -X PUT <https://api.example.com/data> -i

• Get a 405? Check Allow and pivot. It’s lightweight but lacks automation—great for one-offs, tedious for bulk testing.
• ApyHub: Built for scale. ApyHub’s testing tools let you script method checks across endpoints. Real case: a payment API throws 405 on DELETE. ApyHub’s logs highlight the endpoint only takes POST. You fix the call in minutes. Bonus: its 130+ pre-built APIs (PDF processing, validation) mean you’re not just debugging—you’re building faster. Catch? It’s overkill for tiny projects.

Conclusion

FAQ: Tackling the 405 Method Not Allowed Error

1. What exactly causes a 405 Method Not Allowed error?

2. How do I discover which HTTP methods an endpoint supports?

curl -X OPTIONS <https://api.example.com/products> -i

3. Why would a server block specific HTTP methods?

location /api {

    limit_except GET POST {

        deny all;

    }

}

4. Can authentication issues lead to a 405 error?

curl -X DELETE <https://api.example.com/orders/1> -H "Authorization: Bearer <token>" -i

5. How can I prevent 405 errors during development?

6. What role do server logs play in fixing a 405 error?

2025/04/14 10:00:00 [error] 1234#0: *1 method not allowed

7. Can a Web Application Firewall (WAF) cause a 405 error?

8. How do I handle 405 errors in a framework like Express.js?

app.get('/items', (req, res) => res.json(items));

app.post('/items', (req, res) => res.status(201).json(newItem));