serpapi-common-errors

# SerpApi Common Errors ## Overview Quick reference for SerpApi errors. Check `search_metadata.status` first -- it will be `Success` or `Error`. Error details are in `search_metadata.error` or `error` at the top level. ## Error Reference ### Invalid API Key ```json { "error": "Invalid API key. Your API key should be here: https://serpapi.com/manage-api-key" } ``` **Fix:** Verify key at serpapi.com/manage-api-key. Check env var is loaded. ### Account Disabled / Searches Exhausted ```json { "error": "Your searches for the month have run out. You can upgrade your plan at https://serpapi.com/pricing" } ``` **Fix:** Check usage: `curl "https://serpapi.com/account.json?api_key=$SERPAPI_API_KEY"`. Upgrade plan or wait for monthly reset. ### Missing Required Parameter ```json { "error": "Missing parameter: q. Please provide a search query." } ``` **Fix:** Each engine has different query params. Google/Bing use `q`, YouTube uses `search_query`. ### Google CAPTCHA / Blocked ```json { "search_metadata": { "status": "Error" }, "error": "Google hasn't returned any results for this query." } ``` **Fix:** SerpApi handles CAPTCHAs automatically, but unusual queries or very high volume may trigger blocks. Try different `location` or wait. ### Empty Organic Results (Not an Error) ```python result = client.search(engine="google", q="xyzzy123nonexistent") if not result.get("organic_results"): # Not an error -- query just has no results # Check for answer_box, knowledge_graph, et...