---
title: "provider_unavailable error"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/provider_unavailable.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/provider_unavailable"
last_updated: "2026-10-22"
type: "reference"
summary: "HTTP 503 provider_unavailable: The data source for this product is unavailable right now. Cause, fix and a curl example."
related: ["https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md", "https://lookvalid.com/docs/credits-and-billing.md"]
---

# provider_unavailable error

HTTP 503 provider_unavailable: The data source for this product is unavailable right now. Cause, fix and a curl example.

`provider_unavailable` is returned with HTTP **503**. Retryable: yes, unless the response says `retryable: false`. Nothing is charged for this error.

## What it means

The data source for this product is unavailable right now.

## Most likely cause

The data source behind the product is down or slow, or the product is not enabled on this server. The `retryable` field tells the first case from the other two.

## How to fix it

If retryable is true, retry later with exponential backoff. If it is false, this product is not configured on this server and retrying will not help. Nothing was charged.

## Example

Check `retryable` before you retry. When it is `true`, wait and retry with exponential backoff. When it is `false`, stop: retrying cannot help.

```sh
curl -s -X POST https://YOUR_API_HOST/v1/ip -H "Authorization: Bearer $LOOKVALID_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"ip":"203.0.113.7"}' | jq '.error | {code, retryable, fix}'
```

An error response is one JSON envelope. Branch on `code`, never on the message text. The `message` and `fix` of a real response can be more specific than the defaults shown here.

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "provider_unavailable",
    "message": "The data source for this product is unavailable right now.",
    "fix": "If retryable is true, retry later with exponential backoff. If it is false, this product is not configured on this server and retrying will not help. Nothing was charged.",
    "docs_url": "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/provider_unavailable",
    "retryable": true,
    "request_id": "req_3fK9pQ2xVb7LmN4sTz8WcA"
  }
}
```

## See also

- [All error codes](https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md) with the response envelope.
- [Credits and billing (unavailable lookups are not charged)](https://lookvalid.com/docs/credits-and-billing.md).
- Quote the `request_id` when you write to [hello@lookvalid.com](mailto:hello@lookvalid.com).

## Related

- [Errors](https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md)
- [Credits and billing](https://lookvalid.com/docs/credits-and-billing.md)