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HTTP 405 Method Not Allowed means the server recognizes the request method, but the specific resource does not support it. Check which method the client sent, then compare it with the methods in the response’s Allow header. If the method should be supported, the site or API administrator should check the resource’s routing and configuration.
What does HTTP 405 mean?
HTTP 405 is a method-and-resource mismatch. The method might be GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE; the server recognizes it, but does not support it for the particular target resource. The definition appears in section 15.5.6 of RFC 9110, the HTTP Semantics standard published by the Internet Engineering Task Force in June 2022.
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For example, an endpoint may accept GET requests to retrieve information but not DELETE requests to remove it. Sending the latter can produce a 405 even though the server understands what DELETE means.
What should you do when you receive a 405?
- Identify the request method. Check the client, browser developer tools, API tool, or application log to see whether the request used
GET,POST, or another method. Confirm that it matches the operation you intended. - Read the
Allowresponse header. A 405 response must include this header, listing the methods currently supported by the target resource. For example,Allow: GET, HEAD, PUTindicates that those methods are supported there. See MDN’s explanation of the Allow header. - Compare the header with the endpoint’s documentation. The supported methods are specific to the target resource and can change dynamically. Do not assume that a method accepted by one endpoint will work on another, even within the same site or API.
- If the method should work, ask the site or API administrator to check the resource configuration. They can inspect routing and whether that method is enabled for the resource. Improper permissions on a file or directory can also cause a 405 in some cases, but permissions are not a universal explanation.
Changing the URL or retrying the same request without checking its method and the resource’s supported methods may not resolve the mismatch.
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How is 405 different from 501?
The distinction is whether the server recognizes or implements the method, not simply whether a request failed.
| Status | Meaning | What it indicates |
|---|---|---|
| 405 Method Not Allowed | The server knows the method, but the target resource does not support it. | Check the resource’s supported methods, including the response’s Allow header. |
| 501 Not Implemented | The server does not recognize or implement the request method. | The issue concerns the server’s method support rather than a method being disallowed for one resource. |
RFC 9110’s 501 definition and MDN’s 501 reference explain this distinction. A recognized and implemented method that is not permitted for a particular resource corresponds to 405; an unrecognized or unimplemented method corresponds to 501.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why can supported methods vary?
HTTP methods describe kinds of requests, but a server does not have to make every method available on every resource. General-purpose servers must support GET and HEAD; other methods are optional, and a resource’s supported set can change dynamically. The method overview in RFC 9110 describes these requirements.
That is why the Allow header matters: it describes the methods supported by the particular resource at the time of the response, rather than promising that the same methods apply across the whole server.
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