What does this error message mean?
All plansBeginner4 minutesUpdated September 28, 2026
Most WorkZen error messages fall into four groups: your plan does not include something, your role does not allow it, your session or connection dropped, or something failed on the server. Find the exact wording in the tables below to see what it means and what to do.
When something goes wrong, WorkZen tells you in a short message. The tables below list the messages people see most, grouped by cause, with the exact wording from the app. Text in [brackets] changes with your situation, such as a feature name or a number.
Trouble on the sign-in screen itself (wrong password, verification codes, reset emails) has its own article: Why can't I log in?
Plan and limit messages
These mean your company's plan does not include something, or you have used everything it includes. See WorkZen plans, what's in each, and how to switch for what each plan covers.
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock [feature], with "[feature] is available on the [plan] plan and above." (web) | The feature you clicked is not part of your company's current plan. | Click View Plans to see the plans, or Maybe Later to close the window. |
| You have used [X] of [Y]. Upgrade for more. (web, under the Unlock [feature] title) | You reached the number your plan allows for that feature. | Click View Plans to see which plan raises the limit. |
| Upgrade required (iPhone) or Upgrade Required (Android) | Something you tapped, such as some tools on the Map, needs a higher plan. The sheet shows which plan. | Tap OK (iPhone) or Got it (Android). Plans are changed in the WorkZen web app. |
| Your subscription plan does not include this feature. Please upgrade to access. (English in every language) | Same as above, reported by the server instead of the screen. | Check which plan includes the feature, then upgrade from the web app. |
| You've reached your user limit ([X]/[Y] users). Upgrade to add more team members. (web, users list) | Every seat on your plan is taken. Active team members count; deactivated users and subcontractors do not. | Deactivate someone who has left, add outside help as a subcontractor, or upgrade. See Invite team members. |
Permission messages
These mean your role does not allow what you tried. Your account works fine; only your access is limited.
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Access Denied page, with a large 403 and a Back to Home button (web) | Your role does not allow the page you opened. The line under the heading changes each visit and is a joke, not a clue. | Click Back to Home. If you need that page for your work, ask an admin to check your role. |
| You do not have permission to perform this action. (English in every language) | Your role is missing the permission for that action, such as changing company settings. | Ask an admin to review your role. See Manage roles and permissions. |
Session messages
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Session expired. Please log in again. (iPhone) | The server turned down your sign-in for that request. The app then checks with the server and signs you out only if your session really ended. | If you are still signed in, try again. If you are back on the sign-in screen, sign in again. |
On the web and on Android, there is no message: if your session really ended, you simply land on the sign-in screen.
Server and rate limit messages
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Too many requests. Please try again in [N] seconds. (web and Android, English in every language), or Unknown error (429) (iPhone) | The same action was repeated too many times in a short window. Many limits reset within a minute; AI generation has hourly and daily limits. | Wait the time shown, then try once. iPhone shows no wait time: give it a minute, longer for AI generation. |
| An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later. (web and Android, English in every language), or Server error (500) or another number starting with 5 (iPhone) | Something failed on WorkZen's side. It is logged automatically. | Try again in a few minutes. If it keeps happening, contact support with the time and what you did. |
| This section encountered an error and couldn't load. (web) | That part of the page failed while loading. The rest of the app still works. | Click Click here to reload. If it happens again on the same page, contact support. |
Offline messages (mobile apps)
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| You're offline. Showing cached data. (Android, banner at the top) | Your phone has no connection. You see the last data the app saved, and changes such as completing a visit or clocking in wait in a queue. | Keep working. Changes sync when you reconnect. Tap the banner to open Pending sync and see what is waiting. |
| Clocked in offline. Will sync when online. or Clocked out offline. Will sync when online. (iPhone and Android) | Your clock-in or clock-out was saved on the phone because there was no connection. | Nothing. It syncs on its own when the phone is back online. |
On iPhone, a lost connection shows the error text from your phone's own system, in your phone's language.
Note
Messages marked "English in every language" come directly from the WorkZen server and are not translated yet. The meaning and the fix are the same in every language.
Frequently Asked Questions
A few messages come straight from the WorkZen server and are not translated yet, so they appear in English in every language. The tables below mark them. Their meaning is the same.
No. Plan, permission, rate limit, server, and connection errors never end your session. WorkZen signs you out only after the server confirms your session has ended, for example after a password reset.
Note the exact wording, the time, and what you clicked or tapped, then contact WorkZen support. A screenshot helps.
This article answers:
- What does this WorkZen error message mean?
- Why does WorkZen say I do not have permission?
- What does Upgrade required mean in WorkZen?
- Why does WorkZen say I reached my user limit?
- Why does WorkZen say too many requests?
- What does You're offline. Showing cached data. mean?
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