Chapter 16 · 16.17
IP address throttled by an old app: which one is it?
Everyone on your network notices that logging in is slow, apps show 401 or 429 errors, and after the throttling is lifted, it starts again within an hour. Somewhere on your network, an app keeps trying to log in with the wrong password. You can read about throttling in Multiple invalid login attempts: why you're being slowed down and how to fix it. Here, we'll track down the culprit.
Step 1: confirm that it's your network
Turn off wifi on your phone and open your Nextcloud over 4G or 5G. Does logging in work quickly straight away? Then your home or office internet address is being throttled, and the cause is a device on that network.
Step 2: make a list of everything that talks to your Nextcloud
Think of all the devices at home or in the office, including those of housemates or colleagues, and also devices you rarely use:
| Device | Where to look | Typical problem |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone or iPad | Settings, Calendar (or Contacts), Accounts | A CalDAV or CardDAV account with your regular or an old password |
| Android phone | The DAVx5 app and the Nextcloud app | Account with a revoked app password |
| Mac | System Settings, Internet Accounts | Calendar or contacts with an old password |
| Windows PC | Thunderbird, Outlook with CalDav Synchronizer, a network drive in File Explorer | Saved old password |
| Old laptop or phone | Is it still switched on, somewhere in a drawer? | Desktop app or calendar of an account that no longer exists |
| NAS, backup program, scanner or printer | The settings for WebDAV or cloud backup | Login details from a long time ago |
Tip: Has anything changed recently? A new password, a user that's been deleted, an app password you've revoked? Then start with the devices that were connected to that. That's almost always the cause.
Step 3: check Devices & sessions
Go to Settings, Security, Devices & sessions (Viewing, revoking, or remotely wiping devices and sessions). For each app password and each app, you'll see when it was last active. An app that's working fine appears in the list with a recent time. The app causing the problem, on the other hand, is not logging in, so it's often missing from the list. Compare the list with your list from step 2: whatever's missing is your suspect.
Step 4: fix it
- Create a new app password (App passwords: when and how to use them) for the suspect app and enter it there. Or remove the account from the app if you no longer use it.
- Switch off a device you no longer use, or remove the Nextcloud account from it.
- Then have the throttling lifted via the AI assistant in My WebOké, from the network where the problem occurred, or via WebOké support (Multiple invalid login attempts: why you're being slowed down and how to fix it).
Step 5: still not working?
If the throttling comes back after being lifted, another device is still involved. Switch off suspect devices one by one or turn off their wifi, have the throttling lifted again, and check when the problem stops occurring. If you can't work it out, contact WebOké support. Give us the address of your Nextcloud, the time the problem started, and the IP address of your network. Then we'll take a look with you.