Error: ERC20 - Transfer Amount Exceeds Allowance
Error Reason
The error message “ERC20: transfer amount exceeds allowance” occurs when attempting to transfer an amount of ERC20 tokens that exceeds the allowance set by the token owner. ERC20 tokens implement a standard interface for fungible tokens on the Ethereum blockchain, and the allowance mechanism allows token owners to grant specific addresses permission to transfer a certain amount of their tokens on their behalf. This error typically happens when a transfer is initiated with an amount greater than the approved allowance for the sender’s address.
Solution
To resolve the ERC20: transfer amount exceeds allowance error, you can take the following steps:
- Check the allowance: If you encounter this error while attempting to transfer tokens, the first step is to verify the current allowance set for the sender’s address. You can use the thirdweb Dashboard to retrieve this information.
- Increase the allowance: If the allowance is insufficient to cover the desired transfer amount, you need to increase it. The token owner (or an address with the necessary approval authority) should call the
approvefunction on the token contract, specifying the recipient’s address and the new allowance amount. This step must be completed before the transfer is attempted.
- Initiate the transfer: Once the allowance has been increased, the sender can proceed with the transfer using the
transferFromortransferfunction of the token contract. The transfer amount should not exceed the newly approved allowance.
By following these steps, you should be able to successfully transfer ERC20 tokens without encountering the ERC20: transfer amount exceeds allowance error. Remember to double-check the allowance and ensure that it covers the desired transfer amount before initiating the transfer.
Can’t get this working? If you’ve followed the above and still have issues, contact our support team for help.