# Troubleshoot Lightning send errors

Source URL: https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/troubleshoot-lightning-send-errors
Updated: 2026-08-03T15:14:26.000Z
Category: Blockstream App
Section: Troubleshooting

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If a Lightning payment fails in the Blockstream app, the app shows an error message before the transaction is sent. This guide covers the most common send errors and how to resolve each one.

> **Note:** Lightning is currently in beta. For background on how Lightning works in the Blockstream app, see [Understand Lightning support in the Blockstream app](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/use-lightning-bitcoin/understand-lightning-support-in-the-blockstream-app).

![Four Lightning send errors on the Send screen: insufficient funds, above the payment limit, invoice expired, invalid invoice](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fdxp-production-assets%2Fcontent%2Fblockstream-app%2Ftroubleshooting%2Ftroubleshoot-lightning-send-errors%2Ftroubleshoot-lightning-send-errors-1.png&w=1920&q=75)

## Insufficient Funds

The error **"Insufficient funds."** appears when your Lightning balance is too low to cover the invoice amount.

1. Check your Lightning balance from the **Lightning Bitcoin** account screen.
2. Receive more Lightning bitcoin, or lower the amount on the invoice you are trying to pay.

## Amount Above the Maximum Payment Limit

The error **"Amount is above the maximum payment limit of \[amount\] sats (\[USD value\])."** appears when the invoice amount exceeds the maximum allowed for a single Lightning payment.

1. Ask the recipient to issue a smaller invoice that fits within the displayed limit.
2. If you need to send the full amount, split the payment across multiple invoices.

## Invoice Expired

The error **"Invoice expired."** appears when the Lightning invoice you pasted has passed its expiration window. Lightning invoices use short expiration windows so the recipient knows the payment is still pending.

1. Ask the recipient to generate a fresh invoice.
2. Paste the new invoice and try again.

## Invalid Lightning Invoice

The error **"Invalid lightning invoice."** appears when the text you pasted is not a valid Lightning invoice. Common causes:

- The text was truncated when copied.
- It belongs to a different network (testnet rather than mainnet).
- What you pasted is a Bitcoin on-chain address rather than a Lightning invoice.
1. Verify with the recipient that they sent a Lightning invoice.
2. Ask them to resend the full invoice.
3. Paste it again.

## Still Need Help?

The fastest way to reach support is from inside the app, because the report includes your logs. Open the app, go to the **Settings** tab, tap **Support**, enter your email and a short description of the issue, keep **Share Logs** checked, and tap **Submit**. See [Submit log data for troubleshooting](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/submit-log-data-for-troubleshooting).

If the error you see is not covered here, you can also [submit a request](https://help.blockstream.com/requests) on the Help Center. Include the exact error text, the Blockstream app version, and the approximate time the error occurred.

Do not include your recovery phrase, PIN, or any 2FA codes. Support will never ask for them.

Navigation: Blockstream Help Center > Blockstream App > Troubleshoot Lightning send errors

## Related Articles in This Section
- [Lost device with wallet access](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/lost-device-with-wallet-access)
- [Lost recovery phrase](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/lost-recovery-phrase)
- [Forgot wallet PIN](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/forgot-wallet-pin)
- [Fix issues with recovery phrase entry](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/fix-issues-with-recovery-phrase-entry)
- [Fix invalid address error](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/fix-invalid-address-error)
- [Fix insufficient funds error](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/fix-insufficient-funds-error)
- [Fix issues with unexpected wallet balance](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/fix-issues-with-unexpected-wallet-balance)
- [Lost access to 2FA method](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/lost-access-to-2fa-method)
- [Submit log data for troubleshooting](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/submit-log-data-for-troubleshooting)
- [Fix connection, Tor, and transaction errors in the Blockstream app](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/fix-connection-tor-and-transaction-errors)
- [What to do if a wallet, transaction, or swap is not showing in the Blockstream app](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/wallet-transaction-or-swap-not-showing)
- [Troubleshoot Lightning send errors](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/troubleshoot-lightning-send-errors) (current)
- [Fix issues with on-chain swaps](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/troubleshooting/fix-issues-with-on-chain-swaps)