“The server could not complete your request” Error in SharePoint Designer

All of a sudden, SharePoint designer 2013 started giving an error message, “The server could not complete your request. For more specific information, click the Details button” when tried opening SharePoint 2013 sites. I’ve experienced this error with SharePoint 2010 sites as well.

“The server could not complete your request"
First and foremost, check your server’s event log for potential clues!

Here are some solutions to solve this error:

  1. Make sure Anonymous authentication provider is enabled in IIS:
  • Open IIS manager, ( Start >> Run >> Type: inetmgr)
  • Find your web application in IIS Manager
  • Open “Authentication” module from body panel
  • Make sure “Anonymous Authentication” is enabled.

Also, repeat the above steps for “SharePoint Web Services” in IIS. KB: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2758431

2. Is your server running out of Memory (RAM)?:
Monitor your Server memory load from the Task manager, either increase server memory (RAM) or reduce the load by stopping unnecessary services and applications. (SharePoint Search host controller is a good candidate to restart!)

Here is one such clue I found in the event log:

WebHost failed to process a request.
Sender Information: System.ServiceModel.ServiceHostingEnvironment+HostingManager/4684807
Exception:
System.ServiceModel.ServiceActivationException: The service ‘/_vti_bin/client.svc’ cannot be activated due to an exception during
compilation. The exception message is: Memory gates checking failed because the free memory (816398336 bytes) is less than 5% of total memory. As a result, the service will not be available for incoming requests. To resolve this, either reduce the load on the machine or adjust the value of minFreeMemoryPercentageToActivateService on the serviceHostingEnvironment config element.. —> System.InsufficientMemoryException: Memory gates checking failed because the free memory (816398336 bytes) is less than 5% of total memory. As a result, the service will not be available for incoming requests. To resolve this, either reduce the load on the machine or adjust the value of minFreeMemoryPercentageToActivateService on the serviceHostingEnvironment config element. at System.ServiceModel.Activation.ServiceMemoryGates.Check(Int32 minFreeMemoryPercentage, Boolean throwOnLowMemory, UInt64&
availableMemoryBytes) at System.ServiceModel.ServiceHostingEnvironment.HostingManager.CheckMemoryCloseIdleServices(EventTraceActivity
eventTraceActivity)  at
System.ServiceModel.ServiceHostingEnvironment.HostingManager.EnsureServiceAvailable(String normalizedVirtualPath, EventTraceActivity eventTraceActivity) — End of inner exception stack trace — at
System.ServiceModel.ServiceHostingEnvironment.HostingManager.EnsureServiceAvailable(String
normalizedVirtualPath, EventTraceActivity eventTraceActivity)
at System.ServiceModel.ServiceHostingEnvironment.EnsureServiceAvailableFast(String
relativeVirtualPath, EventTraceActivity eventTraceActivity)

 Process Name: w3wp
 Process ID: 13920

3. Try Recycling Application Pool / Try IISReset:
Open IIS manager >> Application pools >> Pick the corresponding application pool for your web application >> Right-click >> Choose Recycle the application pool.

4. Custom web parts may cause this error:
It happens when your Home page has some error-ed web parts. Open the home page in web part maintenance mode (by appending ?contents=1 to the URL) and remove the faulty web part.

5. Is there multiple binding for your web application?
In your Web site’s bindings, make sure there is only one binding per protocol in IIS (i.e., one for HTTP, one for HTTPS)

6. Check your web.config file:
Make sure in your web.config, This entry exists:

  <system.serviceModel>
    <serviceHostingEnvironment aspNetCompatibilityEnabled="true" />
  </system.serviceModel>

7. Getting this error while modifying SharePoint 2010 workflows?
If you are getting this error while copying and modifying any OOTB workflows (such as Collect Signatures Workflow), do it from the Root site instead of doing it from a sub-site. This is by design!

Salaudeen Rajack

Salaudeen Rajack - Information Technology Expert with Two-decades of hands-on experience, specializing in SharePoint, PowerShell, Microsoft 365, and related products. He has held various positions including SharePoint Architect, Administrator, Developer and consultant, has helped many organizations to implement and optimize SharePoint solutions. Known for his deep technical expertise, He's passionate about sharing the knowledge and insights to help others, through the real-world articles!

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