How to Get Rid of Error 17 on Pokemon Center in 2026

Blocked by Access Denied message? Here is how to fix Pokémon Center error 17 fast. Learn to bypass IP bans and secure your order during 2026 drops.

If you are currently attempting to purchase high-demand items, such as the latest Trading Card Game expansion or a limited-edition plush, and you suddenly encounter Error 17 on Pokémon Center, you are certainly not alone.

This specific error frequently blocks legitimate users during high-traffic product launches, and it can occur even if you follow every rule correctly.

The good news is that experience demonstrates this error is usually temporary, and you can often resolve it by taking the correct steps. Below, we walk you through exactly what Error 17 means, why the Pokemon Center blocking request occurs, and the most reliable ways to get rid of it based on real user experiences and technical community discussions.

What Is Error 17 on Pokémon Center? Understanding the “Access Denied” Message

Error 17 is a temporary access block triggered by the Pokémon Center’s security system. This system typically utilizes an enterprise-grade web application firewall (WAF) known as Incapsula (now part of Imperva).

This system actively filters incoming traffic to identify and stop malicious bots, scripts, and automated scalper tools. However, during moments of intense website load, the system often triggers false positives and affects legitimate shoppers trying to secure a preorder.

This error generally does not provide a helpful explanation, a lack of clarity that leads to significant confusion and frustration for fans. Users frequently report seeing this “access denied” screen immediately after entering the digital queue, right in the middle of the checkout process, or even after entering their credit card details.

When the system flags your connection, the site behavior changes instantly. You might notice the following symptoms:

Product pages stop loading completely.
The site blocks the checkout button or cart updates.
A stark “Access Denied — Error 17” message replaces the website interface.

Importantly, you must understand that this does not mean your account is banned permanently. Rather, it signifies that your current session or connection method has triggered a temporary security filter.

When Does the Pokémon Center Error 17 Block Usually Occur?

Understanding the timing of this error helps in diagnosing the cause. Based on widespread user reports from forums like Reddit and Discord, Error 17 most commonly appears during specific, high-stress scenarios:

Queue Entry: Right after you click to enter the queue for a popular drop, such as a “Special Delivery Charizard” promo or a Van Gogh collaboration item.
Payment Processing: During the critical checkout phase or payment confirmation step, which is arguably the most frustrating time to lose access.
Rapid Navigation: After clicking links too quickly, opening multiple tabs, or refreshing the page repeatedly in a short timeframe.
Server Overload: When overall server traffic is extremely high, causing the security algorithms to become more aggressive in shedding load.

For example, community users frequently report that waiting patiently for 20–40 minutes in a virtual queue, only to receive an Error 17 notification upon redirecting to the storefront, is a common occurrence. This is particularly prevalent during special product releases like holiday drops or highly anticipated Booster Box pre-orders.

Why Pokémon Center Shows Error 17: Causes of the IP Block

The Pokémon Center employs automated protection systems designed to monitor traffic patterns, user velocity, and behavior. Error 17 usually appears because your digital footprint momentarily resembles that of a bot.

Consequently, the firewall severs the connection to protect the site’s integrity.

Common Triggers for the Error 17 Ban

IP-based blocking: Your specific IP address sends too many requests in a short period, flagging it as suspicious.
Velocity Checks: Too many page refreshes or fast clicks suggest non-human speed, prompting the site to suspect bot activity.
Shared Network IPs: Users on the same home network (like a college dorm or office building) share an external IP; if one person triggers a flag, everyone gets blocked.
VPNs or Proxies: Security systems like Incapsula maintain databases of known VPN IP addresses. Even if your VPN is inactive but the software is running in the background, it can trigger blocks.
High Server Load: During drops, thousands of concurrent users confuse the anti-bot system, leading it to cast a wider net that traps real humans.
Browser Settings: Features such as “Private Relay” on iPhone or aggressive ad-blockers can mask your digital fingerprint in a way that the site rejects.

We recommend you understand this distinction clearly: Error 17 is almost always an IP-related or behavior-related issue, not a permanent blacklist of your specific Pokémon Trainer Club account.

How to Fix Error 17 on Pokémon Center: Step-by-Step Solutions

To regain access, you must dissociate your connection from the flagged session. Follow these fixes in order. Each step derives from verified community reports, real-life troubleshooting success, and standard network diagnostic advice.

Fix 1: Change Your IP Address to Bypass the Block

Since Error 17 is predominantly an IP-based block, changing your network path serves as the most effective active solution.

By presenting a new IP address to the Pokémon Center servers, you effectively appear as a completely new visitor, bypassing the previous flag.

Examples that have helped users include:

Switching from Wi-Fi to Mobile Data: Disconnect your smartphone or tablet from your home Wi-Fi network and enable cellular data (LTE/5G). This action instantly assigns you a new, carrier-grade IP address that is likely clean.
The Airplane Mode Trick: If you are already on mobile data, toggle Airplane Mode on for 10 seconds and then turn it off. This forces your phone to reconnect to the nearest cell tower, often refreshing your dynamic IP address in the process.

Transitioning to the next step: Once you successfully change networks, wait a few minutes before revisiting the site to ensure the new connection stabilizes.

Fix 2: Switch Device and Network to Reset the Connection

Sometimes, the security system fingerprints your device specifically through cookies or browser headers. Therefore, switching devices alone often fails to resolve the issue.

However, users report high success rates when they combine a device switch with a network switch.

To execute this properly:

Use a completely different device (e.g., switch from a desktop PC to a smartphone).
Simultaneously connect that new device to a different network (e.g., use mobile data instead of the home Wi-Fi that triggered the error).

This approach provides a fresh session with both a new IP address and a new device fingerprint, making it nearly impossible for the firewall to link you to the previously blocked session.

Fix 3: Disable VPNs, Proxies & iCloud Private Relay

While privacy tools are valuable for general browsing, they are often the primary culprit behind Pokemon Center access denied messages.

Services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Apple’s iCloud Private Relay route traffic through shared servers. Because bad actors often use these same servers to hide bot farms, Pokémon Center aggressively blocks this traffic.

Action Plan:

Turn off your VPN completely.
Disable “Private Relay” in your iOS iCloud settings.
Ensure no proxy extensions are active in your Chrome or Firefox browser.

Important Note: While some shoppers attempt to use VPNs to bypass regional restrictions (e.g., buying from the Japan store while in the US), this tactic often leads directly to Error 17. The security filters are simply too strict.

Fix 4: Clear Pokémon Center Cookies & Browser Cache

Web browsers store small data files called cookies to remember your session. Unfortunately, these cookies can preserve the “blocked” status of your session, causing the error to persist even after you change your IP address.

Therefore, clearing this data is a crucial maintenance step.

How to do it:

Clear browser cookies specifically for pokemoncenter.com.
Restart your browser completely to flush the cache.
Wait a short moment before navigating back to the login page.

Real users also recommend performing this step before trying again, especially if you hit Error 17 repeatedly on the same browser.

Note: While Incognito mode prevents new cookies from sticking, it often fails if the underlying IP address remains blocked. Use this step in conjunction with Fix 1.

Fix 5: Wait It Out (Allow the Soft Ban to Expire)

If active troubleshooting fails, you must resort to patience. This is the most frustrating solution—especially during a limited drop—but it is also the most reliable for persistent blocks.

Many users report that “soft bans” automatically lift after 3 to 6 hours, and in severe cases, the next day.
If the block occurred simply due to traffic congestion, the system often clears the restriction automatically after a short cooldown period as traffic normalizes.

This aligns with advice from the collector community: stepping away and retrying later can often get you back in the queue without further technical headaches.

Troubleshooting Steps That Don’t Fix Error 17

In the panic of a product launch, users often try desperate measures that can actually worsen the situation. According to extensive user experiences, these methods rarely fix Error 17 on their own and should be avoided:

Switching browsers without changing the network: If your IP is banned, Chrome and Safari will both show the same error.
Refreshing excessively: This mimics a Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, confirming the security system’s suspicion that you are a bot.
Re-entering the queue rapidly: This adds to your “request velocity” and extends the ban timer.
Using autofill on checkout: While convenient, some users report that filling forms too instantly can trigger bot detection scripts.
Using Incognito/Private mode without changing the IP: This hides your history from your computer, but not your IP from the server.

These actions often make the system flag you as “bot-like,” which can extend the duration of the block significantly.

Did Your Order Go Through? Checking Status After Error 17

This is a major point of confusion and anxiety. Some users witness Error 17 immediately after clicking “Place Order,” only to discover later that the transaction succeeded while the confirmation page failed to load.

How to Verify Your Purchase If You Got Blocked at Checkout

Look for a confirmation email: Check your Spam, Promotions, and Junk folders, as automated emails often land there.
Check your bank or card authorization: Log in to your banking app and look for a pending charge or “pre-authorization” from The Pokémon Company International.
Review your Pokémon Center order history: If you can, log in on a different device (using mobile data) to view your recent orders.

If you see a pending charge, wait a bit before retrying checkout. Premature retries can worsen the block or, worse, result in duplicate charges and multiple orders that you might not want.

How Long Does the Pokémon Center Error 17 Ban Last?

The duration of the block varies depending on the severity of the flagged behavior. In most cases, the timeline looks like this:

Standard Block: A few hours (typically 3–6 hours).

Extended Block: Up to 24 hours (often resets at midnight or after a full day cycle).

Permanent Block: This is rare and usually only happens if the IP address continues to exhibit malicious bot behavior over a long period.

If the block resulted from high-traffic spikes rather than a bad configuration on your side, it nearly always resolves on its own as the server load decreases.

How to Prevent Error 17 and Avoid Bot Detection in Future Drops

While you cannot guarantee total prevention—especially given the sensitivity of the Incapsula filters—these steps reduce your risk significantly during the next big release:

Best Practices for Buying Without Getting Blocked

Single Threading: Use one device and one network connection.
Pace Yourself: Avoid constant refreshing; let the auto-refresh features (if available in the queue) do the work.
Tab Hygiene: Do not open multiple tabs for the same session, as this splits your session tokens and confuses the server.
Pre-Login: Stay logged in before the drop starts to avoid authentication hurdles during peak traffic.
Clean Connection: Disable all VPNs, proxies, and ad-blockers beforehand.
Human Behavior: Wait 15–30 seconds between clicks during queue progress to simulate natural human interaction.

These tips come directly from community success tactics and serve to reduce the chance that the system flags you as a bot.

FAQ About Error 17

What does Error 17 mean on Pokémon Center?

It represents an access restriction triggered by the site’s anti-bot and web application firewall filters, most commonly identified as the Incapsula security suite.

Is Error 17 caused by bots?

Not exclusively. While the system targets bots, many legitimate users experience it due to strict security settings during high-traffic events. The system simply errs on the side of caution.

How long does Pokemon Center Error 17 last?

It typically resolves itself within a few hours to 24 hours. Waiting often works best if immediate IP switching does not resolve the issue.

Does Pokemon Center ban your IP for Error 17?

In most cases, yes, the system flags your specific IP address temporarily. This explains why switching to mobile data (which uses a different IP) often works immediately.

Should you contact support? You should only contact support if the error persists for over 24 hours and none of the troubleshooting fixes work.

When to Contact Pokémon Center Support About Access Issues

You should reach out to the official support team only if specific criteria are met, as their response times can be slow during product launches. Contact them if:

Error 17 persists for over 24 hours.
You cannot access the site from any network, even after switching devices and IPs.
Your order clearly did not go through after waiting, and you have pending charges that have not cleared.

When submitting a ticket, include:

The approximate time and date of the error.
A screenshot of the “Access Denied” message.
A list of the troubleshooting steps you have already tried.

Final Verdict: The Best Way to Resolve Error 17 Quickly

If you want the fastest and safest fix to secure your cards or merchandise:

Stop refreshing immediately to prevent extending the ban.
Change your IP or network (Switching to Mobile Data is the gold standard).
Retry calmly with a single device.
Wait at least a few hours if the active fixes fail.

We have found that Error 17 is not a permanent ban for almost all shoppers. With patience and the right technical steps, access almost always returns, allowing you to get back to collecting.

Visit Our Post Page: Blog Page