# ERROR: this cluster currently has \[x\]/\[x\] maximum normal shards open **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [August 23, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-this-cluster-currently-has-x-x-maximum-normal-shards-open/282254 "2021-08-23T16:01:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 2
**Author:** ![Stef\_Nestor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/stef_nestor/32/85483_2.png) [@Stef\_Nestor](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Stef_Nestor)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-this-cluster-currently-has-x-x-maximum-normal-shards-open/282254/2 "2021-08-23T16:01:14Z")
"_Maximum normal shards open_ " indicates that your target Elasticsearch cluster has hit its maximum shard limit as calculated by _[cluster.max\_shards\_per\_node](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/modules-cluster.html#cluster-shard-limit) \* number\_of\_data\_nodes_ . You may consider creating temporary breathing room for the cluster by [removing unused indices](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/indices-delete-index.html) or (less recommended) short-term [overriding this setting](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/7.13/cluster-update-settings.html#cluster-update-settings). Once your cluster has breathing room, kindly note it sounds like its [oversharded](https://www.elastic.co/blog/managing-and-troubleshooting-elasticsearch-memory) and it may be time to scale out or use more [rigorous ILM](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/index-lifecycle-management.html). --- _[View the full topic](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-this-cluster-currently-has-x-x-maximum-normal-shards-open/282254)._