---
title: Total number of shards per node has been reached
description: Elasticsearch takes advantage of all available resources by distributing data (index shards) among the cluster nodes. You might want to influence this...
url: https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/4236/troubleshoot/elasticsearch/increase-cluster-shard-limit
products:
  - Elasticsearch
---

# Total number of shards per node has been reached
Elasticsearch takes advantage of all available resources by distributing data (index shards) among the cluster nodes.
You might want to influence this data distribution by configuring the [`cluster.routing.allocation.total_shards_per_node`](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/elasticsearch/tree/main/reference/elasticsearch/index-settings/total-shards-per-node#cluster-total-shards-per-node) system setting to restrict the number of shards that can be hosted on a single node in the system, regardless of the index. Various configurations limiting how many shards can be hosted on a single node can lead to shards being unassigned, because the cluster does not have enough nodes to satisfy the configuration.
To fix this issue, complete the following steps:
<tab-set>
  <tab-item title="Elastic Cloud Hosted">
    In order to get the shards assigned we’ll need to increase the number of shards that can be collocated on a node in the cluster. We’ll achieve this by inspecting the system-wide `cluster.routing.allocation.total_shards_per_node` [cluster setting](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-cluster-get-settings) and increasing the configured value.**Use Kibana**
    1. Log in to the [Elastic Cloud console](https://cloud.elastic.co?page=docs&placement=docs-body).
    2. On the **Hosted deployments** panel, click the name of your deployment.
       <note>
       If the name of your deployment is disabled your Kibana instances might be unhealthy, in which case contact [Elastic Support](https://support.elastic.co). If your deployment doesn’t include Kibana, all you need to do is [enable it first](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/4236/deploy-manage/deploy/elastic-cloud/access-kibana).
       </note>
    3. Open your deployment’s side navigation menu (placed under the Elastic logo in the upper left corner) and go to **Dev Tools > Console**.
       ![](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/4236/troubleshoot/images/elasticsearch-reference-kibana-console.png)

    1. Inspect the `cluster.routing.allocation.total_shards_per_node` [cluster setting](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-cluster-get-settings):
       ```json
       ```
       The response will look like this:
       ```json
       {
         "persistent": {
           "cluster.routing.allocation.total_shards_per_node": "300" 
         },
         "transient": {}
       }
       ```
    2. [Increase](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-cluster-put-settings) the value for the total number of shards that can be assigned on one node to a higher value:
       ```json

       {
         "persistent" : {
           "cluster.routing.allocation.total_shards_per_node" : 400 <1>
         }
       }
       ```
  </tab-item>

  <tab-item title="Self-managed">
    In order to get the shards assigned you can add more nodes to your Elasticsearch cluster and assign the index’s target tier [node role](/elastic/docs-content/pull/4236/manage-data/lifecycle/index-lifecycle-management/migrate-index-allocation-filters-to-node-roles#assign-data-tier) to the new nodes.To inspect which tier is an index targeting for assignment, use the [get index setting](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-indices-get-settings) API to retrieve the configured value for the `index.routing.allocation.include._tier_preference` setting:
    ```json
    ```
    The response will look like this:
    ```json
    {
      "my-index-000001": {
        "settings": {
          "index.routing.allocation.include._tier_preference": "data_warm,data_hot" 
        }
      }
    }
    ```
    Alternatively, if adding more nodes to the Elasticsearch cluster is not desired, inspecting the system-wide `cluster.routing.allocation.total_shards_per_node` [cluster setting](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-cluster-get-settings) and increasing the configured value:
    1. Inspect the `cluster.routing.allocation.total_shards_per_node` [cluster setting](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-cluster-get-settings) for the index with unassigned shards:
       ```json
       ```
       The response will look like this:
       ```json
       {
         "persistent": {
           "cluster.routing.allocation.total_shards_per_node": "300" 
         },
         "transient": {}
       }
       ```
    2. [Increase](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-cluster-put-settings) the value for the total number of shards that can be assigned on one node to a higher value:
       ```json

       {
         "persistent" : {
           "cluster.routing.allocation.total_shards_per_node" : 400 <1>
         }
       }
       ```
  </tab-item>
</tab-set>

<admonition title="Simplify monitoring with AutoOps" applies-to="{ ess:, ece:, eck:, self:, "serverless": "ga" }">
  AutoOps is a monitoring tool that simplifies cluster management through performance recommendations, resource utilization visibility, and real-time issue detection with resolution paths. Learn more about [AutoOps](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/4236/deploy-manage/monitor/autoops).
</admonition>