Fix Next.js Error: getServerSideProps / getStaticProps Failed (2025 Guide)

Posted on: April 17, 2025

Encountered an "Error: getServerSideProps / getStaticProps failed" in Next.js? This error occurs when these data fetching functions encounter an unhandled error during execution. Let’s fix it fast in this 2025 guide!

What Causes "Error: getServerSideProps / getStaticProps failed"?

This error happens when `getServerSideProps` or `getStaticProps` fails due to an unhandled exception. Common causes include:

• API Call Failure: The API request fails or returns an error.
• Data Parsing Issue: Invalid JSON or unexpected data format.
• Environment Variables Missing: Required environment variables (e.g., API keys) are not set.

Here’s a Next.js example that triggers the error:

// This will trigger "Error: getServerSideProps failed"
export async function getServerSideProps() {
  // Simulate an unhandled error (e.g., failed API call)
  const res = await fetch('https://invalid-api-endpoint.com/data');
  const data = await res.json(); // This will throw an error if the endpoint fails
  return { props: { data } };
}

export default function Page({ data }) {
  return 
Data: {data}
;
}

Running this in a Next.js app will throw the error if the API call fails.

For a simpler demo of a failed fetch, check this simulation (open console with F12):

How to Fix It: 3 Solutions

Let’s resolve this error with practical steps:

(Diagram: Developer fetches data, gets error, handles exception, runs successfully.)

Solution 1: Add Error Handling with try-catch

Wrap the data fetching logic in a `try-catch` block to handle errors gracefully:

export async function getServerSideProps() {
  try {
    const res = await fetch('https://invalid-api-endpoint.com/data');
    if (!res.ok) throw new Error('Failed to fetch data');
    const data = await res.json();
    return { props: { data } };
  } catch (err) {
    return { props: { error: err.message } };
  }
}

export default function Page({ data, error }) {
  if (error) return 
Error: {error}
;
  return 
Data: {data}
;
}

`try-catch` ensures errors are caught and handled without crashing the app.

Solution 2: Return notFound or Redirect

Use Next.js’s `notFound` or `redirect` to handle errors gracefully:

export async function getServerSideProps() {
  try {
    const res = await fetch('https://invalid-api-endpoint.com/data');
    if (!res.ok) throw new Error('Failed to fetch data');
    const data = await res.json();
    return { props: { data } };
  } catch (err) {
    return { notFound: true }; // Or redirect: { destination: '/error', permanent: false }
  }
}

export default function Page({ data }) {
  return 
Data: {data}
;
}

Returning `notFound: true` will render a 404 page, preventing the error from breaking the app.

Solution 3: Validate Environment Variables

Ensure environment variables (e.g., API keys) are correctly set:

// .env.local
NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=https://api.example.com

// getServerSideProps
export async function getServerSideProps() {
  const apiUrl = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL;
  if (!apiUrl) {
    return { props: { error: 'API URL not configured' } };
  }

  try {
    const res = await fetch(`${apiUrl}/data`);
    if (!res.ok) throw new Error('Failed to fetch data');
    const data = await res.json();
    return { props: { data } };
  } catch (err) {
    return { props: { error: err.message } };
  }
}

export default function Page({ data, error }) {
  if (error) return 
Error: {error}
;
  return 
Data: {data}
;
}

Validating environment variables avoids runtime errors due to missing configurations.

Quick Checklist

• Unhandled errors in data fetching? (Add `try-catch`)
• Need a fallback page? (Use `notFound` or `redirect`)
• Missing environment variables? (Validate `process.env`)

Conclusion

The "Error: getServerSideProps / getStaticProps failed" in Next.js can be fixed by properly handling errors and validating configurations. With these 2025 solutions, your data fetching will stay robust. Got another Next.js error? Let us know in the comments!