Fix Discord Webhook Returning 405 Method Not Allowed on PATCH Requests

When you send a PATCH request to a Discord webhook URL to modify an existing message, you may receive a 405 Method Not Allowed error. This error occurs because Discord webhooks only accept POST requests for creating messages and do not support PATCH for editing messages after they have been sent. This article explains why the 405 error happens, provides the correct HTTP methods for webhook operations, and shows you how to edit messages using the proper Discord API endpoints and permissions.

Why Discord Webhooks Return 405 on PATCH Requests

Discord webhooks are designed for one-way message delivery. When you create a webhook, Discord generates a URL that accepts only POST requests. This URL is intended to send new messages to a channel. The webhook URL does not support PATCH, PUT, DELETE, or GET requests. If you send a PATCH request to this URL, Discord’s server responds with HTTP 405 Method Not Allowed because the endpoint is not configured to handle that HTTP method.

The 405 error is not a bug. It is a deliberate design limitation. Webhook URLs are simple, stateless endpoints that do not maintain a session or track previous messages. To edit a message you have already sent via a webhook, you must use the Discord REST API, which provides a dedicated endpoint for message editing. This endpoint requires the webhook ID, webhook token, and the message ID of the message you want to modify.

How HTTP Methods Map to Webhook Actions

Discord webhooks follow a strict HTTP method mapping:

• POST — Send a new message. This is the only method accepted on the webhook URL.
• PATCH — Edit an existing message. Requires the message ID and is sent to the API endpoint, not the webhook URL.
• DELETE — Delete an existing message. Also uses the API endpoint with the message ID.
• GET — Not supported for webhooks. Use the API to retrieve message history if needed.

Steps to Fix 405 Method Not Allowed on PATCH Requests

To fix the 405 error, you must stop sending PATCH requests to the webhook URL and instead use the correct Discord API endpoint. Follow these steps to edit messages sent via a webhook.

1. Capture the message ID when sending the initial message
   When you send a POST request to the webhook URL, Discord returns a JSON response that includes the id field. This is the message ID. Store this ID in your application or script. For example, if you use a tool like curl, the response body contains the full message object.
2. Build the edit endpoint URL
   Construct the URL for editing the message using this format:
   https://discord.com/api/v10/webhooks/{webhook.id}/{webhook.token}/messages/{message.id}
   Replace {webhook.id}, {webhook.token}, and {message.id} with your actual values. The webhook ID and token are part of your webhook URL. For example, if your webhook URL is https://discord.com/api/webhooks/123456/abcdef, then the webhook ID is 123456 and the token is abcdef.
3. Send a PATCH request to the edit endpoint
   Use the HTTP PATCH method to send your updated message content to the edit endpoint. Include the same JSON payload structure as you would for a POST request. For example, to update the content field:
   PATCH /api/v10/webhooks/123456/abcdef/messages/789012 HTTP/1.1
Content-Type: application/json
{ "content": "Updated message content" }
   If the request is successful, Discord returns a 200 OK response with the updated message object.
4. Handle errors from the edit endpoint
   If you receive a 404 Not Found, the message ID is incorrect or the message has been deleted. If you receive a 403 Forbidden, the webhook token is invalid or the webhook has been deleted. Verify your webhook ID, token, and message ID are correct.

If Discord Still Returns 405 After Switching to the API Endpoint

You Are Still Sending PATCH to the Webhook URL

Double-check the URL in your PATCH request. If the URL contains /webhooks/{id}/{token} without /messages/{message.id}, you are still hitting the webhook endpoint. Append /messages/{message.id} to the URL.

Your HTTP Client Library Uses the Wrong Method

Some HTTP client libraries default to POST or GET. Explicitly set the method to PATCH in your code. For example, in Python with the requests library, use requests.patch(url, json=payload).

Your Webhook Token Has Expired or Been Revoked

If the webhook token is invalid, Discord returns a 403 Forbidden, not 405. However, if you are using a stale token, the request may be misrouted. Generate a new webhook URL from the Discord channel settings and update your application.

Webhook URL vs API Endpoint: Key Differences

Item	Webhook URL	API Endpoint
Purpose	Send new messages only	Read, edit, delete existing messages
Supported HTTP methods	POST	PATCH, DELETE, GET
Requires message ID	No	Yes
Authentication	Token in URL	Token in URL
Example URL	/api/webhooks/123/abc	/api/webhooks/123/abc/messages/456

Using the correct endpoint is essential. The webhook URL is only for sending. The API endpoint with the message ID is required for editing. Always capture and store the message ID returned by the initial POST to enable future edits.

You now know why Discord webhooks return 405 Method Not Allowed on PATCH requests and how to fix it by using the correct API endpoint. Next, review any existing code that sends PATCH requests and update the URL to include /messages/{message.id}. For advanced message editing, you can also modify embeds, components, and attachments using the same endpoint with the appropriate JSON fields.