"FedEx Error" on every method
What you see
- In the Shipping Estimator's errors list, every FedEx method shows "FedEx Error - …", or your store's general message ("There was a problem calculating the shipping rates…").
- At checkout, all your FedEx methods are missing.
- The FedEx tile in Settings → Carriers may show Check API keys or Check account.
When every FedEx method fails at once, the problem is almost never one method's rule. It's the FedEx connection itself.
Most likely causes
1. FedEx refused or stopped accepting your API keys
This is the most common cause. Keys stop working when they're deleted, regenerated or changed in the FedEx Developer Portal, or when they were never production keys.
Before you begin
- Confirm: open Settings → Carriers → FedEx and select Test connection. You'll see "FedEx hasn't accepted this API key and secret key, so there's no connection to test." or "Your FedEx connection has expired because FedEx stopped accepting this API key and secret key." The tile shows Check API keys.
- Fix:
- In the FedEx Developer Portal, open your project and copy the current production API key and secret key.
- In ASM, clear both key fields (they show as stars), paste the keys and select Save Settings.
- Select Test connection and look for "Connected. FedEx quoted $…". See Connect FedEx.
2. No FedEx keys at all
Stores that connected FedEx before FedEx retired its old connection need new API keys.
- Confirm: the FedEx tile shows Not set up, and every admin page shows the banner Connect FedEx with its new API.
- Fix: get API keys from the FedEx Developer Portal and enter them. See Connect FedEx.
3. The account number doesn't match the keys
- Confirm: the keys are accepted (the tile has no Check API keys label), but Test connection or the estimator still shows a FedEx error.
- Fix: make sure the Account number on the FedEx card is the FedEx account linked to your API project, then save and test again.
4. FedEx itself isn't answering
- Confirm: the Carrier Status page shows FedEx as Down, and the Dashboard says "FedEx isn't answering right now." It affects every store, not just yours.
- Fix: nothing to change on your side; rates return when FedEx recovers. To keep showing a price during FedEx outages, turn on Use Parallel UPS Rates If FedEx's Server is Not Responsive on the FedEx card (this needs UPS connected).
If you use FedEx to detect address types
Under Settings → Shipping, Auto-detect address type can use FedEx. That check uses the same FedEx keys. While the keys don't work:
- ASM can't tell homes from businesses, so every address is priced as your Treat shipments as choice. Shoppers may pay the wrong rate on every carrier, not just FedEx.
- Fixing the FedEx keys (cause 1) fixes this too. Or switch auto-detect to UPS if UPS is connected.
See Residential vs. commercial addresses.
In the past, a failing FedEx address check could put "FedEx Error" next to every method, including other carriers' methods. ASM no longer lets a failed address check block other carriers' rates. If you still see a FedEx error next to non-FedEx methods, contact support.
Still stuck?
Email support@advancedshippingmanager.com or call 1-888-546-4932 (Mon–Fri, 9AM–5PM EST). Send:
- the full "FedEx Error - …" line from the Shipping Estimator,
- the result of Test connection on the FedEx card,
- when your FedEx keys were last created or changed, and
- whether Auto-detect address type uses FedEx.
Never email us your FedEx secret key.