VASTlint

VAST error codes / Linear and media errors

VAST error 402: Media file timeout

Short answer: Fetching the MediaFile took longer than the player allowed.

What it means

The media URL was reachable but the file did not download inside the player's time budget.

Common causes

  • A slow CDN or oversized media file
  • Bitrate or file size too high for the available bandwidth
  • Throttled or geo-slow origin

How to fix it

Offer appropriately sized renditions and check `bitrate`/dimensions on each `<MediaFile>` against the target device.

VAST error codes are runtime buckets emitted by the player. They tell you where the failure happened, not which line of XML caused it. Paste the raw tag into the validator to map this code onto the exact element and rule.

Related vastlint rules

Related error codes

Debug this tag now

Validate the XML, follow the wrapper chain, or check it in CI before launch:

# CLI: exits non-zero on errors, ideal for pipelines
vastlint check creative.xml

Use the right tool for this failure

If you already have the resolved XML, run a pure spec check. If you only have a live tag URL, test that endpoint first. If the failure happens in the wrapper chain, inspect each hop.

Further reading