# Execution aborted because the total number of executions for this state machine exceeded the concurrent execution quota

- **ID:** `aws/stepfunctions-execution-aborted-quota`
- **Domain:** aws
- **Category:** resource_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 78%

## Root Cause

The Step Functions state machine has exceeded its concurrent execution limit (default 1000 per account per region for Standard workflows).

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| Step Functions 2023-10-01 | active | — | — |
| AWS CLI 2.16.0 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Stop running executions that are no longer needed:
# List running executions:
aws stepfunctions list-executions --state-machine-arn arn:aws:states:us-east-1:123456789012:stateMachine:MyStateMachine --status-filter RUNNING
# Stop each execution:
aws stepfunctions stop-execution --execution-arn arn:aws:states:us-east-1:123456789012:execution:MyStateMachine:execution-id
# Wait for the quota to free up.** (85% success)
   ```
   Stop running executions that are no longer needed:
# List running executions:
aws stepfunctions list-executions --state-machine-arn arn:aws:states:us-east-1:123456789012:stateMachine:MyStateMachine --status-filter RUNNING
# Stop each execution:
aws stepfunctions stop-execution --execution-arn arn:aws:states:us-east-1:123456789012:execution:MyStateMachine:execution-id
# Wait for the quota to free up.
   ```
2. **Request a service quota increase for concurrent executions via AWS Support:
https://console.aws.amazon.com/support/home#/case/create?issueType=service-limit-increase&limitType=service-code-step-functions** (70% success)
   ```
   Request a service quota increase for concurrent executions via AWS Support:
https://console.aws.amazon.com/support/home#/case/create?issueType=service-limit-increase&limitType=service-code-step-functions
   ```
3. **Use Express workflows instead of Standard if the workload is high-throughput and short-lived:
# Express workflows have a higher concurrent execution limit (100,000 per account per region).
aws stepfunctions create-state-machine --name MyExpressStateMachine --definition '{}' --role-arn arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/MyRole --type EXPRESS** (75% success)
   ```
   Use Express workflows instead of Standard if the workload is high-throughput and short-lived:
# Express workflows have a higher concurrent execution limit (100,000 per account per region).
aws stepfunctions create-state-machine --name MyExpressStateMachine --definition '{}' --role-arn arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/MyRole --type EXPRESS
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **Delete completed executions manually** — Completed executions do not count toward the concurrent quota; only running executions matter. (90% fail)
- **Increase the state machine's timeout** — Increasing timeout keeps executions running longer, potentially making the quota issue worse. (95% fail)
- **Restart the state machine from the beginning** — Restarting creates a new execution, which will also be blocked if the quota is still exceeded. (85% fail)