# org.apache.kafka.common.errors.UnsupportedVersionException: The broker does not support the required API version

- **ID:** `kafka/unsupported-version-broker-api`
- **Domain:** kafka
- **Category:** protocol_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 90%

## Root Cause

Kafka client requests an API version that the broker does not support, often due to mismatched client-broker versions.

## Workarounds

1. **Update the Kafka client library to match the broker version. For example, if broker is 3.4.0, use kafka-clients 3.4.0 in your project.** (90% success)
   ```
   Update the Kafka client library to match the broker version. For example, if broker is 3.4.0, use kafka-clients 3.4.0 in your project.
   ```
2. **Set inter.broker.protocol.version in broker config to match the older version if client cannot be upgraded immediately.** (85% success)
   ```
   Set inter.broker.protocol.version in broker config to match the older version if client cannot be upgraded immediately.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Upgrading only the client without checking broker version compatibility (70% fail)
- **** — Manually setting api.version.request=false in client config, which can cause silent failures (60% fail)