SQL error 8657: could not get the memory grant

What this means

The source SQL engine refused the query's memory grant: the request needed more query workspace memory than its workload group's per-request ceiling allows.

How to fix it

1. 1.Lower the memory the query asks for: return fewer columns and filter rows down before any sort or hash, since those are the operators that need workspace memory.
2. 2.Do not just retry. The engine already tries reducing the degree of parallelism, down to DOP 1, before it gives up, so the same query asks for the same grant again.
3. 3.Where you control the server, REQUEST_MAX_MEMORY_GRANT_PERCENT on the workload group is the setting that defines the ceiling. On a managed endpoint it is not yours to change, so the query shape is the only lever.

Frequently asked questions

What does the "SQL error 8657: could not get the memory grant" error mean?

The source SQL engine refused the query's memory grant: the request needed more query workspace memory than its workload group's per-request ceiling allows.

How do I fix it?

Lower the memory the query asks for: return fewer columns and filter rows down before any sort or hash, since those are the operators that need workspace memory. Do not just retry. The engine already tries reducing the degree of parallelism, down to DOP 1, before it gives up, so the same query asks for the same grant again. Where you control the server, REQUEST_MAX_MEMORY_GRANT_PERCENT on the workload group is the setting that defines the ceiling. On a managed endpoint it is not yours to change, so the query shape is the only lever.

Where does this Power BI refresh error appear?

It appears in a Power BI semantic model's refresh history when a scheduled or on-demand refresh fails.

Related resource / capacity errors

• 0xC13E0003
• Memory limit exceeded
• There wasn't enough memory to complete the operation
• Exceeded the capacity limit for semantic model refreshes
• Capacity level limit exceeded
• Node level limit exceeded