Errors and fixes
FAILED – OUT OF ENERGY: why your transaction failed and what to do
Author Andrew Kawinski · · 4 min read
Short answer
FAILED – OUT OF ENERGY means the address did not have enough Energy for the USDT transfer, and not enough TRX to burn instead. Your USDT is still in the wallet. Only part of the fee was burned. To make the transfer go through, get Energy before the next attempt: ~65,000 for an address that already holds USDT, or ~131,000 for a new address or an exchange.
It happens. The status FAILED – OUT OF ENERGY means the address did not have enough Energy for the USDT transfer, and not enough TRX to burn instead. Your USDT is still in the wallet. Only part of the fee was burned.
To make the transfer go through, get Energy before the next attempt: ~65,000 Energy if the recipient already holds USDT, or ~131,000 Energy if the address is new or belongs to an exchange. Then simply repeat the transfer.
What happened to the transaction
A USDT TRC-20 transfer is a smart contract call. The TRON network charges two resources for it:
- Bandwidth — about 350 units per transfer. Every account gets roughly 600 units free each day.
- Energy — about 65,000 or 131,000 units. Energy has no free daily allowance.
If the address has no Energy, the network burns TRX from the balance at about 100 sun per unit. When there is not enough TRX to burn, the contract stops halfway. The transaction is recorded on the blockchain with the status FAILED – OUT OF ENERGY.
One important detail: the network had already done part of the work. So the resources and TRX spent before the stop are charged. The USDT transfer itself does not happen.
How much a transfer costs without Energy
| Scenario | Energy needed | TRX burned | Instant purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recipient already holds USDT | ~65,000 | ~6.85 TRX | 2.5 TRX |
| New address or exchange | ~131,000 | ~13.35 TRX | 5 TRX |
Energy use does not depend on the amount. Sending 1 USDT costs the same as sending 10,000 USDT.
What to do now: 4 steps
- Check that your USDT is there. Open your wallet or check the address. The USDT balance has not changed.
- Work out how much Energy you need. If the recipient has received USDT before, 65,000 is enough. If the address is new or belongs to an exchange, you need 131,000.
- Get Energy before the transfer. Through the instant purchase, send 2.5 TRX (one transfer) or 5 TRX (new address) from the same wallet you will send USDT from. Energy arrives in 3–10 seconds.
- Repeat the transfer. The wallet will show that there is enough Energy, and no TRX will need to be burned.
If the wallet has no TRX at all
The instant purchase works by sending TRX, so you still need a little TRX. If you have none, see sending without TRX. It includes an option to pay from another wallet.
Why you cannot "add Energy" to a failed transaction
A failed transaction is already recorded on the blockchain. It cannot be topped up or restarted. You need a new transaction, and the Energy must be on the address before you send it.
For the same reason, burned TRX is not returned. Neither the wallet, nor an Energy service, nor support can return it. More in the article can burned TRX be refunded.
Common mistakes on the second attempt
- TRX sent from an exchange. Energy goes to the address the TRX came from. If you pay from an exchange, the exchange gets the Energy, not you.
- Bought 65,000 for a new address. The first transfer to an address without USDT needs ~131,000. If in doubt, choose 5 TRX.
- Put the transfer off. Energy from the instant purchase lasts 1 hour. Unused Energy is not refunded.
- Your address is not activated yet. A new address first needs address activation. It adds 1.5 TRX to the order.
How to confirm the Energy arrived
Open your address in TronScan. The Resources tab will show the delegated Energy. A DelegateResource record will appear in the transaction list. Step by step instructions are in the article how to check Energy in TronScan.
FAQ
Why was TRX charged if the transfer failed? The network started running the contract and used resources until it stopped. That work is paid for, even if the result is FAILED.
Does the transfer amount affect the error? No. 1 USDT and 10,000 USDT need the same Energy. What matters is whether the recipient already holds USDT.
Can I just keep more TRX so the error does not happen again? Yes. The network will then burn ~6.85 TRX or ~13.35 TRX per transfer, and it will go through. But Energy for 2.5 TRX or 5 TRX costs less, and the TRX on your balance stays yours.
How long does Energy take to arrive? Usually 3–10 seconds after your TRX payment reaches the network. If more than a minute has passed, contact support and include the TxID of the payment.
In short
- FAILED – OUT OF ENERGY means a lack of Energy, not lost USDT.
- Burned TRX is not returned, so get Energy before the transfer.
- 65,000 Energy for an address with USDT, 131,000 for a new address or exchange.
- Send TRX only from your own non-custodial wallet.
You can compare options and amounts on the pricing page. If something does not add up, open FAILED – OUT OF ENERGY. The fix and the payment button are side by side there.
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