SharePoint list data retrieval via Graph API intermittently fails with 500 internal server error

Question

SharePoint Graph API endpoint GET https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites/{siteId}/lists/{listId}/items?$expand=fields intermittently fail with 500 Internal Server Error or 503 Service Unavailable.

We have already verified access tokens using MSAL, tested with reduced query complexity by removing $expand and $filter, and confirmed there are no conditional access or throttling policies in place.

Answer 1

Hi @Mac Arnetta 
Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum      
Based on your description, I understand you're encountering intermittent failures with 500 Internal Server Error or 503 Service Unavailable when calling the SharePoint Graph API endpoint: 

GET https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites/{siteId}/lists/{listId}/items?$expand=fields 

From my research, if you've already simplified the query and the issue still persists, it's quite possible that the root cause is related to server-side processing of the SharePoint list. 

To better assist you, may I kindly ask: 
Does the response include a Retry-After header? 
If so, honoring this header is often the most effective way to mitigate the issue. 

You can find more details in the official references below: 

• Avoid getting throttled or blocked in SharePoint Online | Microsoft Learn 
• Graph API, search for driveItems: general exception, 500 internal error - Microsoft Q&A 

Additionally, may I ask how many items are in the SharePoint list? 
If the list contains a large number of items, you might consider adding $top=100 to the query. This can help determine whether the issue is related to server load or data volume. 

If the issue continues, would you be able to share a screenshot of the Graph API response? 
This would help us visually confirm the behavior and provide more targeted support. 

I sincerely hope this information partially clarifies your situation and assists you in planning your solution.  Please know that while our initial response might not resolve the issue right away, your input is incredibly valuable. With a bit more detail, we’ll work together to find the best solution for you.  

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