> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://unkey-chronark-cli.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# deployment_not_stopped

> The deployment cannot be started because it is not in stopped status.

<Danger>`err:unkey:application:deployment_not_stopped`</Danger>

```json Example theme={"theme":"kanagawa-wave"}
{
  "meta": {
    "requestId": "req_2c9a0jf23l4k567"
  },
  "error": {
    "detail": "The deployment is not stopped.",
    "status": 412,
    "title": "Precondition Failed",
    "type": "https://unkey.com/docs/errors/unkey/application/deployment_not_stopped"
  }
}
```

## What Happened?

You called `startDeployment` on a deployment that is not in `stopped` status. Start only applies to a deployment that was previously stopped; a deployment that is building, `ready`, or in another state has nothing to start.

`getDeployment` reports the current `status`, and `availableActions` lists `start` only when the deployment is `stopped`.

## How To Fix

1. Fetch the deployment with `getDeployment` and check `status`.
2. Only call `start` when the deployment is `stopped`.
3. If the deployment is already `ready`, it is running and no action is needed.

```bash theme={"theme":"kanagawa-wave"}
# Confirm the deployment is stopped before starting it
curl -X POST https://api.unkey.com/v2/deployments.getDeployment \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer unkey_YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{ "deploymentId": "d_1234abcd" }'
```

## Common Mistakes

* **Starting a running deployment**: Calling `start` on a deployment that is already `ready`.
* **Starting mid-build**: Calling `start` before the deployment has ever been stopped.

## Related Errors

* [err:unkey:application:deployment\_not\_running](./deployment_not_running) - When stopping a deployment that is not running
* [err:unkey:application:deployment\_is\_production](./deployment_is_production) - When the deployment is in production
* [err:unkey:application:deployment\_is\_stopping](./deployment_is_stopping) - When a stop is already in flight