So you typed a prompt. You hit enter. You were ready for magic. And then… boom. You see the dreaded message: “Image Generation Request Did Not Follow Policy.” Ugh. What does that even mean? Don’t worry. You are not in trouble. Your account is not doomed. And your creative genius is not canceled. Let’s break it down in a fun and simple way.
TLDR: This error shows up when your image prompt breaks one of the content rules. It could be about copyright, real people, unsafe content, or sensitive topics. The fix is usually simple: rewrite your prompt to be safer, more general, or less specific. Small changes often solve it fast.
Now let’s really dig in.
Contents of Post
Why This Message Appears
Imagine the AI as a friendly robot with a rulebook. It loves to draw. It loves to help. But it must follow strict rules. If your request breaks a rule, even a tiny bit, it refuses.
This is not personal. It’s automated.
Here are the most common reasons you see this error:
- Asking for copyrighted characters (like famous movie heroes).
- Requesting images of real public figures.
- Describing violent or harmful scenes.
- Including adult or explicit content.
- Asking for hateful or discriminatory content.
- Referencing sensitive real-world events.
Sometimes the issue is obvious. Sometimes it feels confusing. Let’s make it clearer.
Common Triggers (With Examples)
1. Copyrighted Characters
You might type:
“Draw Spider-Man eating pizza in space.”
Sounds fun. But Spider-Man is copyrighted. The AI cannot generate that specific character.
Fix it like this:
“Draw a superhero in a red and blue suit eating pizza in space.”
See the trick? Make it generic, not specific.
Image not found in postmeta2. Real People
You might try:
“Create a photo of Elon Musk surfing in Hawaii.”
Even if harmless, generating realistic images of real people is restricted.
Fix it like this:
“Create a photo of a tech billionaire surfing in Hawaii.”
Again, general description wins.
3. Violence or Harm
If your prompt includes graphic fights, weapons harming someone, or dangerous actions, it may get blocked.
For example:
“A soldier attacking a group of people in a city.”
Too violent.
Safer version:
“A dramatic scene of a futuristic warrior standing in a city with cinematic lighting.”
Imply mood. Not harm.
4. Adult Content
Anything explicit will be denied. Even if you think it’s artistic.
Keep it clean. If unsure, tone it down.
5. Sensitive Topics
Prompts about real tragedies, political conflicts, or extremist themes can trigger this error.
Even if educational, image generation has stricter filters.
When in doubt, keep things fictional and neutral.
How To Fix the Error (Step-by-Step)
Let’s make this super practical.
If you see the message, do this:
- Read your prompt carefully. Look for specific names or violent wording.
- Remove brand names and character names.
- Replace real people with roles. Say “scientist” instead of a real name.
- Tone down intense action.
- Simplify the description.
Often, just removing one word fixes everything.
The “Make It Generic” Trick
This is your secret weapon.
Bad (blocked):
“Harry Potter casting a spell at Voldemort.”
Good (works):
“A young wizard casting a glowing spell at a dark sorcerer in a magical forest.”
The second one gives you the vibe. Without the legal trouble.
Watch Your Wording
Sometimes it’s not what you ask. It’s how you ask it.
For example:
“A bloody battlefield with injured soldiers screaming.”
Very graphic. Likely blocked.
Instead try:
“A dramatic medieval battlefield at sunset with cinematic smoke and silhouettes.”
Cleaner. Still powerful.
Think like a movie poster. Not a documentary.
What If It Still Doesn’t Work?
Okay. You rewrote it. Still blocked. Now what?
Try this checklist:
- Shorten the prompt.
- Remove emotional words like “brutal,” “explicit,” or “controversial.”
- Avoid political references.
- Remove references to specific events after 1900.
- Make the setting fictional.
Sometimes less detail works better.
Understanding Overblocking
Here’s something important.
Sometimes your request feels harmless. But it still gets blocked.
This happens because filters are automated. They err on the safe side.
For example:
“A child playing doctor with a toy medical kit.”
Totally innocent. But certain word combinations can trigger safety systems.
Fix:
“A kid playing with a toy medical kit in a bright playroom.”
Small change. Big difference.
Creative Workarounds That Actually Work
Let’s make this fun. Here are clever ways people solve the issue:
1. Use Art Styles
Instead of asking for a real person:
“A portrait of a 19th century inventor in oil painting style.”
That works better than using a real name.
2. Use Archetypes
Instead of:
“Batman standing on a building.”
Try:
“A dark masked vigilante standing on a rooftop at night in a noir city.”
3. Build Original Worlds
The more fictional, the better.
Create your own kingdoms. Your own heroes. Your own cities.
Quick Rewrite Examples
Blocked Prompt → Working Prompt
- “Taylor Swift performing at Coachella” → “A pop star performing on a massive festival stage.”
- “Pikachu riding a skateboard” → “A cute yellow electric creature riding a skateboard.”
- “Realistic photo of the president in a boxing match” → “A suited politician in a fictional boxing match.”
- “Graphic zombie attack scene” → “A spooky post apocalyptic street with cinematic tension.”
See the pattern?
Specific → General.
How to Prevent It in the First Place
Before you hit enter, ask yourself:
- Am I using a real person’s name?
- Am I using a copyrighted character?
- Is this violent or graphic?
- Is this adult themed?
- Is this politically sensitive?
If yes to any of these, adjust first.
This saves time and frustration.
Don’t Panic. You’re Not Banned.
This message does not mean:
- Your account is flagged.
- You did something terrible.
- You are blocked forever.
It just means: try again with safer wording.
That’s it.
Think of It Like Airport Security
You walk through security with a water bottle.
You get stopped.
Are you a criminal? No.
You just need to adjust.
Same here.
The Big Secret: Creativity Wins
The limits actually make you more creative.
Instead of copying famous things, you invent new ones.
Instead of recreating celebrities, you design original characters.
And that’s more fun anyway.
Final Thoughts
Seeing “Image Generation Request Did Not Follow Policy” can feel annoying. But it’s usually easy to fix. Remove specific names. Soften intense details. Keep things fictional and safe.
Remember this formula:
Original + Fictional + Non-violent + Non-explicit = Success.
So go ahead. Rewrite that prompt. Hit enter again.
Your masterpiece is just one small tweak away.