Supabase RLS blocking your app? Diagnose the denied operation
RLS problems are easiest to solve when you identify the exact table, operation and authenticated identity being denied. Avoid broad security changes that merely make the error disappear.
WHAT THIS USUALLY LOOKS LIKE
- SELECT works but INSERT or UPDATE fails.
- The same action works for one account but not another.
- A request returns a permission or policy error.
- A service-side operation works while the browser operation fails.
LIKELY FAILURE AREAS
Missing operation policy
Policies are operation-specific; permission to read does not imply permission to write.
Identity assumption
A policy can reference auth.uid() while the request is anonymous or associated with a different user.
Row condition mismatch
WITH CHECK or USING expressions may not match the row being written/read.
CHECK THESE FIRST
- Capture the exact failing request and database response.
- Identify the table and SQL operation.
- Confirm the JWT/session represents the expected user.
- Review USING and WITH CHECK expressions for that operation.
- Test the intended allowed and denied cases after changing policy.
WHAT WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE IT
- Repository
- Relevant Supabase schema/migrations
- Supabase project access when production policy differs from source
Do not paste passwords, private API keys or other secrets into the public submission form. We request additional access only after scope review when it is actually required.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Is RLS a frontend bug?+
Usually it is a database authorization decision surfaced through the frontend. The frontend request and database policy must be inspected together.
Can I use a service-role key in the browser?+
No. Privileged server credentials should not be exposed to browser code.
RELATED FIX GUIDES
STOP DEBUGGING
THE PROMPT LOOP.
VibeHell investigates the actual application, confirms scope and price, then implements and verifies the repair.