What causes Sequence Value Error?

The sequence referenced in a DEFAULT or INSERT statement was dropped or renamed. A NEXTVAL expression was used in a context where it is not supported (e.g., in a WHERE clause, GROUP BY, or as a join key). The sequence ran out of values (reached the maximum value with NO CYCLE configured). A sequence was used in a multi-row INSERT but the rows did not each get a unique value due to batching behavior. The sequence start/increment values produce gaps that violate a downstream uniqueness expectation

How do I fix Sequence Value Error?

Verify the sequence exists: `SHOW SEQUENCES IN SCHEMA `.. If the sequence was dropped, recreate it with `CREATE SEQUENCE START = ` to avoid collisions with existing values.. If the sequence reached its maximum: `ALTER SEQUENCE RESTART WITH `.. For gaps: note that Snowflake sequences are not strictly sequential across concurrent sessions — they guarantee uniqueness, not contiguity. Use `ROW_NUMBER()` if contiguous values are required.. Do not use NEXTVAL in contexts like WHERE or GROUP BY — use it only in INSERT or SELECT output expressions.

Medium severitysql

Power BI Refresh Error:
Sequence Value Error

What does this error mean?

A Snowflake sequence produced an unexpected value or the sequence object was not found. Common causes include using a sequence in a context that does not support it, or referencing a dropped sequence.

Common causes

1The sequence referenced in a DEFAULT or INSERT statement was dropped or renamed
2A NEXTVAL expression was used in a context where it is not supported (e.g., in a WHERE clause, GROUP BY, or as a join key)
3The sequence ran out of values (reached the maximum value with NO CYCLE configured)
4A sequence was used in a multi-row INSERT but the rows did not each get a unique value due to batching behavior
5The sequence start/increment values produce gaps that violate a downstream uniqueness expectation

How to fix it

1Verify the sequence exists: `SHOW SEQUENCES IN SCHEMA <schema>`.
2If the sequence was dropped, recreate it with `CREATE SEQUENCE <name> START = <current_max + 1>` to avoid collisions with existing values.
3If the sequence reached its maximum: `ALTER SEQUENCE <name> RESTART WITH <new_start>`.
4For gaps: note that Snowflake sequences are not strictly sequential across concurrent sessions — they guarantee uniqueness, not contiguity. Use `ROW_NUMBER()` if contiguous values are required.
5Do not use NEXTVAL in contexts like WHERE or GROUP BY — use it only in INSERT or SELECT output expressions.

Frequently asked questions

Does Snowflake guarantee contiguous sequence values?

No — Snowflake sequences guarantee uniqueness across sessions but not contiguity. Gaps can appear due to transaction rollbacks, multi-row inserts, or parallel sessions. Use them as surrogate keys only, not for business logic that relies on sequential ordering.