diff --git a/API/server.js b/API/server.js
index 7a61cd7..2eacb55 100644
--- a/API/server.js
+++ b/API/server.js
@@ -47,23 +47,32 @@ app.use(express.urlencoded({ extended: true }));
 // Static file serving
 app.use(express.static('../Website/dist'));
 
-// Rate limiting
+// Rate limiting (more lenient for development)
 const { RateLimiterMemory } = require('rate-limiter-flexible');
 const limiter = new RateLimiterMemory({
   keyGenerator: (req) => req.ip,
-  points: 100, // limit each IP to 100 requests per windowMs
-  duration: 900, // 15 minutes
-  blockDuration: 900, // Block for 15 minutes
+  points: 1000, // limit each IP to 1000 requests per windowMs (increased from 100)
+  duration: 60, // 1 minute window (reduced from 15 minutes)
+  blockDuration: 60, // Block for 1 minute (reduced from 15 minutes)
 });
+
 app.use('/api/', async (req, res, next) => {
   try {
-    const resLimiter = await limiter.consume(req.ip);
-    if (!resLimiter.remainingPoints) {
-      return res.status(429).json({ error: 'Too many requests, please try again later.' });
+    // Skip rate limiting for localhost in development
+    const isLocalhost = req.ip === '127.0.0.1' || req.ip === '::1' || req.hostname === 'localhost';
+    
+    if (!isLocalhost) {
+      const resLimiter = await limiter.consume(req.ip);
+      if (!resLimiter.remainingPoints) {
+        return res.status(429).json({ error: 'Too many requests, please try again later.' });
+      }
     }
     next();
-  } catch (error) {
-    next();
+  } catch (rejRes) {
+    // Handle rate limit exceeded
+    const secs = Math.round(rejRes.msBeforeNext / 1000) || 1;
+    res.set('Retry-After', String(secs));
+    res.status(429).json({ error: 'Too many requests, please try again later.' });
   }
 });