# Increase maximum shots on IBM Hardware when running Quantum Variational Algorithms

I am interested to know whether there is a quick and elegant way of increasing the number of shots (more than 8192 shots) on IBM hardware when running variational algorithms like VQE or QAOA.

I know that within Qiskit, I can specify: backend._configuration.max_shots= shots  to change the number of max_shots but this only works for simulator. I can't increase the shots parameter to go over 8192 shots when I set my backend as one of the real hardware. That is, if I specify the following:

hardware_backend = provider.get_backend('ibmq_valencia ')
maxshots = 20000
hardware_backend._configuration.max_shots= maxshots
quantum_instance = QuantumInstance(hardware_backend, shots = maxshots, initial_layout = None,
optimization_level = 3)


then upon executing the circuit, I will have an error message:

Error is : The number of shots in the Qobj (20000) is higher than the number of shots supported by the device (8192).


Is there a quick and elegant way to overcome this issue within Qiskit? Thank you!

• Like you said, 8192 shots is the max shots threshold... and there is just no way around it. So I decided to stop being lazy and write my own VQE function and to not use VQE module within Aqua to create more flexibility. I understand that the limitation on number of shots and circuits must be imposed to prevent someone from abusing the system. But I think we can agree that shots counts should play an effect in how precise your converged result is in variational quantum algorithms.. It should scales as $O(1/ \epsilon^2)$ to be more specific. Then there is the noise problem.. :( – KAJ226 Jan 20 at 20:27