Codex usage limits and resets: 7 things to know
How the 5-hour and weekly windows work, and every way to get usage back
If you use Codex on a ChatGPT plan, sooner or later you will see a usage limit message. Here is what is actually going on, based on OpenAI's own help pages, and what you can do about it.
1. There are two limits, not one
Codex usage on Plus, Pro and Business is counted in two windows at the same time: a 5-hour window and a weekly window. You can hit the 5-hour limit and still have plenty of weekly usage left, or the other way round. Codex and ChatGPT Work draw from the same allowance.
2. You can check exactly where you stand
Open Settings → Usage in ChatGPT or the Codex app. If you work in the Codex CLI, type /status in a session. Both show how much of each window you have used and when it resets.
3. Some tasks burn much more than others
The model you pick, where the task runs, how complex it is, how much context it carries, how hard it reasons, speed modes and tool calls all change how fast usage goes down. One long-running task can use far more than dozens of quick questions. If you hit the limit in the middle of a task, Codex can usually still finish the turn it is on.
4. Global resets happen often, but never on a schedule
Every few days OpenAI refills everyone's limits at once, usually announced on X by Codex lead Tibo Sottiaux to celebrate a launch or a user milestone, or to make up for an outage. There is no calendar for it and no guarantee. We log every one on our Codex reset radar, with a live timer since the last one.
5. Reset cards are saved for later, and they expire
Sometimes the gift is a reset card (OpenAI calls it a banked reset) instead of an instant reset. It sits in Settings → Usage until you use it. When you do, it refills both windows and moves your weekly reset date. It only counts as used if it actually refreshes a window, so it is not wasted if you are not limited yet.
Two catches: each card has its own expiry date, and an expired card cannot be restored. Support also does not hand out manual resets, so do not wait for one.
6. You can buy an instant reset, but it is a loan, not extra usage
Personal Plus and Pro accounts may see a "Buy an instant reset" option. It refills you right away by pulling next week's allowance forward, and your weekly reset date moves. It cannot be saved for later, it is not available on Business or other workspace plans, and refunds are generally not offered.
7. Extra credits and bigger plans are the long-term fix
Plus and Pro users can buy extra credits without changing plan, and Business workspaces have credit plans. If you hit the weekly limit most weeks, compare the cost of credits with a bigger plan. Our Plus vs Pro comparison works out what each extra unit of usage really costs.
Sources
- OpenAI Help Center: Using Codex with your ChatGPT plan
- OpenAI Help Center: How banked Codex resets work
- OpenAI Help Center: Paid weekly Work and Codex rate limit resets
Checked against these pages on October 13, 2026. Limits and offers change often, so confirm in your own account before you buy.