Keep working when Codex hits its limit
Check your limits and reset times
Run /status in the Codex CLI, or open the usage dashboard in ChatGPT, to see your current limits. /usage shows your account's token usage, and is also where you use a rate-limit reset if you have one.
Choose an OpenAI option
ChatGPT Plus and Pro users can buy more credits without changing plan; Business, Edu and Enterprise plans with flexible pricing can buy workspace credits. Anyone can run extra local chats with an API key, billed at standard API rates.
Save where the task stands
Commit your work in progress on a branch and push it, and note the goal, what is done, what is next and how to check it. Reason can't see your previous agent's conversation, so the branch and your notes carry the task.
Open Reason on the web or the Mac app
Sign in at reasonmachines.com, or download the Reason Mac app for macOS from reasonmachines.com/download and sign in there. Both open the same Sessions.
Give Reason the task in the composer
Tell Reason which repository and branch to work on, or in the Mac app which folder on your computer, then paste your notes. Pick a Claude model or another connected model in the composer, so the task keeps moving while your Codex limit resets.
How Codex limits work
OpenAI publishes estimates of local messages per five-hour period for Plus and Standard Business, which vary widely by model, and says they are not fixed message limits. Local messages and cloud tasks share your plan's allowance, cloud tasks may use more of it, and weekly limits may also apply. Pro plans currently have no five-hour limit. On October 29, 2026, OpenAI doubled the Work and Codex allowance of Pro 100 and Pro 500, canceled a planned Pro 200 reduction, and said Plus usage is unchanged.
OpenAI says that starting in December, Plus, Pro and Business usage will be shared across ChatGPT and Codex and measured in tokens, with combined remaining usage and reset times in Settings → Usage.
Carrying the task on in Reason
Reason starts from your branch and notes, in the web app on the repository you name or in the Mac app in a folder on your computer. Pick a model that isn't on the plan that ran out, such as a Claude model on Reason credits. Note that a GPT model on the same ChatGPT plan shares the limit Codex hit.
Questions
How do I check my Codex usage?
Run /status during a Codex CLI session, or open the usage dashboard at chatgpt.com/codex/settings/usage for your current limits and reset times.
Does Codex stop in the middle of a task at the limit?
OpenAI says that if you reach your limit during an active turn, the agent can continue working on that turn, subject to fair-use limits. New turns wait for the reset, credits or an API key.
Can I use an API key when Codex hits its limit?
Yes. OpenAI says all users may run extra local chats with an API key, charged at standard API rates. Cloud features are not available with an API key.
Can Reason continue a Codex task?
Yes, if you hand it the state: commit and push the work in progress, then tell Reason the branch and what's next in the web or Mac app.