Codex usage limits: check, track, and reset
Most confusion comes from using the word reset for four different mechanisms. Name the mechanism first, then choose an action.
The four mechanisms
Short windows control bursts. Weekly limits control sustained use. Broad resets are exceptional public events. Banked resets are user-triggered capacity when available.
- Five-hour window: immediate burst capacity.
- Weekly window: longer-term allocation and scheduled renewal.
- Broad reset: sourced action affecting a stated audience.
- Banked reset: stored option shown in an eligible account.
Model and workload effects
Usage can vary with model, reasoning effort, task length, tool calls, and orchestration. A percentage is not a universal token conversion and should not be compared across users as if workloads were identical.
Where to check Codex usage
Use the official Codex usage page or dashboard for your account-specific balance and reset time. This independent usage monitor tracks public broad-reset evidence and provides a local planning tool, but it cannot read your private usage stats.
A practical response order
Identify the limiting counter, verify its reset time, check current broad-reset evidence, then decide whether to continue, conserve, wait, or consider a banked reset. This sequence avoids acting on the wrong clock.