"You've hit your Opus limit · resets {time}"
Updated
"You've hit your Opus limit · resets {time}" is Claude Code's message when the allowance for one model family is used up. The official Error reference says the Opus and Sonnet limits each apply only to requests to that family, so switching to a model outside the family with /model keeps you working; /usage shows when the limit resets. It is not the account-wide reset this board tracks; the row below shows the last one on record.
- Last reset
- 04 SEP 20:08Z
- Status
- OVERDUE
The gap since the last reset is past 1.5x the recent median.
- Next est.
- ANY TIME
- Days since
- 13.1
days
What does "You've hit your Opus limit · resets {time}" mean?
Besides the session and weekly limits that are shared across all models, Claude Code has limits per model family. When the Opus one is full you see "You've hit your Opus limit · resets {time}"; the Sonnet version reads "You've hit your Sonnet limit · resets 3:45pm" in the docs' example.
The Error reference states that these limits each apply only to requests to that model family, so switching to a model outside the family with /model keeps you working. Each model has its own prompt cache, so the first request after the switch re-reads the whole conversation with no cache hits.
This replaced an older behavior. In July 2025 Claude Code fell back silently with "Claude Opus 4 limit reached, now using Sonnet 4"; issue #3434 collected complaints from Max 20x users about that switch. claude.ai's Settings > Usage page still shows a separate weekly bar for Opus only.
Which window is full?
| Window | Resets | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Opus limit (model family) | At the time in the message; applies only to requests to Opus models | /usage in Claude Code; Settings > Usage on claude.ai shows the Opus-only weekly bar |
| Sonnet limit (model family) | At the time in the message; applies only to requests to Sonnet models | /usage in Claude Code |
| Session limit (5-hour) | Every five hours; the exact time is the one in the message | /usage in Claude Code, or Settings > Usage on claude.ai |
| Weekly limit | At a fixed time each week that is assigned to your account | /usage in Claude Code, or Settings > Usage on claude.ai |
What to do when you see it
- Switch families with /model
Pick a model outside the family named in the message. The docs say this keeps you working; the session and weekly limits are unaffected by the switch.
- Expect one slow request
Each model has its own prompt cache, so the next request re-reads the whole conversation with no cache hits. That first turn draws more usage than usual.
- Run /usage
It shows the Opus, session and weekly bars and when each resets, so you can decide whether to wait or keep going on another family.
- Or wait for the time in the message
Only the Opus limit is blocked; you can keep the session open and switch back after the reset.
When does it reset?
Your own window: the message names the reset time for the Opus family, and /usage shows the same clock. claude.ai's Settings > Usage page lets you check when your plan's weekly limit resets for Opus only and for all other models. Put the time on a countdown with the window tracker linked below.
Account-wide resets: separately, Anthropic sometimes announces a reset for everyone. Those are what this board records, each linked to its original post, and the row above shows the last one. They are announced, not scheduled, so this site does not promise one.
Related errors
- "You've hit your session limit · resets {time}"Claude Code
- "You've hit your weekly limit · resets {day} {time}"Claude Code
- "API Error: Usage credits required for 1M context · run /usage-credits to turn them on (they take effect after you restart Claude Code), or /model to switch to standard context"Claude Code
FAQ
Is the Opus limit separate from the session limit?
Yes. The Error reference says the session and weekly limits are shared across all models, while the Opus and Sonnet limits each apply only to requests to that model family. That is why /model to another family works for the Opus message but not for the session or weekly one.
Do I lose my conversation when I switch to Sonnet?
No. The conversation stays; what you lose is the prompt cache. Each model has its own cache, so the next request re-reads the whole conversation with no cache hits, which costs more usage for that one turn.
What did "Claude Opus 4 limit reached, now using Sonnet 4" mean?
It was the July 2025 behavior: Claude Code switched to Sonnet on its own when the Opus allowance ran out. Issue #3434 tracked complaints from Max 20x users. Current versions stop with "You've hit your Opus limit" and let you choose the model with /model.
Where do I see the Opus limit on claude.ai?
Anthropic's usage-limit best-practices article says Settings > Usage shows when your plan's weekly limit resets for Opus only and for all other models. In Claude Code, /usage shows the same information.
Sources
- Claude Code docs: Error reference — "You've hit your session limit"verified 2026-09-18
- anthropics/claude-code issue #3434 (2025-07-13): Claude silently falls back to Sonnet after Opus cap (body quotes "Claude Opus 4 limit reached, now using Sonnet 4")verified 2026-09-17
- Claude Code docs: Manage costs effectively (/usage, shared limits)verified 2026-09-18
- Claude Help Center: Usage limit best practices (Settings > Usage)verified 2026-09-17
- Claude Help Center: What is the Max plan? (session resets every five hours; weekly limit at a fixed time)verified 2026-09-17
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