OpenAI API Error: You Exceeded Your Current Quota (insufficient_quota)
Quick answer
This 429 is a billing error, not a speed problem: credits are empty or expired, or a spend limit was reached. Add credits or raise the limit; retrying will not help.
Most likely fix: Check the balance
How to fix it
Try these in order — the most common fix is first.
1. Check the balance
- Open platform.openai.com > Settings > Billing > Overview
- Confirm credits are above $0 and not expired
Did this fix it?2. Add credits or enable auto-recharge
- Billing > Add to credit balance
- Turn on auto-recharge to avoid sudden stops
Did this fix it?3. Check spend limits
- Settings > Limits for the organization
- Project settings > Limits for the project
Did this fix it?4. Match key to funded project
- Open API keys and confirm which project the key belongs to
- Create a new key in the funded project and redeploy
Did this fix it?5. Contact support if the balance looks right
- Use the help widget at help.openai.com with your org ID and a failing request ID
Did this fix it?
Symptoms
Every call returns 429 with insufficient_quota or credit_balance_exhausted even at low traffic.
Why it happens
- Prepaid balance reached $0
- Purchased credits expired after 12 months
- Organization or project spend limit hit
- Key belongs to a different organization or project than the one you funded
- Free credits ended
This guide also covers
- openai insufficient_quota
- you exceeded your current quota openai
- openai api 429 quota
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