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Reflect AI Not Working

Workaround available Mac, Windows, Web, iOS Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

In Reflect Classic, AI stops when you hit the daily cap (10k tokens on free accounts, 100k on paid ones). Adding your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key removes the cap, but it needs separate API billing. In Reflect Open, AI only works with your own key, entered on every device.

Most likely fix: Add your own API key (Classic).

Symptoms

The Cmd+J AI palette returns nothing or an error, AI stops partway through the day, or AI is unavailable in Reflect Open on one device.

Why it happens

  • Daily token limit reached
  • API key added without billing set up at the provider (a ChatGPT Plus or Claude subscription doesn't count)
  • Reflect Open: no API key set on this device (keys live in each device's keychain)
  • The note is marked Private, which blocks AI access

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

  1. 1. Add your own API key (Classic)

    1. Create a key on the OpenAI or Anthropic API console
    2. Set up API billing with that provider
    3. In Reflect, open Preferences > Profile and paste it into the API key field

  2. 2. Set up AI on each device (Reflect Open)

    1. Open Settings in Reflect Open
    2. Add an OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or OpenRouter key
    3. Repeat on your iPhone, since keys don't sync between devices

  3. 3. Check the note isn't Private

    1. Check whether the note is marked Private
    2. Private notes are blocked from AI by design; remove the Private setting if you want AI to read it

  4. 4. Wait for the daily reset

    1. Without your own key, the token cap resets daily
    2. Shorten selections to use fewer tokens

This guide also covers

  • reflect ai not working
  • reflect ai limit
  • reflect api key
  • reflect cmd j not working

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