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Tana AI Not Working: 'Out of Budget' or 'Retrying AI Requests Failed'

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

Quick answer

These errors come from the AI for Builders setup using your own OpenAI API key: the key is missing, OpenAI billing isn't set up, the prompt is too large or OpenAI is down. A ChatGPT subscription does not cover API use, so add API billing and a fresh key.

Most likely fix: Enable AI for Builders.

Symptoms

AI commands fail with 'Out of budget', '0/1 left', 'Retrying AI requests failed' or 'aiForBuilders feature not enabled'.

Why it happens

  • No OpenAI API key entered
  • No payment method or funds on the OpenAI API
  • ChatGPT Plus assumed to include API access
  • Prompt too large for the model's token window
  • AI for Builders toggle reset after switching browser
  • OpenAI service disruption

How to fix it

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

  1. 1. Enable AI for Builders

    1. Settings > Tana Outliner Labs > AI for Builders
    2. The setting is per browser/client, so re-check it after switching

  2. 2. Set up OpenAI API billing and a key

    1. Log in at platform.openai.com
    2. Add a payment method and set a monthly budget
    3. Create an API key
    4. In Tana go to Settings > API tokens > Create and paste the key
    5. Restart the app

  3. 3. Shrink the prompt or switch models

    1. Reduce the content referenced in the command node
    2. Pick a model with a larger context window

  4. 4. Fix prompt variables

    1. Write ${name} variables in plain nodes in the command's prompt, not in referenced nodes

  5. 5. Check OpenAI status

    1. Visit status.openai.com and retry once resolved

This guide also covers

  • tana ai not working
  • tana out of budget
  • retrying ai requests failed tana
  • tana ai credits

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