When working with GitHub Copilot CLI or in VS Code, you might suddenly encounter the following error:
sorry, you have exceeded your copilot token usage.
please review our terms of service.Seeing this message while on a paid plan can be confusing. "Wait, is my subscription invalid?" "Did I run out of credits?"
In this article, I will explain what this error really means and how to fix it practically.
Conclusion: It's Not a Subscription Issue, It's a Temporary Rate Limit
First of all, this message does not mean your account is suspended or your contract has expired.
In most cases, you have simply hit a temporary token usage (rate) limit on the GitHub Copilot side.
In fact, there are numerous reports in GitHub Copilot CLI Issues and Community Discussions from paid users who suddenly see this while working normally.
Why Do You Hit the Token Limit?
Copilot is often thought of as "unlimited use for a monthly fee," but in reality, the following limits exist:
1. Consuming a Large Amount of Tokens in a Short Time
In Copilot CLI or Agent mode, doing the following can consume a massive amount of tokens quickly:
- Throwing entire large files at it
- Sending long contexts repeatedly
- Running continuous command completions/generations
If this "instantaneous usage" exceeds a certain threshold, you will be temporarily blocked.
2. There is a "Real-time Limit" Separate from Monthly Caps
Even if your usage bar in the UI shows you have quota left, internal backend counters, model-specific limits, or independent quotas for CLI/Agent can cause a discrepancy between what you see and the actual limits. This is why you might get blocked even when you think you still have capacity.
3. Copilot CLI is Particularly Prone to Limits
Compared to standard VS Code completions, Copilot CLI tends to hit limits more easily because:
- The amount of information per request is larger
- It often queries automatically and repeatedly
Similar reports are continuously made in GitHub Copilot CLI Issue #793.
Model call failed: {"message":"Sorry, you have exceeded your Copilot token usage. Please review our Terms of Service.","code":"rate_limited"}Immediate Fixes
1. Wait a While (Most Important)
This limit is almost certainly temporary.
- 10 minutes to a few tens of minutes
- At most a few hours
In the vast majority of cases, it will restore itself just by waiting. Take a break and don't panic.
2. Restart Your Editor or CLI
Resetting the internal session can sometimes make the token go through again or clear the error. "Restarting just in case" is surprisingly effective.
3. Reduce the Context You Send at Once
Being mindful of the following can help prevent recurrence:
- Don't pass huge files as is
- Paste only diffs or necessary parts
- Don't over-rely on the Agent for everything
Especially when using the CLI, breaking down your prompts into smaller pieces is key.
4. Switch Modes
Sometimes switching the mode can help:
- Agent → Ask
- CLI → Editor Completion
Summary
- This error is not a contract error.
- The cause is a temporary token/rate limit.
- It is particularly common when using Copilot CLI / Agent.
- Waiting, restarting, and lightening your prompts are effective solutions.
The more heavily you use Copilot, the more likely you are to encounter this error, so just think of it as a sign to "calm down and take a break."
This error might be more frequent with Gemini 3 Pro.
