Anthropic locks Claude Code users out for hours during peak times
Anthropic changed how it limits Claude Code usage, now locking users out for up to 5 hours during busy times. The AI company adjusted session limits for all users to manage growing demand.
Anthropic has started limiting Claude Code access more aggressively during peak hours, frustrating users who find themselves locked out for hours at a time.
The company operates a dual-limit system. Users face both weekly message limits and 5-hour session limits. Hit either limit and you're locked out until the time window resets.
To manage growing demand, Anthropic recently tightened these 5-hour session limits for all subscription levels during busy periods. This means even paying customers can get shut out when demand spikes.
Users can check when their limits reset by typing the /usage command in Claude Code. When hitting context limits, they can use /compact to reduce context size or /clear for fresh sessions.
The changes come as AI chatbots face surging popularity, forcing companies to balance user access with server capacity and costs.
If you use Claude Code for work or projects, you could get locked out when you need it most. The changes affect free and paid users alike during peak hours.
Users should monitor their usage with /usage command and expect continued restrictions during peak hours.
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