Rate limiting is a mechanism used to control the number of requests a user or application can make in a given time period. GitHub uses rate limits to ensure everyone has fair access to GitHub Copilot and to protect against abuse.
Why does GitHub use rate limits?
GitHub enforces rate limits for several reasons.
- Capacity: There is a limited amount of computing power available to serve all Copilot users. Rate limiting helps prevent the system from being overloaded.
- High usage: Popular features and models may receive bursts of requests. Rate limits ensure no single user or group can monopolize these resources.
- Fairness: Rate limits ensure that all users have equitable access to Copilot.
- Abuse mitigation: Without rate limits, malicious actors could exploit Copilot, leading to degraded service for everyone or even denial of service.
Types of usage limits
GitHub Copilot has two limits: a session and a weekly (7-day) limit.
- Session limit. If you hit the session limit, you must wait until it resets before you can resume using Copilot.
- Weekly limit. This limit caps the total number of tokens you can consume during a 7-day period. If you hit a weekly limit and you have premium requests remaining, you can continue using Copilot with 자동 모델 선택. Model choice will be re-enabled when the weekly period resets.
What you will see when approaching a limit
VS Code and GitHub Copilot CLI both display a warning when you are approaching a limit. These indicators are designed to help you avoid hitting a limit unexpectedly.
What to do if you approach a limit
If you are approaching a limit, the following steps can help reduce the chances of hitting it.
- Use a model with a smaller multiplier for simpler tasks. The larger the multiplier, the faster you will reach the limit.
- Use plan mode. In VS Code and Copilot CLI, plan mode can improve task efficiency and task success, reducing overall token consumption.
- Reduce parallel workflows. Parallelized tools result in higher token consumption. Use them sparingly if you are nearing your limits.
- Upgrade your plan. If you are on a Copilot Pro plan, upgrading to Copilot Pro+ provides significantly higher usage limits.
What to do if you hit a limit
If you receive a usage limit error when using Copilot, you should:
- Wait until your limit time resets.
- Switch to Copilot 자동 모델 선택. If you hit a weekly usage limit, you can continue using Copilot with 자동 모델 선택 until exhausting your premium requests.
- Upgrade your plan. If you are on an individual Copilot plan, upgrading your plan will allow for additional usage.
- Contact Support. If you repeatedly hit usage limits and believe it’s impacting legitimate use, contact GitHub 지원 for assistance.