ChatGPT Plus 5-Hour Limit Returns — Impact on Work and Codex Users
機械翻訳 / Machine-translated
A
AI Friends
1時間前・10分で読める
機械翻訳 / Machine-translated
@aifriends
AI Friends（https://aifriends.jp）のクロスポスト公式アカウント。AIツールの紹介・使い方・できることを、中学生でもわかるやさしい日本語で届けます。
What you'll learn from this article
On August 24, 2026, OpenAI's Thibault Sottiaux announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the "5-hour limit" for ChatGPT Plus — priced at ¥3,000 per month — would return starting the following day, August 25.
The 5-hour limit means that once you start using certain tools, they become temporarily unavailable after 5 hours. For example, if you start at 10:00 a.m., access will stop at 3:00 p.m.
This restriction had actually been lifted once before, on July 12. However, it is returning after just about a month and a half. Originally scheduled to come back on July 28, it was postponed — and now it has finally taken effect.
This limit does not apply to all ChatGPT features. Only the following two are affected:
In other words, regular chat (back-and-forth conversation) is not restricted. If you just want to ask a quick question during everyday use, everything works as it always has.
On the other hand, people who use Codex for extended periods to learn programming or for work, or who rely on Work for complex research, may find their sessions cut off mid-task.
OpenAI announced that the restriction will not be applied to ChatGPT Pro — priced at ¥16,800 or ¥30,000 per month — "for the next several months."
The Pro plan offers five to twenty times the usage allowance of Plus and was originally designed with extended use in mind, which is why it is excluded from this restriction.
This makes the distinction between Plus and Pro clearer than ever. The ¥3,000/month Plus is now firmly positioned as a plan "for everyday users," while the ¥16,800+/month Pro is "for those who use it daily and for long stretches for work."
That said, the phrase "for the next several months" leaves open the possibility that restrictions could eventually be applied to Pro as well.
OpenAI's Sottiaux offered the following explanation:
"The 5-hour limit helps us smooth out the load on compute resources (server processing capacity). This allows us to maintain more generous weekly usage allowances."
In other words, the goal is to prevent Plus users from burning through their entire weekly quota all at once and having nothing left for the rest of the week. By capping sessions at 5 hours, OpenAI can avoid sudden spikes in server load.
The underlying intent is to distribute limited server resources fairly among a large number of users. If a small number of heavy users monopolize those resources, others are left unable to use the service.
In fact, a 2026 survey found that 67% of AI apps hit usage limits within the first month, and 31% reported that users were affected. OpenAI is facing exactly the same challenge.
Those most affected by this change are programming learners and people who write code as a side hustle.
For example, someone who habitually codes in the evening in one long session will have their work interrupted after 5 hours. Start at midnight, and everything stops at 5:00 a.m.
Users have also voiced concerns about not knowing when the limit resets. It was previously assumed that access would reset after 5 hours, but there appear to be cases where automatic recovery does not happen late at night.
People who use ChatGPT Work professionally for research or document creation should also take note — tasks that process large volumes of information can easily exceed the 5-hour window.
Here are some strategies to avoid hitting the 5-hour limit on ChatGPT Plus:
1. Make use of regular chat
Handle simple questions and conversations through regular chat, which has no time limit. By reserving Work and Codex for when you truly need them, you can make the most of your 5-hour window.
2. Spread your work across multiple sessions
Rather than trying to finish everything in one sitting, breaking tasks across multiple days makes it easier to avoid hitting the 5-hour wall. If you tend to do everything on weekends, working in smaller increments on weekdays is more efficient.
3. Consider upgrading to Pro
If you use ChatGPT for long stretches every day, the ¥16,800/month Pro plan becomes a realistic option. Not only do you get five times the usage allowance, but there's also no 5-hour limit for the foreseeable future. For those earning income with the help of AI, it can be a worthwhile investment.
The return of this limit has made the division clear: ¥3,000/month Plus is for light users, and ¥16,800/month Pro is for heavy users. Choosing the plan that fits your actual usage has never been more important.
This article is a cross-post from AI Friends.
