Claude Code error
Claude Code: Credit balance is too low
Credit balance is too lowStatus: WorkaroundLast verified 3 documented fixes1 source
What it means
Your Console organization has run out of prepaid credits, or Claude Code is sending requests with a Console API key when you meant to use your subscription.
Causes
- Exhausted prepaid Console credits
- An approved ANTHROPIC_API_KEY in your environment overriding your Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise subscription
How to fix it
- Fix 1.
If you have a subscription plan, run /status and check the API key row. Unset ANTHROPIC_API_KEY in the current shell and remove it from your shell profile, then relaunch claude. Run /login if you have not signed in with your subscription.
Terminalunset ANTHROPIC_API_KEY - Fix 2.
Add credits at platform.claude.com/settings/billing and consider enabling auto-reload.
- Fix 3.
Set per-workspace spend caps in the Console to prevent a single project from draining the org balance.
More Claude Code errors
All 18 Claude Code errorsAPI Error: 500 Internal server error. This is a server-side issue, usually temporaryStatus: WorkaroundAPI Error: Repeated 529 Overloaded errors. The API is at capacityStatus: WorkaroundAPI Error: 400 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"invalid_request_error","message":"messages.5: `tool_use` ids were found without `tool_result` blocks immediately after: toolu_01FRvEykWmCgrgJ22mvBbKhV. Each `tool_use` block must have a corresponding `tool_result` block in the next message."}}Status: OpenUnable to connect to API. Check your internet connectionStatus: WorkaroundUnable to connect to API: SSL certificate verification failed (UNABLE_TO_GET_ISSUER_CERT_LOCALLY).Status: WorkaroundPlease run /login · API Error: 401 OAuth token has expiredStatus: WorkaroundOAuth error: timeout of 15000ms exceededStatus: OpenPrompt is too longStatus: Workaround
Related reading
- Claude Agent SDK Credits End the Subscription ArbitrageClaude Agent SDK credits split programmatic agent usage from subscription usage on June 15. What changed and how to budget agent work in separate lanes.
- Claude Code Idle Compaction: What It Does and How to Turn It OffClaude Code 2.1.299 compacts sessions over 200K tokens after about 54 idle minutes. How the cache math works, the setting to turn it off, and when to keep it.
- Claude Code Desktop SneakPeek Flaw: Fixed Version and What To DoSneakPeek (CVSS 8.7) let a poisoned HTML file read SSH keys and cloud credentials via the Claude Code Desktop preview pane. Fixed in Claude Desktop 1.30096.1.
- Reverse Engineer Anything (REA): What the MCP Server Does and Where the Line IsREA (Reverse Engineer Anything) is an MIT-licensed MCP server that lets Claude Code, Codex or Cursor inspect binaries, Electron apps and APKs. How to try it.
- Claude Code Projects: Coordinator, Threads, and LimitsClaude Code Projects is open to waitlisted Pro and Max users. How the coordinator and cloud threads work, what they cost in plan limits and where it breaks.
- Agent Harness Lessons From a 500B-Token Decompile: Give Agents a PASS/FAIL OracleAgent harness lessons from a 500B+ token decompile: a byte-matching PASS/FAIL oracle beat the reviewer agent. How agents cheated it and what to copy.
FAQ
What does "Credit balance is too low" mean in Claude Code?
Your Console organization has run out of prepaid credits, or Claude Code is sending requests with a Console API key when you meant to use your subscription.
How do I fix "Credit balance is too low"?
There are 3 documented fixes. Start with the first: If you have a subscription plan, run /status and check the API key row. Unset ANTHROPIC_API_KEY in the current shell and remove it from your shell profile, then relaunch claude. Run /login if you have not signed in with your subscription.
Is this Claude Code error fixed?
Status: Workaround. No release removes the cause. The documented fixes work around it.
Sources
Last verified against 1 source: official docs, maintainer replies and release notes.
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