How to Check Your Codex Usage and Rate Limits

Understanding Codex Usage Limits

If you use OpenAI Codex for coding, you're subject to rate limits that determine how much you can use the tool within a given period. These limits are enforced on a rolling 5-hour window, meaning the tokens you used 5 hours ago gradually become available again.

The problem? There's no built-in warning system. You're coding, in flow, making progress - and suddenly Codex stops responding. You've hit your rate limit. Now you're stuck waiting, with no clear indication of when you can resume.

Method 1: Check Usage via the OpenAI Dashboard

The manual approach is to check your usage through the OpenAI platform:

1. Go to platform.openai.com
2. Log in to your account
3. Navigate to Usage in the sidebar
4. Review your token consumption and costs

Limitations: The dashboard shows historical usage data, but it doesn't show your real-time position in the 5-hour rolling window. You can see how many tokens you've used, but not how close you are to hitting your rate limit right now or when it resets.

Method 2: Monitor in Real-Time with SessionWatcher

SessionWatcher for Codex is a native macOS menu bar app that solves the monitoring problem completely. Instead of switching to a browser, logging in, and navigating dashboards, you just glance up at your menu bar.

SessionWatcher tracks:

• Real-time token usage - see exactly how many tokens you've consumed in the current window
• 5-hour window countdown - know exactly when your rate limit resets
• API cost tracking - monitor what you're spending in real-time
• Rate limit status - see how close you are to hitting the cap
• macOS notifications - get warned before you hit the limit

SessionWatcher

Stop switching to the dashboard.
Just glance up.

Native macOS menu bar app. Track Claude Code and Codex usage, costs, and rate limits in real-time.

“Fast, simple, and does exactly what it should. Definitely worth it.”

@nicojerome on GitHub

Download for Mac

macOS 14+. $2.99 one-time purchase.

How the Codex 5-Hour Rolling Window Works

The 5-hour window is a rolling limit, not a fixed one. Here's what that means in practice:

• At 9:00 AM, you start coding and use 50% of your token limit
• At 11:00 AM, you use another 40% - you're now at 90%
• At 11:30 AM, you use 10% more - you're locked out
• At 2:00 PM (5 hours after 9 AM), the tokens from your 9 AM session start freeing up
• Your available limit gradually increases as older usage rolls off

This rolling nature makes it particularly hard to track manually. SessionWatcher handles this calculation for you in real-time, showing both your current usage and when capacity frees up.

SessionWatcher vs. Manual Monitoring

Feature	SessionWatcher	OpenAI Dashboard
Real-time token count	Yes	Delayed
5-hour window tracking	Yes	No
Rate limit warnings	macOS notifications	None
Setup required	10 seconds	Login each time
Workflow interruption	None (menu bar)	Switch to browser
Cost	$2.99 one-time	Free
	Download for Mac	Open Dashboard →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check my Codex usage?

You can check via the OpenAI dashboard at platform.openai.com/usage for historical data. For real-time monitoring including the 5-hour window, use SessionWatcher for Codex.

What is the Codex 5-hour rate limit window?

Codex enforces usage limits on a rolling 5-hour window. Tokens you used 5 hours ago start becoming available again. Without monitoring, you won't know when you're approaching the limit or when capacity frees up.

Why did my Codex stop working mid-session?

You've likely hit your rate limit for the current 5-hour window. Codex stops responding without a clear warning. SessionWatcher prevents this by alerting you before you reach the limit.

Is there a Codex monitor app for macOS?

Yes. SessionWatcher for Codex is a native macOS menu bar app that monitors your usage in real-time. $2.99 one-time purchase. Zero configuration, works in 10 seconds.