COPILOT SAYS "You've reached your limit for today"

Question

COPILOT SAYS "You've reached your limit for today"

Stephen Reid 0

I'M IN EXCEL 365 TRYING TO USE COPILOT BUT IT OPENS A DIALOG BOX THAT SAYS "You've reached your limit for today" I HAVN'T USED COPILOT IN THE PAST 24 HOURS. HOW DO I FIX THIS

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Thomas4-N 22,395 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Stephen Reid,

I understand the message is confusing when you haven’t used Copilot in the past 24 hours.

Microsoft distinguishes between feature limits and monthly AI credits, so a 24-hour break may not resolve every usage limit. However, the message alone doesn’t confirm which limit applies here.

Could you confirm whether you’re using a personal Microsoft 365 subscription or a work/school account?

If it’s a personal subscription, open your Microsoft account’s Services & subscriptions section and check the status of your AI credits and limits. Please let us know whether it shows any allowance remaining.

Microsoft explains this here: AI usage and limits for Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

Stephen Reid 0 Reputation points

2026-10-10T08:43:37.7633333+00:00

I'm using the Personal edition. Subscription info states I have a zero balance in AI Credit Balance (all 60 credits used), that credits renew at the start of the month.- This provided when I checked using the Account Settings in Excel. HOWEVER, I was able to access Copilot and create formulas and work un my workbook in the Copilot desktop app with no problem despite the fact that I signed in using the same Microsoft account.

Answer 2

This message can be caused by Copilot usage limits in Microsoft 365 apps, even when Copilot still works in other entry points. In Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and similar Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot usage can consume AI credits, and once those are exhausted, Copilot can show limit or out-of-credits messages in the app.

Try these checks in Excel first:

Confirm the signed-in account in Excel
- Open File > Account.
- Verify the account under User Information is the account that owns the eligible Microsoft 365 subscription.
- If old work, school, or personal accounts are signed in, sign them out, then restart Excel.
Refresh the license in Excel
- In Excel, go to File > Account.
- Select Update License.
- Close and reopen all Microsoft 365 apps.
Check whether Copilot works in Excel for the web
- Open Excel on the web at https://www.microsoft365.com/launch/excel and sign in with the same account.
- If Copilot works there, the license is active and the issue is likely limited to the desktop app.
If using a business or school account
- Ask the Microsoft 365 admin to confirm that Copilot is assigned to the exact user account.
- If the license was assigned recently, it may take up to 24 hours to appear.
If using Microsoft 365 Family
- Copilot benefits apply only to the subscription owner, not accounts using the subscription through Family sharing.
- The owner gets 60 AI credits per month in Microsoft 365 apps.
If credits are already exhausted
- Reinstalling Office does not restore them.
- The credits must reset, or a higher plan is required for higher usage.

If the account is correct, the license is refreshed, and the limit message still appears despite available credits, contact Microsoft Support for an entitlement and AI-credit status check.