UsageAtlasBeta
Sign inGitHubOpen source
Codex

Codex usage alerts: warn before you hit the limit

Set a Codex usage alert that fires before the window runs out. How thresholds work, why one notification is better than many, and what to do when it fires.

By UsageAtlas on

Quick answer

Open Usage alerts in UsageAtlas, turn on the Codex window you care about, and set the remaining percentage that should trigger a desktop notification. Each rule fires once per window per reset cycle, so it warns you without nagging. Set a higher threshold for the weekly window than the short one.

Set the threshold

  1. Install UsageAtlas and let it detect Codex.
  2. Open Usage alerts and select the short and weekly windows.
  3. Set the short window to 20% and the weekly window to 30% to start.
  4. Leave the app running in the tray or menu bar.

The right threshold depends on how long your tasks run. If one agent run consumes 10% of a window, warn at 25% so you can finish.

Why one alert per cycle

Alerts that repeat get muted, and a muted alert is worse than none. UsageAtlas sends one notification when the window crosses your threshold, then waits for the reset before it can fire again.

  • One rule per window, not one per percentage step.
  • No notification spam during a long run.
  • The Today view always shows the live number if you want detail.

What to do when it fires

  1. Finish the current task rather than starting a new one.
  2. Check which window triggered the alert.
  3. If it is the short window, plan a break or switch models.
  4. If it is the weekly window, move overflow to API billing or another tool.

Set alerts at the point of action

An alert is only useful if it arrives while you can still change something. Warning at 50% of a weekly window is noise; warning when the remaining allowance is one long session is actionable.

  • Set one alert for the window, at the remaining amount where you would stop.
  • Set one for spend, if you pay for overage.
  • Fire once per cycle, not repeatedly.
  • Review the threshold after a month and adjust it.

UsageAtlas fires one alert per reset cycle and shows the same figure in the tray. The reset guide explains the cycle.

Questions, answered

Do Codex usage alerts work when the app is closed?

No. The app must be running, but it can sit in the tray or menu bar and start at login.

Can I set different alerts for the weekly and short windows?

Yes. Each window has its own rule and threshold.

Will I get an alert for every session?

No. A rule fires once per window per reset cycle, then stays quiet until the next cycle.

Browse by topic