OpenAI is temporarily lifting usage limits on its GPT-5.6 Sol model following a surge in demand over the past 48 hours. On Sunday, OpenAI announced it is removing the existing five-hour usage restriction for Plus, Pro, and Business plans, while also resetting current usage for all users.
“The last 48 hours of Codex and ChatGPT Work have been intense,” said OpenAI product lead Tibo in a post on X. The company is extending usage for users by eliminating the five-hour limit that previously restricted work periods.
Codex and ChatGPT count local messages and cloud-based tasks against a shared usage limit. Typically, ChatGPT operates on a rolling five-hour window, and additional weekly limits may apply based on the user’s plan or model. The removal of the restriction allows users to continue working without interruptions due to the exhaustion of the five-hour window.
To further enhance user experience, OpenAI is also improving the efficiency of GPT-5.6 Sol, which is expected to reduce overall usage and increase the amount of work users can complete without exceeding limits. Tibo noted, “[We are] rolling out changes that will make GPT-5.6 Sol more efficient across the board and that will be reflected in less usage being used so that it can take you further.”
The specific methods used to reduce GPT-5.6 Sol’s usage have not been disclosed, but the changes are anticipated to stem from lower token consumption. Additionally, OpenAI has issued a one-time usage reset, providing users with increased capacity to utilize the model for coding and agentic work, although incomplete removal of all limits has not been indicated.
