First, identify what you want to reset
“Reset Claude Code” can mean starting a fresh conversation, returning to saved work, recovering from a subscription usage limit, or diagnosing an API error. These are different problems: /clear starts a fresh conversation; it does not restore a usage allowance or reset an API rate limit.
Before troubleshooting a limit, check how Claude Code is authenticated. In your terminal, run:
claude auth status
The output identifies an authentication method, such as claude.ai, api_key, or third_party. If it indicates an API key or third-party provider, confirm which account or provider is configured before checking billing or limits. Anthropic Console instructions and Anthropic API headers below apply to direct Anthropic API use—not automatically to Bedrock, Vertex AI, Microsoft Foundry, or an organization’s gateway. (Claude Code CLI reference, authentication documentation)
| What you’re trying to do or seeing | Next step |
|---|---|
| Start a new task without the current conversation | Run /clear in Claude Code. |
| Return to earlier work | Use /resume or claude --resume to select a saved session. |
| A subscription usage limit | Run /usage; for reset timing, check Settings → Usage in Claude on the web or desktop. |
| An API error such as HTTP 429 | Identify the active provider first, then follow that provider’s error, limit, and retry guidance. |
Start a fresh Claude Code conversation
At the Claude Code prompt, run:
/clear
This starts a fresh conversation while leaving project files and project memory available. To return to saved work, use /resume in Claude Code or claude --resume from your terminal. Clearing conversation context is not the same as deleting every saved session. For a long conversation you want to continue, /compact summarizes context to free space; it is not a usage-limit reset. (Claude Code commands, session documentation)
Check and recover from a subscription usage limit
Run /usage to see plan usage information in Claude Code. For the account’s reset timing, open Settings → Usage in Claude on the web or in Claude Desktop. The displayed information is account-specific; there is no single reset time to assume for everyone. (Claude Code cost and usage documentation, Claude usage-limit guidance)
Use the limit shown to choose what to do:
- Five-hour session limit: The session window starts with your first message and resets five hours later. Settings → Usage shows current-session usage and time remaining. If this is the exhausted limit, wait for its displayed reset or use another continuation option only if your account offers one.
- Weekly limit: The weekly limit applies across models and resets at the day and time assigned to your account. Settings → Usage shows the next reset. A five-hour session reset does not replenish an exhausted weekly allowance, so wait for the weekly reset or use an eligible continuation option. (Claude usage and limit details)
- “Reset for free” offer: If your account has this offer, use Settings → Usage on the web or in Claude Desktop and select Reset for free. The offer restores whichever limit it names—the five-hour session limit or the weekly limit. The button is not available in Claude Code’s terminal or IDE. Offers are account-specific and may expire; check the offer shown in your account. (What is a limit reset?)
- Usage credits: Eligible subscribers on paid plans can enable usage credits in Settings → Usage to continue on pay-as-you-go billing after included limits are reached. Charges are additional to the subscription, and usage continues only within the configured spend limit or available balance. Check your account’s eligibility and billing settings before enabling credits. (Manage usage credits)
Do not switch models expecting to bypass a weekly limit: it applies across models. You can select a different model for task fit, but the official guidance cited here does not establish model switching as a general way to recover from subscription limits. (Claude models, usage, and limits)
Production API: a 429 is not a conversation reset
For direct Anthropic API requests, a 429 is not a subscription reset countdown. Inspect the error body and response headers. Anthropic documents rate limits that replenish continuously, and its errors guidance notes that a 429 can reflect a rate limit or a spend cap; a spend-cap error may not include retry-after. Check the Anthropic organization and workspace limits that apply to the credential before deciding whether to retry. (Anthropic API rate limits, API errors)
For a rate-limit response, use the supplied retry-after guidance when present rather than retrying immediately. Anthropic’s official SDKs retry transient failures with exponential backoff and honor that header when present. A spend-cap error needs the relevant billing or administrator action, not a conversation reset. If Claude Code is configured for another cloud provider or a gateway, check that provider’s error and limit documentation instead of assuming Anthropic Console limits or headers apply. (Anthropic API errors, Claude Code authentication)
For model choice, Anthropic’s guidance broadly describes Sonnet as suitable for most coding work and Opus as useful for harder reasoning tasks. Treat that as task-fit guidance, not a promise that changing models will resolve a 429 or spend cap, or that the models produce equivalent results. Validate model selection against your own production workload. (Models, usage, and limits in Claude Code)
Quick recap
- Fresh conversation:
/clear. - Saved work:
/resumeorclaude --resume. - Subscription limit:
/usage, then check account-specific reset timing in Settings → Usage. - Production 429: run
claude auth status, identify the provider, and follow the applicable error and retry guidance.
There is no universal “reset everything” command.
Sources
CLI reference — Claude Code Docs
Authentication — Claude Code Docs
Manage sessions — Claude Code Docs
Manage costs effectively — Claude Code Docs
How do usage and length limits work? — Claude Help Center
What is a limit reset? — Claude Help Center
Manage usage credits for paid Claude plans — Claude Help Center
Models, usage, and limits in Claude Code — Claude Help Center