> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://elephas.app/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# You've Used Your AI Allowance: What to Do

> Used up your Elephas AI allowance? See the messages, when your allowance resets, and how to keep asking with Local AI, your own API key or a bigger plan.

Elephas AI comes with an included monthly allowance. When it is used up, Elephas tells you the date it resets. Until then you can keep asking your documents with Local AI or your own API key, or move to a plan with a larger allowance.

## Before you start

* Only Elephas AI uses your allowance. Indexing, search and reading your documents happen on your computer and never use it. Local AI and your own API key do not use it either.
* To check your usage, open **Settings › AI**. The Elephas AI card shows **Included AI usage** with the share used and the reset date. Click **Refresh Usage** to update it.

## Messages and what they mean

| Message | What it means | What you can do |
| - | - | - |
| **You've used most of this period's allowance.** | You have used about 80% of this month's allowance. | Nothing yet. Consider Local AI for long questions. |
| **Elephas AI allowance used up. Resets \[date].** | This month's allowance is used up. The banner in Ask offers **Use your own key**. | Wait for the reset date, or use one of the options below. |
| **Your Elephas AI allowance is used up until \[date]. Use your own key in Settings to keep going.** | A question was refused because the allowance is used up. | Same as above. |
| **Elephas AI allowance used up. Some requests are still settling** | Your last questions are still being counted. | Wait a moment and try again. |
| **Your AI allowance ran out during this answer. Check usage in Settings.** | The allowance ran out partway through a long answer. | Ask a narrower question after the reset, or switch to Local AI or your own key. |
| **This question reads whole sources, so it may use noticeably more of your AI allowance than usual.** | A notice, not an error. Summaries and full-document questions read more text. | Ask about specific documents or pages to use less. |

### On a free trial

| Message | What it means |
| - | - |
| **You've used most of today's trial AI.** | You are close to today's trial limit. |
| **Today's included trial AI is used up. It resets \[date and time]. Your own key and the on-device model still work, or choose a plan in Settings › Plan & Billing.** | The trial has a daily limit. It resets at the time shown. |
| **Trial AI is paused right now. Your own key and the on-device model still work.** | Trial AI is temporarily unavailable. Try later, or use Local AI or your own key. |
| **Another question is still being answered on your trial. Wait for it to finish, then ask again.** | The trial answers one question at a time. |

The trial also has a total amount of included AI for the 7 days. It does not reset. See [free trial](/docs/plans-and-billing/free-trial).

### In a Team workspace

| Message | What it means | What you can do |
| - | - | - |
| **You've reached the limit your Team set for you until \[date].** | Your Team Owner or an Admin set a personal cap, and you reached it. | Ask your Team Owner or Admin to raise or remove your cap, or wait for the date shown. |

## Keep asking now

<Steps>
  <Step title="Switch to Local AI">
    Open **Settings › AI** and choose **Local (on this computer)** under **How Elephas answers**. Answers are generated on your computer and use no allowance. The first time, Elephas downloads a model of about 1.2 GB to 5.3 GB. See [run Local AI](/docs/ai-options/run-local-ai).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Or use your own API key">
    Choose **My own AI account**, connect a provider and paste your key. Your provider bills you directly. See [use your own API key](/docs/ai-options/use-your-own-api-key).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Or move to a plan with a larger allowance">
    Professional includes a larger Elephas AI allowance than Personal. See [upgrade your plan](/docs/plans-and-billing/upgrade-your-plan).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Or wait for the reset">
    Your allowance resets on the date shown in **Settings › AI**. Switch back to **Elephas AI (included with your plan)** any time.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Local AI and your own key work in Personal workspaces while your trial or paid plan is active. They need a short online plan check about once an hour. Team workspaces can use Local AI if your Team's policy allows it, but not personal keys.

The steps are the same on Mac and Windows.

## How it works

* **Monthly window.** Your included allowance runs for one month at a time, starting from the day your subscription started, not the first of the month. Unused allowance does not roll over. Annual plans still get a monthly allowance, not twelve months at once.
* **What counts.** Every Elephas AI request counts, including the extra steps Elephas takes to check an answer against your sources. Long questions over many documents use more than short, specific ones.
* **Upgrading.** When you move from Personal to Professional, the extra allowance for the rest of the current month is added once your payment goes through.
* **No extra packs.** You cannot buy extra AI usage inside Elephas today.

With Elephas AI, your question and the matching passages are sent to the Elephas gateway for an answer. See [what data is sent to AI](/docs/privacy-and-security/what-data-is-sent-to-ai).

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The usage meter looks out of date">
    Click **Refresh Usage** in **Settings › AI**. If Elephas cannot reach its server, it shows the last known figure and when it was checked.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Local AI or my own key also stopped working">
    Those need an active trial or paid plan, not allowance. Check **Settings › Plan & Billing**. See [API key errors](/docs/troubleshooting/api-key-errors) and [Local AI troubleshooting](/docs/troubleshooting/local-ai-troubleshooting).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Elephas AI isn't active on this plan">
    Elephas shows **Elephas AI isn't active on this plan. Renew your plan, or use your own API key in Settings.** Your plan has ended or is not active. See [when your plan ends](/docs/plans-and-billing/when-your-plan-ends).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Does adding documents use my allowance?">
    No. Adding, reading and indexing your documents happen on your computer and never use AI allowance.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do unused allowances carry over?">
    No. Each month starts fresh.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is the allowance a cash balance?">
    No. It is included usage, not money, and it is not refundable.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related articles

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="AI usage and credits" href="/docs/plans-and-billing/ai-usage-and-credits" />

  <Card title="Run Local AI" href="/docs/ai-options/run-local-ai" />

  <Card title="Use your own API key" href="/docs/ai-options/use-your-own-api-key" />

  <Card title="Upgrade your plan" href="/docs/plans-and-billing/upgrade-your-plan" />
</CardGroup>


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