[BUG] Claude Code defaults to 1M context on fresh session with no workaround on Pro plan

[kev124-hub]

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Here's a clean bug report summary you can paste directly into GitHub:

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Title: Claude Code defaults to 1M context on fresh session with no workaround on Pro plan

Plan: Pro ($20/month)
OS: macOS
Interface: Claude Code desktop app
Claude Code version: Latest

Description:
On a brand new session with no files open and no prior context, Claude Code throws the following error immediately:

API Error: Usage credits required for 1M context · turn on usage credits at claude.ai/settings/usage, or use --model to switch to standard context

I never requested 1M context. Session usage was at 0% (5-hour window: 5%, 7-day: 11%) when the error occurred.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Open Claude Code desktop app on Pro plan
2. Start a fresh session
3. Error appears immediately without any prompt or file loaded

Attempted workarounds — none resolved it:

• claude --model claude-sonnet-4-5 — same error
• claude --model claude-sonnet-4-6 — same error
• claude logout → claude login with Pro credentials only — same error

Expected behavior: Standard context window used by default on a fresh session. Pro plan should not require usage credits for standard context.

Actual behavior: 1M context is selected automatically with no way to override it via --model flag.

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That's everything they need to reproduce it. Post it at github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues.

What Should Happen?

Standard context window used by default on a fresh session. Pro plan should not require usage credits for standard context.

Error Messages/Logs

Usage limit reached
You've reached your usage limit. Try again after your limit resets.
View details
API Error: Usage credits required for 1M context · turn on usage credits at claude.ai/settings/usage, or use --model to switch to standard context

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open Claude Code desktop app on Pro plan
2. Start a fresh session
3. Error appears immediately without any prompt or file loaded

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

claude --version returns usage error

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

No response

[ALISAEED-1]

Same issue. Pro plan, 13% session / 43% weekly when error fires.

[1uuuNuuu1]

I purchased a Claude Sonnet subscription with a 200k token context limit. However:

Problem: When using Sonnet 4.6 in Claude Code, the system automatically forces 1M context window instead of respecting my 200k subscription limit
Error: System shows "Usage limit reached" because my plan only includes 200k
Impact: I cannot use the product I paid for
Current "solutions":
Pay extra for usage credits (additional charge)
Downgrade to Haiku (not what I purchased)
Expected behavior:

Either allow me to explicitly limit context to 200k (my subscription limit)
Or use the 1M context within my subscription (as Max/Max 20x plans do)
Precedent:
Per Issue #53477, Max and Max 20x subscribers now get 1M context included. Why not apply the same logic to all subscription tiers?

System Info:

Claude Code on macOS
Model: Claude Sonnet 4.6
Plan: 200k context subscription

[dsrigyan-dev]

What the hell, I am facing the same issue and lost my token without using it.Neither able to work nor is my quota available, I cant work on older model I need sonet or opus both are throwing same error, whats nees to be done

[wilsonnggp]

Has anyone found a fix for this?

[jamesfebin]

Same issue here. Still unresolved as of today. This bug burned through my paid credits. Requesting some workaround.