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Claude

Claude Code Credit Balance Too Low

When Claude Code shows Credit balance too low Add funds, check for a stray API key, then /status and /login to the Pro or Max subscription.

Reviewed by TechFixSignal EditorialSee how this guide is verified

Last checked
Sep 12, 2026
Applies to
Windows, Mac, Desktop
Fix status
Community Confirmed
Fastest useful check

Quick answer

Match Credit balance too low · Add funds with the platform.claude.com billing link, or the older Credit balance is too low wording. This guide is only for the auth-mismatch case: a stray ANTHROPIC_API_KEY or ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN makes Claude Code use the API path instead of a Pro or Max subscription. Run /status, unset those variables, remove a forceLoginMethod console setting if present, then /logout and /login and choose the Claude subscription account. Clear stale credentials under ~/.claude only if login still routes to the API path. This is not Please run /login · API Error: 401, not the Login successful then Not logged in loop, and not advice to add money.

On this page

What we're seeing

  • The exact screen is Credit balance too low · Add funds, usually with a platform.claude.com settings billing link. Older wording is Credit balance is too low.
  • Independent 2025–2026 first-hand anthropics/claude-code issues quote that screen while a Pro or Max subscription is already active, and /status shows an API key overriding OAuth.
  • Official Claude Code error docs also point at checking an API key and /login for this sentence, not only adding funds.
  • A true empty API-console balance is a different situation. This leftover is the auth-routing mismatch, not a billing recommendation.
  • Please run /login · API Error: 401 and Login successful then Not logged in · Please run /login are separate fingerprints.

Start here

Try these first

Fix 1

Confirm Credit balance too low

Community Confirmed

Match the billing-link sentence, then decide whether this is an auth-routing mismatch before changing credentials.

  1. Read the error. This guide is for Credit balance too low · Add funds, including Credit balance is too low.
  2. If the line is Please run /login · API Error: 401, stop here and use that separate guide.
  3. If you only see Login successful then Not logged in · Please run /login with no credit-balance sentence, stop here and use that separate guide.
  4. Run /status and note whether an API key or console login method is listed.

Applies to Windows, Mac, Desktop

Fix 2

Unset a stray API key or auth token

Community Confirmed

First-hand reports and official error docs for this screen clear when ANTHROPIC_API_KEY or ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN stop overriding a subscription login.

  1. In the same terminal that launches Claude Code, check whether ANTHROPIC_API_KEY or ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN is set.
  2. If either is set and you intend to use a Claude Pro or Max subscription, unset them for that session and remove them from the shell profile.
  3. If a Claude config forces console login, remove that forceLoginMethod console setting so subscription login can run.
  4. Do not paste keys or tokens into chat, tickets, or screenshots.

Applies to Windows, Mac, Desktop

Fix 3

Relogin to the Pro or Max subscription

Community Confirmed

First-hand leftovers for this screen finish with /status, /logout, and /login choosing the Claude subscription path rather than the API console path.

  1. Run /status and confirm the API-key row is gone.
  2. Run /logout, then /login.
  3. Choose the Claude subscription Pro or Max account, not the API console account.
  4. Retry the same request and confirm Credit balance too low is gone.

Applies to Windows, Mac, Desktop

Fix 4

Clear stale local credentials if login still routes to API

Community Confirmed

Some first-hand reports still hit this screen after a top-up or a new key until ~/.claude credentials were removed and /login was run again. Use this only after the env leftover.

  1. Fully quit Claude Code.
  2. Remove only the local Claude credentials file under ~/.claude if /status still shows an API path after unset.
  3. Start a new terminal, run /login to the subscription account, and confirm /status no longer lists an overriding API key.

Applies to Windows, Mac, Desktop

Device notes

Windows
Check User environment variables for ANTHROPIC_API_KEY or ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN as well as the current terminal.
Mac
Same unset and /login leftovers. A profile-exported API key is the common override.
Desktop
This leftover is auth routing, not a recommendation to add funds. A real empty console balance is out of scope here.

Official information

Checked on 12 September 2026, official Claude Code error docs name Credit balance is too low and tell people to check an API key and /login. First-hand anthropics/claude-code issues that quote Credit balance too low · Add funds show the same leftover when a stray key or console login hides a Pro or Max subscription. This is not a billing or add-funds guide.

Sources

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