Paying Gemini subscribers report five‑hour lockouts following new usage reset

Google changed how Gemini Apps usage limits work on May 17, 2026, and paying subscribers began posting complaints within days that they were being locked out after relatively light use. Google’s current help documentation says Gemini Apps now use compute-based limits that depend on prompt complexity, model choice and chat length, and that a user’s limit “refreshes every 5 hours until you reach your weekly limit.” PiunikaWeb reported on May 20 that Pro and Ultra subscribers said the new system was more restrictive than the old setup, citing screenshots and user complaints posted online. TechNave and Android Authority separately reported similar backlash from paying users, including claims that some subscribers were hitting the new cap after only a small number of prompts. (support.google.com) ### What exactly did Google change on May 17? Google’s Gemini Apps Help page says that, starting May 17, 2026, usage limits changed for consumer Gemini plans. The company says the service now uses compute-based limits rather than a simple prompt count, and that those limits factor in the complexity of a request, the model being used, the features involved and the length of a chat. (piunikaweb.com) The same page says the new system refreshes every five hours until a weekly limit is reached. Google also notes that Gemini Apps limits “may change,” and says capacity conditions can affect how much access users get at a given time. ### Why are subscribers saying they were locked out so quickly? PiunikaWeb’s May 20 report said paying users described hitting the new cap after a small number of prompts, with complaints tied to Pro and Ultra subscriptions. (support.google.com) TechNave said screenshots circulating online showed users comparing the old daily-style limits with the new five-hour window and arguing that the revised allowances were materially lower for paid tiers. Android Authority reported on May 21 that Google’s changes to Pro and Ultra limits had left subscribers unhappy with what they described as tighter restrictions. Those reports relied on user posts and screenshots rather than a new formal Google statement addressing the complaints. ### Which plans are affected by the new system? (piunikaweb.com) Google’s help documentation lists Gemini Basic, Google AI Plus, Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra as the consumer tiers covered by the current limits page. The page also lays out different caps by model and feature, including prompt allowances for Gemini models, Deep Research, image generation, screen automation and agent requests. (androidauthority.com) TechNave reported that users discussing the change referenced AI Plus, Pro and Ultra plans in particular. Google’s own support pages say Ultra includes “the highest usage limits,” while Pro and Plus provide expanded access above the no-plan baseline. ### Is Google saying these are fixed prompt caps? (support.google.com) Google’s help page does not describe the new system as a flat prompt counter. Instead, it says usage is compute-based, meaning a heavier request can count differently from a short, simple one. That helps explain why some users say they hit the limit after what they considered a small number of prompts, though Google has not publicly detailed the exact weighting formula on the support page reviewed here. (technave.com) A Google community thread from earlier this year also shows users asking about reset times and quota behavior, though community responses are not official policy. The official support page remains the clearest published source for the current rules. ### Where can users check the current limits now? (support.google.com) Google’s Gemini Apps Help Center currently hosts the live limits page for consumer subscribers. That page lists the May 17 change notice, the five-hour refresh language and the plan-by-plan feature caps that apply now. (support.google.com 1) (support.google.com 2)