API Error: 429 over and over

[shaskola]

What happened?

When using the Gemini CLI on the free tier, I'm frequently encountering a 429 Resource Exhausted API error, even with moderate usage that didn't previously cause this issue. The tool suggests it will switch to the gemini-2.5-flash model for the remainder of the session, but this behavior is inconsistent and sometimes the tool gets stuck in an error loop.

Steps to reproduce the behavior:
Start the Gemini CLI in a new session (gemini).
Engage in a conversation with a few prompts (e.g., asking for code generation or explanations).
After a few interactions, the 429 API Error appears.
The tool sometimes fails to automatically switch to the gemini-2.5-flash model and continues to show the error on subsequent prompts.

[API Error: [{
"error": {
"code": 429,
"message": "Resource exhausted. Please try again later. Please
refer to
https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/docs/error-code-429
for more details.",
"errors": [
{
"message": "Resource exhausted. Please try again later. Please
refer to
https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/generative-ai/docs/error-code-429
for more details.",
"domain": "global",
"reason": "rateLimitExceeded"
}
],
"status": "RESOURCE_EXHAUSTED"
}
}
]]
Possible quota limitations in place or slow response times detected.
Switching to the gemini-2.5-flash model for the rest of this session.

What did you expect to happen?

A clearer warning before hitting the rate limit.
A consistent and successful automatic switch to the gemini-2.5-flash model as indicated by the error message, without getting stuck.

Client information

CLI Version 0.8.1 │
│ Model gemini-2.5-pro │
│ Sandbox no sandbox │
│ OS win32 │
│ Auth Method OAuth │
│ IDE Client IDE

Login information

Google account

Anything else we need to know?

No response

[lukemauldinks]

I am seeing the same thing via OAuth. I am connecting to a GCP project via oauth where I have Gemini Code Assist standard subscription and I have a license assigned to me and I can confirm that license is being used because in GCP the "License last used" date is today. Seeing the 429 errors for resource_exhausted. This has been happening for several days (including on the older 0.8.0 version)

│ CLI Version 0.9.0-preview.0 │
│ Git Commit c195a9a │
│ Model gemini-2.5-pro │
│ Sandbox no sandbox │
│ OS darwin │
│ Auth Method OAuth |

[babhishek21]

Related: #10790

[radoslawcz]

I am getting this error with a fresh session and on a Pro plan (which should give higher quota).

[aronsuarez]

Same here, the intit command fails, and the simpelst prompt also

[DoyunShin]

Same here.
When I use gemini over google account 429 appears.
After I check #1502 and followed to use gemini api key, 429 doesn't appears.

[BlueKittyMeow]

I am also having this issue occur now. Oauth with a paid plan. Low usage this week and now the error comes up occurring inconsistently, interrupting halfway through successful outputs. I finally received "✕ [API Error: Model stream ended with empty response text.]"

[eliliam]

After I check #1502 and followed to use gemini api key, 429 doesn't appears.

Just wanted to post this as a heads up to @DoyunShin as well as anyone who does this.

Using API auth BYPASSES the free tier as well as paid subscription tier, and you will receive a bill for all usage while using the API auth method. You must use the "Login with Google" option in order for it to use the free tier or a paid subscription. I ran into this exact thing and ended up with a $20 bill from just a handful of sessions(less than 10).

[eonist]

bump this.