What this error means

OAuth authentication succeeds for third-party tools (OpenClaw/Codex) but API calls return 429 quota exceeded despite active ChatGPT Plus subscription is a OpenAI API failure pattern reported for developers trying to fix quota routing between first-party chatgpt usage and third-party oauth api access; determine if separate quota bucket exists. Based on the imported evidence, treat this as a tool-specific troubleshooting page rather than a generic API error.

Why this happens

GitHub Issue #2951 on openai/openai-python opened Mar 10, 2026. Minimal repro with specific command sequence. Labels: bug. Distinct from other OpenAI rate-limit issues — this is about OAuth quota separation specifically. Mapping: OpenAI API quota/rate-limit → OpenAI API (approved category).

Common causes

  • GitHub Issue #2951 on openai/openai-python opened Mar 10, 2026. Minimal repro with specific command sequence. Labels: bug. Distinct from other OpenAI rate-limit issues — this is about OAuth quota separation specifically. Mapping: OpenAI API quota/rate-limit → OpenAI API (approved category).

Quick fixes

  1. Confirm the exact error signature matches OAuth authentication succeeds for third-party tools (OpenClaw/Codex) but API calls return 429 quota exceeded despite active ChatGPT Plus subscription.
  2. Check the OpenAI API account, local tool state, and provider configuration involved in the failing workflow.
  3. Reduce request pressure, check quota or plan limits, and retry with backoff instead of immediate repeated requests.

Platform/tool-specific checks

  • Verify the command, editor, extension, or API client that produced the error.
  • Compare local settings with CI, deployment, or editor-level settings when the error appears in only one environment.
  • Avoid deleting credentials, local model data, or project settings until the failing scope is clear.

Step-by-step troubleshooting

  1. Capture the exact error message and the command, editor action, or request that triggered it.
  2. Check whether the failure is account/auth, quota/rate, model/provider, local runtime, or deployment configuration.
  3. Review the source evidence below and compare it with your environment.
  4. Apply one change at a time and rerun the smallest failing action.
  5. Keep the working fix documented for the team or deployment environment.

How to prevent it

  • Keep provider/tool configuration documented.
  • Record non-secret diagnostics such as tool version, provider name, model name, and command path.
  • Add a lightweight check before CI or production workflows depend on the tool.