Github student 2 years free codespaces program

[ryanstewart047]

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Why I'm i having billing issues and denied access to codespaces while I'm on 2 years free Github student program? Do I still need to pay even though I'm approved to use codespaces for 2 years under the student program?

[ayushraistudio]

Hi @ryanstewart047,

Being on the GitHub Student Developer Pack gives you GitHub Pro benefits, which includes a generous monthly allowance for Codespaces, but it is not unlimited.

The error message "We are having a problem billing your account" typically happens in two scenarios:

1. Exceeded Monthly Quota:
   With the Student Pack (Pro), you get approximately 180 core hours and 20 GB of storage per month for free. If you have used up this quota, GitHub attempts to bill you for the additional usage. If your payment method is missing, expired, or declined, your access gets restricted.

2. Storage Costs:
   Even if you aren't running a Codespace, stopped Codespaces still consume storage. If you have many old, unused Codespaces, they might be eating up your 20 GB storage limit, triggering a bill for the overage.

How to fix this:

1. Check your Usage: Go to Settings > Billing and plans > Plans and usage. Look at the "Codespaces" section to see if you have reached 100% of your included hours or storage.

2. Manage Spending Limit: If you want to ensure you are never charged, go to Billing settings and set your "Spending Limit" to $0. This will simply pause your Codespaces when the free quota runs out, instead of trying to charge you (and causing this error).

3. Clean Up: Delete any unused Codespaces to free up storage space.

Since you are a student, you shouldn't need to pay unless you need more than the included Pro quota. Check the usage report first!

[shinybrightstar]

Hi @ryanstewart047

Thanks for reaching out. You can find solutions to most billing issues in our GitHub Codespaces Billing Guide.

If you need more help, the best place to get answers is by opening a ticket on our Support page.

Best of luck!

[ryanstewart047]

Thank you so much for your kind expert advice. I really appreciate this program. I will do as you suggested. Kind regards Ryan

…

On Mon, Jan 19, 2026, 14:30 Shiny Bright Star ***@***.***> wrote: Hi @ryanstewart047 <https://github.com/ryanstewart047> Thanks for reaching out. You can find solutions to most billing issues in our GitHub Codespaces Billing Guide <#181042>. If you need more help, the best place to get answers is by opening a ticket on our Support page <https://support.github.com/contact>. Best of luck! — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#184571 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASY2BEOUVVQU2FOCJAL2GDT4HTS7HAVCNFSM6AAAAACSBPWJ7CVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTKNJTHE2DGMQ> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

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