# What to do when you hit a Claude Code or Codex usage limit

> Hit a Claude Code or Codex usage limit mid-task? Herdbell's Context Bridge writes a handoff from the chat on your Mac to paste into another agent.

Canonical: https://herdbell.com/blog/usage-limit-handoff
Last updated: 2026-10-27

A usage limit usually lands in the middle of a job. Starting again in another agent means explaining the project from scratch. Herdbell's Context Bridge reads the chat on your Mac and writes a short handoff, so the next agent picks up where the last one stopped.

## Hand off a chat in four steps

1. Open Herdbell with your shortcut and pick the chat that hit the limit.
2. Press **⌘H**. Herdbell reads the chat and builds the handoff in about a second.
3. Press **Return** for a short handoff (**Copy Quick**), or **Shift+Return** for the full one (**Copy Full**).
4. Paste it into the next agent. After you copy, the buttons under the card open the other agents for you.

## What is in a handoff

You can also press **S** to save it as a `HANDOFF.md` file in the project folder, handy if you want to keep it or continue tomorrow.

- **Goal:** what you originally asked for.
- **Files:** which files changed.
- **Commands:** what was run, the last test, and any errors.
- **Last said:** where the agent stopped, so the next one knows what is still open.

## Quick or Full?

**Quick** is about 20 lines: enough for most jobs. **Full** is several hundred words and carries more of the history, for long or complicated work. Start with Quick and use Full if the next agent asks for more.

## What to expect

Context Bridge never calls an AI model: it builds the handoff from the chat record and the project files already on your Mac, and nothing leaves your Mac. That makes it fast and private, and it means the handoff is only as complete as what the chat and the project contain. If part of a chat can't be read, the card says so.

## Common questions

### Does Context Bridge use an AI model?
No. It builds the handoff from the chat record and project files on your Mac, so it is instant, private and costs no tokens.

### Can I hand a chat from Claude Code to Codex?
Yes. A handoff is plain text you paste into any agent, so you can move a chat between Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and Antigravity.

## Related
- [Herdbell: pricing](https://herdbell.com/#pricing)
- [All posts](https://herdbell.com/blog)
- [How to approve Claude Code permissions without switching windows](https://herdbell.com/blog/approve-claude-code-permissions)
- [Claude Code vs Codex vs Cursor: how to monitor all of them in one place](https://herdbell.com/blog/claude-code-vs-codex-vs-cursor)
- [How to continue a Claude Code session in Codex or Cursor](https://herdbell.com/blog/continue-claude-code-session-in-another-agent)
- [How to monitor Claude Code and Codex usage from your Mac menu bar](https://herdbell.com/blog/monitor-claude-code-usage-mac-menu-bar)