• Copilot Agent Sessions run on GitHub Actions behind the scenes.
• This error isn’t about Copilot itself — it means Actions is blocked by billing.
• Even with a valid card:

1. The Actions spending limit may still be effectively $0 (budgets don’t unlock usage).
2. A past failed payment can silently block Actions.
3. Private repos require paid Actions to be explicitly enabled.
4. Billing changes can take time to fully apply.

• When Actions can’t start, the agent session fails immediately.
• If everything looks correct and it still happens, GitHub Support needs to remove the billing lock.

Hi,

This error usually means that GitHub has temporarily restricted paid features on your account due to a billing or authorization issue, even if your payment method looks fine on the surface. Sometimes this happens if a recent charge failed, was delayed, or is still pending with your bank.

A few things you can check:

First, go to Settings → Billing and plans → Payment information and make sure your payment method is marked as active and verified, not just added. Also check Billing → Transactions to see if there are any failed or pending payments.

Second, even though you increased the Actions budget, Copilot Agent Sessions use their own billing and usage system. So raising the Actions limit alone may not unblock agent sessions. Make sure your overall account spending limit and Copilot-related usage limits are also set high enough.

Third, try removing and re-adding your payment method, then refreshing your billing page and logging out and back in. This can sometimes re-trigger verification.

If everything looks correct and the error still appears, it’s very likely an account-level restriction on GitHub’s side. In that case, the best option is to contact GitHub Support with your screenshots and billing details. They can see the exact reason for the block and clear it if it’s a false flag.

You’re doing the right things already by checking budgets and limits. At this point, support should be able to resolve it for you.

Copilot Agent Sessions depend on GitHub Actions to run, so this error is usually triggered when Actions usage is blocked at the account level.

Even if a payment method is active, Agent Sessions can fail if:

• There is a past failed or reversed payment that placed a temporary billing hold on the account
• Actions paid usage is not fully enabled for the repository (especially for private repos)
• Billing or spending limit changes have not fully propagated yet
• The account is under a temporary authorization review

If your billing page shows no active issues but the error persists, this is typically something only GitHub Support can resolve by removing the billing restriction manually.

Providing screenshots and timestamps, as you’ve done, should help them diagnose it faster.