> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://concentrate.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Key exhaustion

> Get a heads-up when an API key is forecast to hit its usage cap soon

Key exhaustion looks at how fast a key is burning through its period limit and warns you when it's projected to run out within the window you set. Use it when you want lead time to raise the limit, rotate the key, or investigate — before the key actually gets capped and starts rejecting requests.

## When to use it

* You set period limits on keys and want a heads-up before they're hit.
* A key's burn rate jumped and you want to know before it runs dry.
* Pairs well with [key limit](/docs/alerts/key-limit) — exhaustion forecasts, key limit fires the moment usage actually crosses your percentage threshold.

Keys without a period limit are skipped — there's nothing to forecast against.

## What you configure

| Setting             | What it does                                                                                                            |
| ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Hours Threshold** | Alert fires when the key is projected to exhaust its limit within this many hours (default 24).                         |
| **Scope**           | What to watch — your User keys, individual keys (Per API Key), or for organizations, Organization / Team / Per API Key. |
| **Schedule**        | How often to evaluate — hourly, daily, or weekly.                                                                       |

## How you're notified

Email and/or SMS, based on your preferences in **Settings → Notifications**. See [the alerts overview](/docs/alerts/overview) for delivery details and cooldown behavior.