"Manual review request — Gemini API Free Tier project restricted with 403"

Gemini API
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1

I am on the google ai studio free tier. I created a personal project that does transcription, translation and content analysis.

Project Name: Transcription & Content Analysis Workbench_1.0.0.0.0.53_ML

Project ID: c241f088-d10d-43e8-83f7-92daa1249d40

I am getting a 403 error and unable to work on it. I am using it since Nov 2025 and it has been helping me a lot. I upload audio files and click process. It does the transcription, translation and then I upload the discussion guide along with transcription the tool created. Then it does content analysis. It really helps me. Can I please get the access back and continue using it? It will be a big help.

Thanks & Regards,

Mobasher Rahman

2

Getting a 403 API error response and / or seeing “Unavailable” next to your project in AI audio indicates a flag has been placed on your account. To proceed:

  1. If you’re on the free tier with no billing attached, please try the below steps:

  2. Check Model Availability & Rate Limits:

    • Ensure that the model you are requesting is available on your current plan. For example, not all models are available on the free tier. You can verify model availability, quotas, and limits on the AI Studio Rate Limit dashboard.

  3. Ensure you have completed age verification by navigating to Google Account Age Verification and verifying date of birth in Google Account Personal Info.

  4. Complete Phone Verification and turn on 2-Step Verification (2SV) on the Google Account associated with your project.

  5. Once age, phone and 2sv are configured, retry your request or create a new API key in Google AI Studio.

  6. If completing these steps still does not restore access (or if using a model requiring a paid tier), you might want to consider adding prepayment credits directly in Google AI Studio and/ or attaching a Google Cloud Billing account in the Google Cloud Console. Please note this will mean you lose your free tier quota.

  7. If you are on a paid tier:

    1. Check for banners / error callouts in the AI Studio Projects page & the Billing page. Mostly these flags cause visible banners or other errors on these pages with concrete next steps / appeal links. You can also check the email address associated with your project for information on next steps.

    2. If your GCP project/ billing account is suspended, you must submit an appeal directly through the Google Cloud Console following the Project Suspension Guidelines (Help Center)