Request for manual review — Gemini API Free Tier access restricted

Gemini API
1

My Gemini API access has been restricted and AI Studio shows that billing must be enabled to continue.

I am not trying to enable paid billing. I would like to continue using the Free Tier.

I confirmed that this is not specific to my existing project. Today (September 13, 2026), I created a completely new Google Cloud project (“Gemini Test”). No API key was created and no API requests were made from this project. Immediately after importing it into Google AI Studio, the new project was already shown as “Restricted” and the billing tier was unavailable.

My existing “Default Gemini Project” is also Restricted.

The Google Cloud Console also shows no Gemini API traffic for September 12–13 on the existing project.

Could the Gemini API team please manually review the Free Tier restriction on my account/projects and confirm why newly created, unused projects are immediately Restricted?

I do not want to enable paid billing; I am requesting review of the Free Tier access restriction.

3

I am experiencing the same issue.

My new Google Cloud project is immediately shown as Restricted in Google AI Studio, with the message:

“This project’s API access is restricted. Please set up your billing information to continue.”

Project:

  • Project name: Gemini test
  • Project ID: gemini-test-510..
  • Project number: 403966228…

I have already completed:

  • Age verification
  • Phone number verification
  • 2-Step Verification

I also confirmed:

  • I can create Google Cloud projects normally.
  • Gemini API can be enabled successfully.
  • A new Gemini API authorization key can be created.
  • The newly created project is still Restricted.
  • Another Google account’s Gemini API key works normally in the same third-party chat application, so this does not appear to be a client-side or API-key-format issue.

I would like to use the Gemini API Free Tier for personal, low-volume development/testing and would prefer not to enable paid billing.

Could the Gemini API team please review the restriction on this account/project and let me know whether the Free Tier can be restored?

No API keys or private credentials are included here.