If you're seeing the "Approaching 5-hour limit" message earlier than expected (e.g., only 3 hours into your session), there could be several explanations:
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Session timing discrepancy - There might be a difference between how you're tracking time versus how Claude Code measures session duration. The system might count from a different starting point or include time differently than you expect.
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Previous session continuation - It's possible that Claude Code is continuing from a previous session that didn't properly terminate, so the timer includes time from an earlier session.
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System behavior - There could be technical reasons why the warning appears earlier than expected, such as conservative estimates or system load considerations.
Since the specific technical details of how Claude Code's session timing works internally may not be readily available, you can:
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Check the Claude Code documentation at https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code for more precise information about session management.
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If the behavior seems incorrect or you're consistently seeing timing discrepancies, reach out to Anthropic support at https://support.anthropic.com - they would be able to investigate whether there's a technical issue or clarify how the session timing actually works.