01 · Starting settings
Start with Opus 5.5 on Max.
Higher effort means more thorough responses, but takes longer and uses your limits faster.
Model · this session
- Opus 5.5Selected
- Sonnet 5.5
- Fable 5.1
- Haiku 5.5
More models · Fast mode
Effort
- Low
- Medium App recommendation
- High
- Extra
- Max3.5× or more usage
- Ultracode
These model names and controls are retained from the October 2026 guide. Check your account for the options currently available to you.
02 · More demanding work
When to go bigger.
- Fable 5.1
- The answer depends on connecting facts across a whole file at once, like a project recommendation built from the full record.
- Ultracode
- The same prompt across many documents, like the same question in 40 reports. In the Code tab, choose Effort → Ultracode. Switch back to Max when done.
03 · Manage your usage
When to scale back.
If Settings → Usage doesn’t say On track, switch to:
- Sonnet 5.5 · High
- Jobs under 10 pages in and 2 pages out, like emails and short summaries.
- Opus 5.5 · High
- Everything bigger.
What to check in Usage
Look at both the current session and the week, along with their reset times. The guide’s example shows On track, with 21% of the current session and 15% of the week used.
Make the assignment count, whatever model you choose: read the prompting guide.