# Top-ups and payment issues

> Add one-time credits by card or PayPal, use promo codes, and fix a failed payment.

Source: https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/account/top-ups

Last verified: 2026-10-07 (checked against FlashBoards app build c82e588d3)

A top-up adds one-time credits to your balance. They're spent after your monthly subscription credits and stay available if your subscription ends. See [Plans and balance](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/account/plans-and-balance.md).

> **Note: Subscription required.** Top-ups need an active paid subscription. Without one, the section reads **Subscribe to unlock credit top-ups**. If subscription checkout can't start, you return to the pricing page with a message saying why, and your **Monthly** or **Annual** choice stays selected. See [Plans and balance](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/account/plans-and-balance.md#subscribe).

![Settings, Account tab, with top-up presets, the Other amount stepper and Add promotion code](https://media.yaroflasher.com/docs/media/account-topup.w1400.27cf2106.webp)

## Add credits

### Step 1: Open Balance

Open **Settings → Account** and find **Add credits (one-time)** under **Balance**.

### Step 2: Choose an amount

Pick $5, $10, $25, $50 or $100, or choose **Other** and set any whole-dollar amount from $1 to $5000.

### Step 3: Add a promo code (optional)

Open **Add promotion code** and type the code.

### Step 4: Pay

Click **Pay by card** or **PayPal**.

After paying, you return to the board with a **Top up successful.** toast, or **Top up canceled.** if you backed out.

## Pay with PayPal

After you approve the payment on PayPal, a **Confirming PayPal top-up** dialog finishes it and then closes. If it shows **PayPal top-up needs attention**, read the reason and click retry. If you were signed out meanwhile, the top-up still completes; check your balance after you sign in.

## Promo codes

* When a code lowers the price, you still get the full amount you chose.
* Some codes are card only. With PayPal you see "This promotion is available with card payment only." or "Use card payment for this promotion."
* Some codes need a minimum top-up and say so.
* "Promotion code is invalid or expired." or "This promotion is not available for credit top-ups." means the code can't be used here.
* For subscriptions, promo codes work on monthly plans only.

## Fix a payment problem

When your subscription payment has a problem, **Settings → Account** shows a warning card:

* **Payment Issue**: a payment failed or setup is incomplete.
* **Upgrade Pending**: an upgrade is waiting for payment. Your current plan keeps working.
* **Upgrade Failed**: an upgrade was canceled after payment retries failed.

Click **Fix Payment Method** (or **Manage Billing**) to update your card in the billing portal. If the portal can't open, you see **We couldn't open billing. Please try again.** The message stays until you close it.

> **Warning: Generations pause during a payment issue.** While a payment issue is open, generations, **Describe** and **Transcript** are paused, even if you have top-up credits. You see "Your subscription has a payment issue, so spending is paused, including top-up credits." Fix the payment method to continue. Buying new top-ups is also paused; the top-up section asks you to update your payment details.

**Manage** opens the same portal for payment methods and invoices while you have an active plan. For invoices from an ended subscription, contact support. For refunds, see [Plans and balance](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/account/plans-and-balance.md).

## Related

- [Plans and balance](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/account/plans-and-balance.md)
- [Referrals](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/account/referrals.md)
- [Billing](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/generation/billing.md)