Quick Fix: Head to My Rewards > Available Earned Unlocks in your Course Hero account, or peek at the balance in the bottom-left corner of your dashboard. Premier members? You can unlock up to 30 docs or User Questions.
What's Happening
Course Hero tracks your Unlocks in real time—those credits let you access premium study materials like textbook solutions or full answers to user questions. Earn them by uploading original content or buy them through a subscription. As of 2026, the platform keeps your Unlock balance front and center so you always know what you’ve got.
Step-by-Step Solution
Check your Unlock balance in two places: the bottom-left corner of your dashboard or under My Rewards. Here’s how to dig into the details:
- Sign into your Course Hero account at Course Hero.
- Glance at the bottom-left corner of your screen. Your current Unlock balance updates in real time.
- Want the full picture? Click your profile icon in the top-right and pick My Rewards.
-
Hit the Unlocks tab. You’ll see four key numbers:
- Available Earned Unlocks: Free credits from uploading your own study materials.
- Available Purchased Unlocks: Credits you bought with a subscription or one-time purchase.
- Used Unlocks: How many you’ve already spent this cycle.
- (Premier members only) Progress toward your 30 unlocks: A handy bar shows how many document or User Question unlocks you’ve used so far this month.
If This Didn't Work
Can’t see your Unlock balance? Try these quick fixes:
- Clear your browser cache: Hit Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac), tick “Cached images and files,” then clear. Refresh the page and check again.
- Switch browsers or devices: Log in on a different browser (say, Chrome to Firefox) or device to rule out wonky page rendering.
- Double-check your subscription: Go to Account Settings > Subscription. If your Premier membership lapsed, Unlocks may be on hold until you renew.
Prevention Tips
Keep your Unlock stash healthy with these habits:
- Upload often: Toss in original study materials every few weeks. Every 10 successful uploads nets you 5 Unlocks. Just remember—they expire after 30 days, so time your uploads wisely.
- Check your usage weekly: Pop into My Rewards to track how fast you’re burning through credits, especially before big exams or assignment crunches.
- Set up alerts: Turn on email notifications in Account Settings > Notifications so you get a heads-up when your balance dips low.
- Keep uploads original: Make sure everything you upload is fresh, not something you’ve already published elsewhere. Rejected uploads mean lost credits.
(Quick note: Course Hero won’t tip off schools about your activity, and using the platform for study help is totally fine—as long as you follow the rules and use content responsibly (Course Hero Terms of Use, 2026).)
