API - https://api.cursor.com/v1/agents failing with usage_limit_exceeded

Support Bug Reports
, ,
1

I recently changed to the new consolidated Cursor/Grok plans and I have started getting the error below when trying to create a new cloud agent. Interacting with existing agents still works fine. I have the Premium plan and have 30% of my weekly usage left. I’m able to go to the Cloud Agents/Environment page and manually start and agent just fine so it seems to be an API issue.



"error": {
    "code": "usage_limit_exceeded",
    "message": "On-demand usage is required. Enable on-demand usage at https://www.cursor.com/dashboard?tab=settings to continue using Background Agents."
  }
2

Hi there!

We detected that this may be a bug report, so we’ve moved your post to the Bug Reports category.

To help us investigate and fix this faster, could you edit your original post to include the details from the template below?

Bug Report Template - Click to expand

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

  • Editor, Tab & Chat (autocomplete, Composer, in-editor agent)
  • Terminal & commands
  • Models, pricing & API keys (availability, Auto/Max, BYOK/Bedrock)
  • MCP & tools
  • Cloud Agents & Automations (cursor.com/agents, scheduled/event)
  • BugBot & Code Review
  • Cursor CLI
  • Cursor Mobile
  • Remote (SSH / Dev Containers / WSL)
  • Account, billing & login
  • Something else…

Describe the Bug
A clear and concise description of what the bug is.

Steps to Reproduce
How can you reproduce this bug? We have a much better chance at fixing issues if we can reproduce them!

  1. …
  2. …
  3. …

Expected Behavior
What is meant to happen here that isn’t working correctly?

Screenshots / Screen Recordings
If applicable, attach images or videos (.jpg, .png, .gif, .mp4, .mov)

Operating System

  • Windows 10/11
  • MacOS
  • Linux

Version Information

  • For Cursor IDE: Menu → About Cursor → Copy
  • For Cursor CLI: Run agent about in your terminal
IDE:
Version: 2.xx.x
VSCode Version: 1.105.1
Commit: ......

CLI:
CLI Version 2026.01.17-d239e66

For AI issues: which model did you use?
Model name (e.g., Sonnet 4, Tab…)

For AI issues: add Request ID with privacy disabled
Request ID: f9a7046a-279b-47e5-ab48-6e8dc12daba1
For Background Agent issues, also post the ID: bc-…

Additional Information
Add any other context about the problem here.

Does this stop you from using Cursor?

  • Yes - Cursor is unusable
  • Sometimes - I can sometimes use Cursor
  • No - Cursor works, but with this issue

The more details you provide, the easier it is for us to reproduce and fix the issue. Thanks!

8

Hey @geerzo, thanks for the report.

You’re right that this is specific to the API. Since the move to the new plans, agents created through the API aren’t being checked against your weekly included usage the way agents started from the web or desktop app are, so they get refused with that on-demand message even though you have usage left. Turning on on-demand won’t help here (the new plans don’t have that setting), so there’s nothing you need to change on your account.

I’ve flagged this to the team. In the meantime, starting new agents from the Cloud Agents page on cursor.com or from the desktop app works, as you’ve found.