Ask mode triggers Agent/Edit error with API key after update

[sheeenya]

Describe the Bug

Even when using only Ask mode and enabling only supported OpenAI models (such as gpt-4.1) with my own OpenAI API key, I always get the following error:
Agent and Edit rely on custom models that cannot be billed to an API key. Please use a Pro or Business subscription and/or disable API keys. Ask should still work.

This happens every time, even though I am not using Agent or Edit modes.

Steps to Reproduce

Register your own OpenAI API key in Cursor settings
Use the Ask mode to send a prompt
The error message appears every time

Expected Behavior

Ask mode should allow me to use my OpenAI API key with supported models for completions, without requiring a Pro or Business subscription, and without showing Agent/Edit errors.

Screenshots / Screen Recordings

Operating System

Windows 10/11

Current Cursor Version (Menu → About Cursor → Copy)

Version: 1.3.9 (user setup)
VSCode Version: 1.99.3
Commit: 54c27320fab08c9f5dd5873f07fca101f7a3e070
Date: 2025-08-01T20:19:30.453Z
Electron: 34.5.1
Chromium: 132.0.6834.210
Node.js: 20.19.0
V8: 13.2.152.41-electron.0
OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.22631

Additional Information

The API key is verified and working
This problem did NOT occur before updating Cursor. Everything worked as expected with the same API key and settings in the previous version.

Does this stop you from using Cursor

Yes - Cursor is unusable

[deanrie]

Hey, thanks for the report, could you let me know if you have an active Pro subscription?

[sheeenya]

I do not have a Pro subscription.

But my understanding is that Ask mode should work with my own OpenAI API key and supported models, even without Pro.
This worked fine before the latest update.

Thanks!

[deanrie]

Sorry, this isn’t working at the moment. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon.

[sheeenya]

Thanks for the update.
I’ll wait for the fix.

[Wiola09 (Miroslav Zeljković)]

Thanks for the update.

[wjybill (Junyu Wu)]

Thanks for the update.