I am currently using the free plan. Whenever I start a new chat or open any existing one, the model is automatically set to Cursor Grok 4.6 Medium. I am unable to change it or use it, as this model requires a Pro plan.
I have tried to change the default model by going to Settings → Models and leaving only GPT 5.6 Sol selected. However, after restarting the application, Cursor Grok 4.6 Medium reappears in the list and is selected again.
Could you please help me resolve this issue? I would like to be able to use only the models available on the free plan without the automatic switch to a Pro-only model.
Hey, thanks for the report. This is expected behavior on the Free plan, not something broken on your side.
On the Free plan without your own API key, the model picker is locked to one model, right now that’s Cursor Grok 4.6 Medium, with a lock icon. That’s why it comes back after restart, and why unchecking models in Settings > Models doesn’t change anything. The lock overrides your selection.
Main point: the lock doesn’t disable AI. Cursor Grok 4.6 Medium works on Free within your included usage, so chat and agent are available. The Upgrade to Pro prompt is about unlocking other models, not this locked one. If you want to choose models like GPT 5.6 Sol, you’ll need a paid plan or to add your own API key in settings.
If you’re getting a specific error when sending a message, for example You’ve hit your usage limit, please share a screenshot with the exact error text and the Request ID (top right of the chat menu > Copy Request ID), and we’ll take a look at what’s happening on your account.
@nic_m, you’re on the Start plan, so it’s a bit different. If Composer shows an error, please send a separate screenshot with the exact error text and the Request ID, and we’ll dig in.
Hi @deanrie, Yes raised it as a separate issue as well but got unlisted saying its a “This looks like a billing-related query” I just bought cursor Start today, PFA my requestIds: all using Grok ( a9bd82cb-44a2-47bc-85ec-725b0df1d8c1, 48a760f2-d2b1-4565-ad7b-379dbe173048) as not allowing me to switch to composer.
@nic_m, we figured it out, and sorry for the early back and forth. The issue isn’t your account or billing. Your Start subscription is active and set up correctly.
The cause is your Cursor version. You’re on 3.10.20, and that shipped before Start got the switchable model picker. On that version, the picker stays locked to one model with an upgrade hint, which is exactly what you’re seeing.
Update Cursor to the latest version: Cursor menu > Check for Updates. After updating, the picker in Agent and Ask will let you switch between Composer 2.5 and Cursor Grok 4.6. Those are the two models included in Start.
The rest is already being handled in your thread: Cant switch between models on Agent Mode in IDE. Let’s continue there so we don’t duplicate. Let me know if anything’s still not working after the update.
Ich habe das gleiche Problem: Der Modell-Picker bleibt fest auf “Cursor Grok 4.6 Medium” (gesperrt) stehen – bei jedem neuen Chat, auch nach komplettem Neustart der App. Ich bin auf dem kostenlosen Hobby-Plan (kein Pro-Abo, das Kontingent setzt sich monatlich zurück), habe aber einen gültigen Anthropic API-Key hinterlegt (Toggle aktiv, “Secret saved”, Claude Opus 5 und Claude Sonnet 5 sind in Settings → Models entsperrt/aktiviert und stehen oben in der Liste). Trotzdem lässt sich im Chat-Eingabefeld kein anderes Modell auswählen – weder per Klick auf den Modellnamen noch per Cmd+/.
Meines Verständnisses nach sollte es mit einem eigenen API-Key möglich sein, Claude-Modelle unabhängig vom Plan zu nutzen und selbst zu bezahlen – das war für mich der eigentliche Grund, den Key überhaupt einzurichten. Aktuell verhindert der Picker-Lock aber genau das.
Hey @Benjamin_Mossier, thanks for the detailed write-up. What you’re seeing is expected behavior on the Free Hobby plan, not something broken in your setup.
On the Free plan, the model picker is locked, and using your own API key BYOK with Agent and Chat is only available on a paid plan. Seeing Secret saved, having the toggle enabled, and having Claude Opus 5 and Sonnet 5 checked in Settings > Models doesn’t unlock it by itself. On the Free plan, requests to the agent using your own key are gated on the server regardless of those settings. That’s why the picker stays on Cursor Grok 4.6 Medium.
To use your Anthropic key with Claude models, you’ll need a paid plan Pro. After upgrading, the picker will unlock and you’ll be able to select your BYOK models.
If you upgrade to Pro and it still won’t switch, reply here with a screenshot of the picker and the Request ID (top right of the chat > Copy Request ID) and we’ll take a look.
The issue is that even if I add a custom local model, it is not allowing me to switch. For a brief moment when I refresh I am able to see the custom model, but as soon as I try switching it, the picker is being locked with the current free version of cursor. Now, this is the behaviour which shouldn’t happen when adding a local model right?
Hey @yash_renwa. This is expected behavior on the Free plan, not something broken in your setup.
On the Free plan, the model picker is locked right now it’s pinned to Cursor Grok 4.6 Medium with a lock icon. Custom and local models, as well as BYOK with your own API key for Agent and Chat, are only available on a paid plan. That’s why your custom model may briefly show up on refresh, but you can’t select it the request is gated on the server no matter what you pick in Settings > Models.
To use your own custom or local models, you’ll need a paid plan Pro. After upgrading, the picker unlocks and you’ll be able to switch models.
If switching still doesn’t work after moving to Pro, share a screenshot of the picker and the Request ID right top corner of the chat > Copy Request ID and we can check what’s happening on your account.
Hi i just go a same issue, and i’m just try to start first time using it on a free plan. it also default lock my model with gork 4.6 and stop me from changing others model like gpt or other cursor provided model . is there any solution to temporary fix kind of issue? thanks!
Hey @cyhuai. This is expected behavior on the Free plan, not something broken in your setup.
On the Free plan (without your own API key on a paid plan), the model picker is locked to a single model, right now that is Cursor Grok 4.6 Medium, with a lock icon. That’s why it switches back after a restart, and unchecking items in Settings > Models doesn’t change anything.
Key point: the lock doesn’t disable AI. Cursor Grok 4.6 Medium works on Free within the included usage, so chat and agent are available. The Upgrade to Pro prompt is about unlocking other models, not this locked one.
If you want to pick other models yourself (for example GPT 5.6 Sol), you’ll need a paid plan or to add your own API key in settings.
If you see a specific error when sending a message, send a screenshot with the exact text and the Request ID (top right of the chat > Copy Request ID), and we can check what’s going on with the account.
