Deepseek models in Cursor through API Key or "Add Model"

Discussions
1

Hello,
There are many posts about integrating Deepseek into Cursor, but after going through all of them, no post seems to solve the problem of using Deepseek in Cursor.

I see two usage modes:

1/

The Add Model option: even when typing the model code names suggested in a post "Workaround: You can add them back now using custom model identifiers in Cursor Settings → Models → Add Model with these keys:

  • deepseek-r1-0528

  • deepseek-v3.1" "

“
Cursor cannot find the referenced models.

2/
The other method is the API key, but I get an error message after creating an API key on Deepseek (and paying): “{“error”:{“type”:“provider”,“reason”:“provider_error”,“message”:“Provider returned 403”,“retryable”:false,“provider”:{“status”:403,“body”:”{“error”:“please check the api-key you provided”}\n"}}}"

I do have credit on the DeepseekAPI key.

Could someone explain to the community how to use Deepseek with either method?

Thank you in advance,

2

Hey, thanks for the report.

Method 1: Add Model (recommended)

DeepSeek models were removed from the default list, but you can add them manually:

  1. Open Cursor Settings > Models > Add Model
  2. Add these IDs:
    • deepseek-r1-0528
    • deepseek-v3.1

Important: R1 doesn’t support agent mode, and that’s expected.

If the models still don’t show up after adding them, please share a screenshot of the Add Model window and the full error text (if there is one).

Method 2: API Key

DeepSeek API keys aren’t officially supported in Cursor Settings > Models > API Keys. That feature only works with:

  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • Google
  • Azure OpenAI
  • AWS Bedrock

More details: API Keys | Cursor Docs

The 403 error "please check the api-key you provided" happens because Cursor routes requests through its own backend, and it doesn’t support DeepSeek directly.

Solution: Use the Add Model method above. Cursor will use its own DeepSeek integration, not your API key.

Let me know if that helped.

3

Thanks Dean,

I am sorry but I can’t find neither the deepseek-r1-0528nor the deepseek-v3.1.

It seems it tries to search for it but nothing happened.
I am in France
Thanks

image
image1186×530 18.7 KB

4

Thanks for the info. You need to click the “Add Custom Model” button in the screenshot.

Steps:

  • Click “+ Add Custom Model”
  • In the field that appears, manually enter: deepseek-r1-0528
  • Click Add
  • Repeat for deepseek-v3.1

After you add them, the models will show up in Cursor Settings > Models.

Let me know if it worked.

5

Great ! Thanks it works fine now.
Juste