Getting "Unauthorized User API key" in regular cursor window agent panel

Bug Reports
1

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor IDE

Describe the Bug

Getting “Unauthorized User API key” in regular cursor window agent panel
Request ID: c5298b99-3a4f-4827-8b6c-c4df62641138
{“error”:“ERROR_BAD_USER_API_KEY”,“details”:{“title”:“Bad User API key”,“detail”:“Unauthorized User API key”,“isRetryable”:false,“additionalInfo”:{},“buttons”:,“planChoices”:},“isExpected”:true}
ConnectError: [unauthenticated] Error
at jZc.$endAiConnectTransportReportError (vscode-file://vscode-app/Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:6331:408762)
at dLo._doInvokeHandler (vscode-file://vscode-app/Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:6948:21873)
at dLo._invokeHandler (vscode-file://vscode-app/Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:6948:21615)
at dLo._receiveRequest (vscode-file://vscode-app/Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:6948:20377)
at dLo._receiveOneMessage (vscode-file://vscode-app/Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:6948:19194)
at _Pt.value (vscode-file://vscode-app/Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:6948:17286)
at _e._deliver (vscode-file://vscode-app/Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:49:2962)
at _e.fire (vscode-file://vscode-app/Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:49:3283)
at tpt.fire (vscode-file://vscode-app/Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:6316:12156)
at MessagePort. (vscode-file://vscode-app/Applications/Cursor.app/Contents/Resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:8977:18439)

Steps to Reproduce

type anything into agent panel and hit enter

Screenshots / Screen Recordings

Screenshot 2025-12-03 at 11.12.45 AM.png
Screenshot 2025-12-03 at 11.12.45 AM.png684×370 13.2 KB

Operating System

MacOS

Current Cursor Version (Menu → About Cursor → Copy)

Version: 2.1.46
VSCode Version: 1.105.1
Commit: ab326d0767c02fb9847b342c43ea58275c4b1680
Date: 2025-12-02T03:59:29.283Z
Electron: 37.7.0
Chromium: 138.0.7204.251
Node.js: 22.20.0
V8: 13.8.258.32-electron.0
OS: Darwin arm64 24.6.0

Does this stop you from using Cursor

Yes - Cursor is unusable

2

Hey, thanks for the report. The “Unauthorized User API key” error is often related to a bug with the “Override OpenAI Base URL” toggle.

Please try:

  1. Settings > Models > API Keys: turn off “Override OpenAI Base URL” and clear the Base URL field.
  2. Fully close Cursor (Cmd+Q) and restart it.
  3. If you’re using OpenRouter or any custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint - it’s not supported yet and causes these errors: Unauthorized User API key - OpenRouter + Anthropic API Key

If the toggle turns on by itself, that’s a known bug (being worked on):

Can you share:

  • A screenshot of Settings > Models > API Keys (toggle state and Base URL)
  • Which model and provider (OpenAI/Anthropic/Google/Azure/AWS)
  • Console errors (Help > Toggle Developer Tools) when the error appears

Let me know if this helps. If not, we’ll escalate it further.