User API Key Rate limit exceeded issue

[xiaodong_chen]

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor IDE

Describe the Bug

User API Key Rate limit exceeded，which I donot have any API key in cursor.

Steps to Reproduce

this just happen when I use gpt 5.5, then the this message appears

Expected Behavior

It mean to allow me have enough usage instead of telling me the api key rate limit execeeded.

Screenshots / Screen Recordings

Operating System

Windows 10/11

Version Information

Version: 3.4.20 (user setup)
VSCode Version: 1.105.1
Commit: 0cf8b06883f54e26bb4f0fb8647c9500ccb43310
Date: 2026-05-15T02:26:10.351Z
Layout: editor
Build Type: Stable
Release Track: Default
Electron: 39.8.1
Chromium: 142.0.7444.265
Node.js: 22.22.1
V8: 14.2.231.22-electron.0
OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200

For AI issues: which model did you use?

Version: 3.4.20 (user setup)
VSCode Version: 1.105.1
Commit: 0cf8b06883f54e26bb4f0fb8647c9500ccb43310
Date: 2026-05-15T02:26:10.351Z
Layout: editor
Build Type: Stable
Release Track: Default
Electron: 39.8.1
Chromium: 142.0.7444.265
Node.js: 22.22.1
V8: 14.2.231.22-electron.0
OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200

For AI issues: add Request ID with privacy disabled

Request ID: b2e899b1-4ce2-4e0e-bba3-156d14deb1de
User Provided API Key Rate Limit Exceeded. User API Key Rate limit exceeded
O3t: User Provided API Key Rate Limit Exceeded. User API Key Rate limit exceeded
at Vf0 (vscode-file://vscode-app/d:/Users/cxd-d/AppData/Local/Programs/cursor/resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:29945:25237)
at Wf0 (vscode-file://vscode-app/d:/Users/cxd-d/AppData/Local/Programs/cursor/resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:29945:24382)
at Zf0 (vscode-file://vscode-app/d:/Users/cxd-d/AppData/Local/Programs/cursor/resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:29946:6490)
at FTp.run (vscode-file://vscode-app/d:/Users/cxd-d/AppData/Local/Programs/cursor/resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:29946:11286)
at async kks.runAgentLoop (vscode-file://vscode-app/d:/Users/cxd-d/AppData/Local/Programs/cursor/resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:42292:18635)
at async tuf.streamFromAgentBackend (vscode-file://vscode-app/d:/Users/cxd-d/AppData/Local/Programs/cursor/resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:42360:12685)
at async tuf.getAgentStreamResponse (vscode-file://vscode-app/d:/Users/cxd-d/AppData/Local/Programs/cursor/resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:42360:19914)
at async _St.submitChatMaybeAbortCurrent (vscode-file://vscode-app/d:/Users/cxd-d/AppData/Local/Programs/cursor/resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:30061:17378)
at async Object.hu [as onSubmit] (vscode-file://vscode-app/d:/Users/cxd-d/AppData/Local/Programs/cursor/resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:41347:3887)
at async vscode-file://vscode-app/d:/Users/cxd-d/AppData/Local/Programs/cursor/resources/app/out/vs/workbench/workbench.desktop.main.js:41346:102599

Does this stop you from using Cursor

No - Cursor works, but with this issue

[deanrie]

Hey, thanks for the report with the Request ID. I was able to check the logs.

This isn’t a bug. You have your own Anthropic API key set up in Cursor (BYOK), so the request went through it. The limit was returned by Anthropic itself: 30,000 input tokens per minute for your org. Cursor is just passing through the provider error.

One more thing: in the screenshot the model is Sonnet 4.6 (not GPT 5.5 like in the description), so the request actually went to Claude using your key.

What to do:

1. Open Cursor Settings -> Models and check the API Keys section. The Anthropic key should be enabled there.
2. If you want to use Cursor’s built-in models with Pro+ subscription, disable or remove the key.
3. If you want to keep BYOK, you’ll need to upgrade your Anthropic tier to raise the rate limit.

Let me know if you still see weird behavior after that.