Using your API KEY is scam

[logos]

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor IDE

Describe the Bug

I thought I am using my google tier 3 api key but i was using cursor included all time.. i added my model , enabled my api key why cursor not letting us using our keys ? this is a big scam , you thought you are using your api key untill you see usage dashboard. its insane. i opt out cursors own google gemini , added model but still using cursor google gemini , why?

Steps to Reproduce

just check usage at dashboard

Expected Behavior

showing usign api key instead of included message.

Screenshots / Screen Recordings

Operating System

MacOS

Current Cursor Version (Menu → About Cursor → Copy)

Version: 2.1.17 (Universal)
VSCode Version: 1.105.1
Commit: 6757269838ae9ac4caaa2be13f396fdfbcf1f9a0
Date: 2025-11-21T08:55:17.983Z
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

For AI issues: which model did you use?

Gemini 3 PRO

Does this stop you from using Cursor

Yes - Cursor is unusable

[logos]

btw i am not trying to get all benefits from cursor just paying like 20 dollar, i am ultra plan user and thinking about cancel my subscription.

[Serp]

Something is wrong there definitely. My usage shows just fine, but I can only dream of even tier 2

[logos]

please how to enable your key can you reproduce for me,
umm we are tier 3 because my company is belong to google ecosystem partner wish you best for upgrade a better tier, jsut look a good way you can use tier1 apı key , and look at mee i cant even use it.. lol

[deanrie]

Hey, thanks for the report. I can see in the timeline that it first shows attempts with “User API Key”, and then switches to “Included” usage from your subscription.

A couple of things to check:

• Is your Google API key currently enabled?

  • Open Cursor Settings → Models → API Keys
  • Check whether the Google API key toggle is ON
  • Please share a screenshot of your current configuration

• What happened on November 20 around 11:40 PM?

  • Did you change any settings?
  • Did Cursor update?
  • A known Gemini API bug started affecting users around that time

The “Errored, No Charge” entry at 11:41 PM suggests that Cursor tried to use your API key, hit errors, and then may have fallen back to “Included” usage from your Cursor subscription.

[logos]

Ty for your kind answer.

problem is my key ıs enabled, but i am using still included mode. if there are some issue with BYOK IDE should show api key error and warn user to switch included mode .
my ide shows i am using gemini api key but usage is not saying same thing.

i think its happened after i update cursor. how to solve this , i cant use my tier 3 gemini key

[Serp]

Remove the customer model from top of the list (use trash-bin icon), and then enable the standard Gemini 3 Pro from bottom of your list.

[logos]

i jsut can use it agaın. for the my stuck fellows here is my steps:
1- restart pc
2-open cursor
3- delete custom model
4- Add your fresh key and enable model from list.
5- and watch your usage dashboard:
this happens after update your cursor. umm can it be a bug ? i dont know.
btw ty foryour help Serp , it worked like a charm .I just check this problem solved, maybe other fellows have tthis problem so quick solve like this.
deanrie thanks for guiding^^