Cursor custom API setup guide
Move supported Cursor chat and inline-generation requests to the qionggeme gateway, and understand which Cursor features may remain tied to Cursor’s own service or subscription.
Quick configuration
- Settings path
Cursor Settings → Models- OpenAI API Key
sk-your API key- Override OpenAI Base URL
https://qionggeme.com/v1- Environment fallback
OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://qionggeme.com/v1- Example models
gpt-5.4, gpt-5.4-mini
Before you begin: install Cursor from the official website and create an API key in the qionggeme console.
Setup steps
Open Cursor settings
Open Cursor and press
Ctrl + ,orCmd + ,on macOS, or choose the gear icon → Cursor Settings. Find the Models section in the left navigation.Enter the OpenAI API key
Find the OpenAI API Key section and enter
sk-your API key. Cursor’s custom-key entry generally expects an OpenAI-compatible API.Override the Base URL
By default, Cursor may send a custom key to OpenAI’s official endpoint. Override the route with one of these methods:
- Settings: find Override OpenAI Base URL and enter
https://qionggeme.com/v1. - Environment variable: set
OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://qionggeme.com/v1before launching Cursor.
Do not use the content-site URL
https://qionggeme.com/docs. If your Cursor version has no override field and ignores the environment variable, that release may not support a custom gateway.- Settings: find Override OpenAI Base URL and enter
Enable the models you want to use
Enable or add exact online model IDs such as
gpt-5.4andgpt-5.4-mini. Cursor’s custom-key path is generally OpenAI-oriented; for Claude coding workflows, Cline or Claude Code is usually a better choice.Send a test message
Open the Chat panel, select the enabled model, and send a simple message. A normal reply confirms that the custom route is active for that feature.
Configuration example
# Cursor core settings OpenAI API Key: sk-your API key Override OpenAI Base URL: https://qionggeme.com/v1 Enabled models: gpt-5.4, gpt-5.4-mini (subject to current availability) # Or launch with environment variables export OPENAI_BASE_URL="https://qionggeme.com/v1" export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-your API key" cursor
Troubleshooting
I cannot find Override OpenAI Base URL
Try launching Cursor with OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://qionggeme.com/v1. If that also has no effect, the installed version may not support a custom endpoint.
Chat works, but Tab completion or Agent still uses Cursor services
This is a product limitation, not necessarily a routing error. Custom OpenAI keys usually cover Chat and some inline generation, while Tab, Agent, Background Agent, and indexing can remain tied to Cursor’s own infrastructure.
The custom model is missing or returns model-not-found
Enable or add an exact model ID currently offered, such as gpt-5.4. Check the pricing page and remember that Cursor’s custom-key path may not expose every non-OpenAI family.
The API key is accepted but requests still go to the official endpoint
Confirm the override field or OPENAI_BASE_URL is set before Cursor starts, then fully restart Cursor. The Base URL must be https://qionggeme.com/v1, not the content site.
Ready to get started?
Create a qionggeme account, generate an API key, and access every currently available model.
Create an accountFrequently asked questions
Why can’t I use Claude through Cursor’s custom key?
Cursor’s custom-key path is usually designed for OpenAI-compatible models. For Claude, Cline or Claude Code generally provides more reliable custom-Base-URL support.
Why does Tab completion still use Cursor after I configured the key?
Cursor Tab is commonly tied to Cursor’s own service. Custom keys generally affect Chat and some inline generation, not every product feature.
What if Override Base URL is missing?
Try OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://qionggeme.com/v1 before launching Cursor. If that does not work, your version may not support a custom endpoint.
Is a gateway or a Cursor subscription more economical?
If you mainly use Chat for coding questions, usage-based API billing may cost less. If you rely heavily on Tab, Agent, or indexing, a Cursor subscription may be more suitable.
Which coding tools are more flexible with custom gateways?
Cline, Roo Code, Claude Code, and Continue.dev generally provide more direct control over custom Base URLs.