Fix: Cursor API Key or Subscription Not Working
Quick Answer
How do I fix "API key issues" in Cursor?
Sign out of Cursor (Cmd+Shift+P > 'Sign Out'), then sign back in. This refreshes your authentication token and subscription status.
Fix signals
- What this answers
- How to fix api key issues in Cursor.
- Fastest move
- Sign out and back in
- Use this page if
- Error: 'Invalid API key'
If this keeps happening
Open the next decision if the same bug class keeps coming back
Use these when the troubleshooting page named the failure, but the higher-leverage move is changing the stack choice, support layer, or production workflow.
Cursor review
Open this when the issue is making you decide whether a more code-first workflow is still the right long-term move.
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Lovable reviews
Open this when the bug is making you reconsider whether a faster generated path would reduce the operational overhead.
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Deploy hub
Open this when the fix is exposing a broader production handoff problem, not just one bug in the code.
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Tool picker
Open this when repeated failures are pushing the decision back up to the stack level.
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Firecrawl review
Open this when the app also needs live web data and the bigger stack question is no longer just about the coding tool.
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Quick Fix Summary
| Issue | API key issues |
| Fastest fix | Sign out and back in |
| Use this page if | Error: 'Invalid API key' |
Symptoms
- !Error: 'Invalid API key'
- !Features limited despite Pro subscription
- !AI responses stop working mid-session
- !Rate limit exceeded errors
Step-by-Step Fix
Sign out and back in
Cmd+Shift+P > 'Cursor: Sign Out'. Restart Cursor. Sign in again. This refreshes your auth token.
Verify your subscription
Go to cursor.com/settings > Billing. Verify your subscription is active and your payment method is valid.
Check model access
Not all models are available on all plans. Free users have limited model access. Check which models your plan includes.
Clear Cursor credentials
On macOS: delete ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/credentials.json. On Windows: delete %APPDATA%/Cursor/credentials.json. Then sign in again.
Contact support
If nothing works, email support@cursor.sh with your account email and the specific error message.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most common cause: your auth token expired. Sign out and back in to refresh it.
Yes, the free tier includes limited AI completions and chat. Pro features require a $20/mo subscription.