API-powered coding assistants like Cursor AI have become indispensable for developers, offering seamless in-editor AI support via models from OpenAI (GPT-4, GPT-3.5) and Anthropic (Claude 3.5). However, many engineers encounter a particularly disruptive error: "User provided API key rate limit exceeded."
This issue often surfaces unexpectedly during development, interrupting workflows and raising confusion about whether the problem lies with Cursor, the API provider, or your account setup. In this guide, we'll break down:
- What triggers this rate limit error
- How API rate limits work behind the scenes
- Practical steps to diagnose and resolve the issue
- How tools like Apidog can help streamline your API workflows
💡 Streamline Your API Development:
Apidog helps API-minded teams manage the entire API lifecycle—from design and debugging to automated testing and documentation. Whether you’re integrating with AI APIs via Cursor or building your own endpoints, Apidog brings speed, structure, and visibility to your API process.
Why Am I Seeing the "User Provided API Key Rate Limit Exceeded" Error in Cursor?
This error message means your API key has hit a usage limit set by the API provider—typically OpenAI or Anthropic—not Cursor itself.
Direct from the Cursor team:
“I don’t believe we enforce any rate limits on using your API key, so these will be limits enforced on the other end (Anthropic or OpenAI).”
Cursor simply relays the error returned from the upstream API. If you use your own API key and exceed provider limits (e.g., too many requests, too many tokens, or a quota cap), your further requests are temporarily blocked.
Common Causes of API Rate Limit Errors
1. Account-Level Limits Imposed by OpenAI or Anthropic
API providers enforce strict rate limits based on:
- Account type: Free-tier, pay-as-you-go, or enterprise plans each have unique quotas.
- Model selection: Advanced models (e.g., GPT-4, Claude 3.5) often have lower limits than older ones (e.g., GPT-3.5).
- Billing status: Accounts without a payment method may have much lower caps.
- Token throughput: Both requests per minute (RPM) and tokens per minute (TPM) are tracked.
Example: OpenAI’s GPT-4 (32k context) allows fewer requests per minute than GPT-3.5. Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 also enforces model-specific quotas.
2. Exceeding Free or Trial Quotas
If you're on a free or trial API plan, usage caps are often very low. Once you hit these, all further requests will be blocked until:
- The quota resets (often daily or monthly)
- You upgrade to a paid plan
3. Cursor Pro Subscription Limits
Cursor Pro users get access to premium models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet, but these come with bundled usage limits.
- Example: Pro subscriptions often include 500 “fast requests” per month.
- If you exceed this, you must either purchase more or enable usage-based billing to continue.
Cursor staff:
“We have now enabled usage-based pricing for Pro users using premium models, which means if you exceed your 500 fast requests but don’t want to buy another 500, you can enable usage pricing.”
Claude 3.5 Sonnet: $0.04/request via Cursor (i.e., $20 for 500 requests).
4. Background or Automatic Requests from Cursor
Cursor can generate additional API calls in the background—such as:
- Generating docstrings
- Inline code suggestions
- Refactoring prompts
These automated requests can quickly add up, especially during long sessions, and may push you over your limits even if your manual usage seems modest.
How to Fix the "User Provided API Key Rate Limit Exceeded" Error
1. Check Your API Usage Dashboard
For OpenAI: Go to https://platform.openai.com/account/usage to check:
- Real-time usage stats
- Remaining quota
- Recent request and token history
For Anthropic (Claude): Log into your Anthropic developer dashboard or review your billing history for usage stats and limits.
Tip: Check for exceeded token (TPM), request (RPM), or daily limits.
2. Add a Payment Method to Increase Rate Limits
Free-tier or trial users are heavily restricted. Adding a payment method can:
- Immediately increase your request and token quotas
- Reduce the chance of future rate limit errors
For OpenAI: Add billing at https://platform.openai.com/account/billing
For Anthropic: Enable billing as required to unlock higher quotas.
3. Switch to a Lower-Tier Model
If your current task doesn't require advanced models, choose a lower-cost, higher-capacity option (e.g., GPT-3.5 instead of GPT-4, or Claude Instant instead of Claude 3.5 Sonnet):
- Benefits:
How to switch in Cursor:
- Go to Settings > AI Settings
- Select a model like
gpt-3.5-turboif available
4. Review Cursor Subscription & Usage
- Check Settings > Billing in Cursor to see your plan and usage.
- Confirm whether you’re using your own API key or Cursor’s built-in key.
- If on Pro, see if you’ve used up your fast request quota.
5. Temporarily Disable Your Custom API Key
If diagnosing your own key is time-consuming, consider switching back to Cursor’s managed API key:
- Go to Settings > AI Settings
- Uncheck Use your own API key
Note: This may not be available in all regions or plans.
6. Enable Usage-Based Pricing in Cursor
If you’ve used up your bundled requests on Pro, opt into usage-based billing to avoid hard stops.
- Navigate to Billing Settings in Cursor
- Enable usage pricing
- Review cost per request (e.g., $0.04 for Claude 3.5 Sonnet)
This is especially useful for teams or power users who need consistent access.
7. Wait for Rate Limit Reset
If all else fails, you may simply need to wait until your quota resets (per minute, hour, or day depending on the provider). To minimize hitting limits:
- Limit use of auto-complete and background features in Cursor
- Temporarily disable features that send automated requests in Settings
Practical Example: Diagnosing and Fixing the Error
Scenario: A backend developer uses Cursor with their own OpenAI API key (free plan). After a burst of code generations and refactoring prompts, they receive the rate limit error.
Steps to resolve:
- Check OpenAI usage dashboard: Shows daily quota exceeded.
- Add payment method: Upgrades account; limits increase.
- Switch to GPT-3.5: For general editing, avoids premium model caps.
- Monitor usage with Apidog: Use Apidog to log and test API requests, visualize request frequency, and avoid accidental overages.
How Apidog Helps Developers Manage API Usage
When integrating AI APIs like OpenAI or Anthropic into your workflows—whether via Cursor or your own tools—maintaining visibility on quota, usage, and error responses is crucial.
- With Apidog, you can:
Whether you’re developing custom integrations or troubleshooting third-party errors, Apidog helps you maintain control and efficiency across your API stack.
Conclusion
The "User provided API key rate limit exceeded" error in Cursor AI is almost always a sign that your API key has hit provider-imposed limits—not a Cursor malfunction. By checking your API usage, upgrading your account, choosing efficient models, or leveraging usage-based billing, you can resolve these interruptions and keep your workflow smooth.
For robust API development and clearer visibility into your API consumption, consider using platforms like Apidog to streamline your process and minimize surprises.
For more details and community advice, see the active Cursor forum thread on this issue.
