# Cursor

Cursor accepts custom OpenAI-compatible providers for its chat. Set the base URL to The Grid, paste your consumption key, and add instrument names like `text-prime` or `code-prime` as custom models.

For the full instrument catalog, see [Current instruments](/docs/instrument-specifications/current-instruments.md).

{% hint style="info" %}
Cursor's Tab autocomplete and proprietary agent features run on Cursor's own models and do not go through the custom OpenAI endpoint. The custom-provider setup below replaces the chat model only.
{% endhint %}

## Prerequisites

* Cursor installed ([cursor.com](https://cursor.com))
* A Grid account at [app.thegrid.ai](https://app.thegrid.ai) with funded credits
* A Grid consumption API key from your dashboard

## Setup

### 1. Open Cursor settings

Open Settings with `Cmd ,` (Mac) or `Ctrl ,` (Windows / Linux), then go to the **Models** tab.

### 2. Override the OpenAI base URL

* Toggle **Override OpenAI Base URL** on
* Paste `https://api.thegrid.ai/v1` into the URL field
* Click **Verify** to confirm Cursor can reach the endpoint

### 3. Set your Grid key

* In the **OpenAI API Key** field, paste your Grid consumption API key
* Click **Verify**

### 4. Add Grid instruments as custom models

Use the **Add Model** button to register the instruments you want available in chat:

* `text-prime` (production default)
* `text-max` (frontier reasoning)
* `text-standard` (high-volume, low-latency)
* `code-prime` (default for coding work)
* `code-max` (whole-codebase changes)
* `code-standard` (autocomplete and batch edits)

Add only the instruments you intend to use. You can add or remove them at any time.

### 5. Pick the active model

In the chat composer, open the model picker and select one of your registered Grid instruments (for example, `code-prime`).

## Verify

Open Cursor chat. Run a small prompt against `text-prime` or `code-prime`:

```
Reply with the word OK only.
```

A normal response confirms the integration. If you see an authentication error, re-verify the API key in step 3. If the request reaches Cursor but fails downstream, check your credit balance at [app.thegrid.ai](https://app.thegrid.ai).

## Troubleshooting

* **`401 Unauthorized`.** The Grid did not accept the key. Confirm it is a consumption key (not a trading key) and that you pasted it without surrounding whitespace.
* **`402 Payment Required`.** Credits are empty. Top up at [app.thegrid.ai](https://app.thegrid.ai). Auto-Reload tops your credit balance up automatically when configured in the dashboard.
* **`404 Not Found` on a model name.** Cursor sent a model string The Grid does not recognize. Make sure the custom model name matches a Grid instrument exactly (e.g., `text-prime`, not `Text Prime`).
* **Tab and Compose still use Cursor's models.** That's by design. The custom-provider override applies to chat. To change Tab or Compose backends, look for separate options in the Models tab if your Cursor version exposes them.


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```
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