What you need first

  • A redeemed Boon gift with a private OpenRouter-compatible key.
  • A current Cursor install.
  • A project where you can safely test suggestions before accepting them.

Setup steps

  1. Open Cursor settings and find the model or API provider area.
  2. Choose OpenRouter if Cursor lists it. If not, use Cursor’s current custom-provider instructions.
  3. Paste the key into the API-key field.
  4. Select a model supported by Cursor and OpenRouter.
  5. Ask for a small explanation or refactor suggestion in a non-critical file.

Common Cursor snags

  • The selected model is not available in Cursor’s picker.
  • The provider is still set to a different service.
  • Workspace settings override global settings.
  • The key was pasted with an extra space or a missing prefix.

Keep the key out of Git

Do not paste the key into source files, terminal history, issue trackers, or shared prompts. If Cursor stores provider settings in a workspace file, make sure that file is not committed.

Frequently asked questions

Can Cursor spend the whole balance?

Yes. Any tool using the key can spend available credit. Remove the key from tools you no longer use.

Should I commit Cursor settings?

Never commit settings that contain private API keys.