How to Create a Cursor API Key

A Cursor API key (crsr_...) lets you authenticate non-interactively — perfect for Docker, CI pipelines, and scripts where you can't run agent login in a browser.

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Steps

1. Go to cursor.com/dashboard/api
2. Under User API Keys, click Add
3. Give it any name (e.g. my-cursorpipe-key)
4. Set scope to Admin
5. Click Create — your key (crsr_...) is shown only once, so copy it now

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Using the key with cursorpipe

bash / macOS / Linux / WSLPowerShell (Windows)CMD (Windows).env file

export CURSOR_API_KEY=crsr_your_key_here

$env:CURSOR_API_KEY = "crsr_your_key_here"

set CURSOR_API_KEY=crsr_your_key_here

CURSOR_API_KEY=crsr_your_key_here

Both CURSOR_API_KEY and CURSORPIPE_API_KEY are accepted in .env files and as OS environment variables.

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Can't find the API Keys page?

Cursor occasionally reorganises their dashboard. If the link above doesn't take you to the right place:

1. Log in at cursor.com and look for API Keys or User API Keys in the left sidebar
2. Or search the web for "Cursor API key"

If the link is broken, open an issue or send a PR updating this page — it takes 30 seconds and helps everyone. 🙏