How to use Kimi K3 in Cursor

Kimi K3 can run inside Cursor through a custom OpenAI-compatible provider. AnyModel supplies the endpoint, key and upstream Kimi route; Cursor supplies the editor and agent interface. The exact model id is kmc/k3.

This setup does not add a direct Moonshot or Kimi Code account to Cursor. Requests use an AnyModel key and prepaid balance, and the Kimi K3 route depends on connected Kimi Code capacity with a 256K context limit.

Before you configure Cursor

You need three values:

The public page slug is kimi-k3, but that is not the id sent to the API. The kmc/ prefix selects the Kimi Code-backed route.

Option A: automated Cursor setup

Close Cursor so its local state is not being written, then run:

bash <(curl -fsSL "https://anymodel.org/i?tool=cursor&model=kmc/k3") <YOUR_API_KEY>

The installer backs up Cursor's local state and writes the compatible base URL, key and model. Reopen Cursor and confirm Kimi K3 appears in the selected provider or model list.

Cursor changes its internal storage between releases. If the installer reports that it cannot find or update the expected state, stop and use the manual configuration rather than editing database files by hand.

Option B: manual setup

The exact menu labels vary, but the process is stable:

1. Open Cursor Settings and find Models, AI or the custom provider section.
2. Add an OpenAI-compatible provider or enable the base URL override.
3. Enter https://anymodel.org/v1 as the base URL.
4. Paste your AnyModel key in that provider's API key field.
5. Add kmc/k3 to the custom model list and enable it.
6. Verify the provider, save and choose Kimi K3 in a new chat or agent session.

Do not put the key in a project file such as .env unless that file is excluded from version control and the client explicitly requires it.

Test the route outside Cursor

This request isolates account and API problems from editor configuration:

curl https://anymodel.org/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ANYMODEL_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "kmc/k3",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Reply with READY and nothing else."}]
  }'

If the request succeeds but Cursor verification fails, recheck the provider selection, base URL and cached model list. If it fails in both places, the response status usually points to the key, model id or current route availability.

Use Kimi K3 for the right Cursor tasks

Kimi K3 is positioned for complex coding and long-horizon work. Good evaluation cases include:

• a refactor that crosses modules and tests;
• debugging from a failing test plus logs;
• planning an implementation before editing;
• reviewing a large diff for missed dependencies;
• state-heavy application or game logic.

Keep the first test bounded. Ask Cursor to explain which files it needs, state the test command and review the diff. A 256K window is capacity for relevant relationships, not a reason to include an entire monorepo.

To measure value, run the same task with Kimi K3 and a second model from the same starting commit. Kimi K3 vs GPT-5.6 Sol gives you the catalog-level comparison; your patches provide the evidence that matters for your codebase.

Switch models without another provider

Once AnyModel is configured, add another model id to the same custom provider. You can keep:

• kmc/k3 for Kimi K3;
• gpt-5.6-terra as an everyday GPT baseline;
• gpt-5.6-sol for the hardest autonomous work;
• a smaller model for cheap mechanical edits.

The base URL and API key remain unchanged. Only the selected model changes.

Troubleshooting

Cursor says the model does not exist. Use kmc/k3 exactly. Restart Cursor after adding it because custom model lists can be cached.

Provider verification returns 401. Re-copy the AnyModel key and make sure it is attached to the provider whose base URL is https://anymodel.org/v1.

A direct curl works but Agent mode does not. Compatible APIs cover the core request format, but client-specific agent features can expect particular tool behavior. Test Chat first, then a small Agent task, and keep Cursor updated.

The route is temporarily unavailable. Kimi K3 uses subscription-backed upstream capacity. Retry with backoff or select a fallback model on the same endpoint.

The session consumes more than expected. Cursor may send repository context and make multiple requests. Read the Kimi K3 API and pricing guide, then measure a complete task in your usage dashboard.

You are connecting from Russia. Payment methods and network reachability depend on the account, provider and ISP. The Kimi K3 regional access page explains the boundary between AnyModel access and a direct Kimi subscription.

Keep code recoverable

Commit or create a separate worktree before asking an agent to edit. Exclude secrets and production data. Ghost Mode prevents prompt and response retention on the AnyModel side, while the upstream provider still processes the content to produce an answer.

After the first successful request, compare Kimi K3 on a task you actually care about rather than a synthetic prompt. Inspect the code, tests, retries and total usage. Create an AnyModel key to add it to Cursor alongside GPT-5.6.