Setup guide - Documented by MiniMax
Use MiniMax in Cursor
MiniMax documents Cursor setup by overriding Cursor's OpenAI base URL to https://api.minimax.io/v1, using the MiniMax key as the OpenAI API key, and adding MiniMax-M3.1-Flash-Preview as a custom model.
Last verified 6 steps2 official sources
Steps
- Step 1.
Clear OpenAI-related environment variables before configuring to avoid conflicts: OPENAI_API_KEY and OPENAI_BASE_URL.
Terminalunset OPENAI_API_KEY unset OPENAI_BASE_URL - Step 2.
Click "Models" in the left sidebar to open the model configuration page.
- Step 3.
Expand the "API Keys" section: enable "Override OpenAI Base URL" and enter the MiniMax base URL.
Snippethttps://api.minimax.io/v1 - Step 4.
Paste your Subscription Key into the OpenAI API Key field, turn on Use OpenAI API Key, and click Enable OpenAI API Key in the confirmation dialog.
- Step 5.
At the bottom of the model list in Models, click Add Custom Model, enter the model name "MiniMax-M3.1-Flash-Preview", and click "Add".
SnippetMiniMax-M3.1-Flash-Preview - Step 6.
Enable the newly added "MiniMax-M3.1-Flash-Preview" model, then select it in the chat panel.
Caveats
- Custom models require a Cursor Pro subscription or above; otherwise Cursor shows: The model MiniMax-M3.1-Flash-Preview does not work with your current plan or api key
- Known issue: "Override OpenAI Base URL" is global and applies to all API keys configured in Cursor, which can break Cursor-native Claude/GPT models; turn it off when not using MiniMax.
- Cursor Tab autocomplete is not powered by the custom MiniMax key; custom models only work in Chat / Composer / Edit modes.
- If the model returns no content, MiniMax suggests setting HTTP Compatibility Mode to HTTP/1.0 under Browser & Network in Cursor settings.
- The env vars listed are ones MiniMax says to clear, not to set.
- MiniMax-M3.1-Flash-Preview is M Plan only for now; pay-as-you-go keys need another model id such as MiniMax-M3.
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Related reading
- MiniMax H3: An Omni-Modal Video Model With Native Audio, 2K Output, and Open Weights ComingMiniMax H3 turns text, image, video and audio input into 2K video with native stereo sound at 0.80 CNY per second, with open weights promised to follow.
- MiniMax M2.5 for Developers: The Anthropic-Compatible Budget Frontier ModelMiniMax M2.5 hits 80.2% on SWE-bench Verified and plugs into the Anthropic SDK with two environment variables. Here is what you need to know before switching.
- Do Your Agent Hooks Fail Open? Claude Code vs Codex vs Cursor vs Gemini CLIA guard hook that crashes, times out or points at a missing script lets the tool call through by default in Claude Code. v2.1.295 adds onFailure: block. Here is what each coding agent does when your policy hook breaks, with real test runs.
- How to Keep API Keys Away From Your AI Coding Agent: Claude Code vs Codex vs Cursor vs Gemini CLIA deny rule on .env stops cat but not a Python one-liner. Here are the three layers that actually keep secrets out of a coding agent's context - file rules, environment scrubbing and credential masking - and what Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and Gemini CLI give you for each, with real test runs.
- Antigravity vs Cursor (2026): Pricing, Limits, Models, and Which to PickAntigravity vs Cursor: Antigravity is free with a weekly limit; Cursor starts at $20/month with the widest model menu. Pricing, limits and a decision guide.
- Slack Code vs Claude Code vs Cursor vs OpenCode: When Agents Belong in ChatSlack Code gives coding agents their own Slack channels with diffs, previews, and an audit log. When it beats Claude Code, Cursor, or OpenCode, and when not.
FAQ
How do I use MiniMax in Cursor?
MiniMax documents Cursor setup by overriding Cursor's OpenAI base URL to https://api.minimax.io/v1, using the MiniMax key as the OpenAI API key, and adding MiniMax-M3.1-Flash-Preview as a custom model.
Which MiniMax model ids work in Cursor?
The official docs read for this guide list MiniMax-M3.1-Flash-Preview, MiniMax-M3, MiniMax-M2.7 and MiniMax-M2.5. Requests go to https://api.minimax.io/v1.
Is this an official MiniMax and Cursor setup?
MiniMax documents this setup in its own docs. It was last checked against 2 official pages on October 17, 2026.
Sources
Last verified against 2 official pages.
- platform.minimax.iohttps://platform.minimax.io/docs/m-plan/cursor.md
- platform.minimax.iohttps://platform.minimax.io/docs/api-reference/text-openai-api.md
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