DeepSeek API Key Tester
Enter your DeepSeek API key below and click 'Test Key' to check if it works. This tool will send a request to DeepSeek asking, "Does this key work?" and return a response with an explanation.
🔑 How to Get Your API Key
2. Go to API Keys section in your dashboard
3. Click 'Create API Key'
4. Provide a name and copy the generated key
5. Add credits to your account to use the API
Test Your API Key
🔧 Alternative: cURL Command
You can also test your API key using cURL from your terminal:
curl -sS -X POST https://api.deepseek.com/v1/chat/completions -H 'Authorization: Bearer {{KEY}}' -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"model":"deepseek-chat","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"Hello world!"}],"max_tokens":100}'
💻 How to run this command in your terminal:
- Copy the command above by clicking the "Copy" button
- Open your terminal (Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on Mac/Linux)
- Paste the command using Ctrl+V (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+V (Mac)
- Press Enter to execute the command
- Check the response - you'll see either a success message or an error explaining what's wrong
💡 Terminal Tips:
- Make sure you have
curlinstalled (it comes pre-installed on Mac and most Linux systems) - On Windows, you may need to install curl or use PowerShell's
Invoke-WebRequestinstead - If you see "command not found", try
curl --versionto check if it's installed
🔧 Common Issues & Solutions
❌ 401 Unauthorized
Problem: Invalid, expired, or malformed API key
Solution: Check your key in the DeepSeek dashboard and ensure it's active and correctly formatted
❌ 403 Forbidden
Problem: Insufficient permissions or billing issues
Solution: Verify your account has proper permissions and sufficient credits/balance
❌ 429 Rate Limited
Problem: Too many requests in a short period
Solution: Wait a moment and try again, or upgrade your plan for higher limits
🔑 API Key Format Guide
Your DeepSeek API key should follow the correct format:
✅ Valid Format
sk-1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef
Starts with "sk-" followed by 48 characters
❌ Invalid Format
invalid_key_format
Missing required prefix, wrong length, or incorrect format
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do I test my DeepSeek API key?
Simply paste your API key into the form above and click "Test Key". Our tool will make a test request to DeepSeek to verify your key works.
Is it safe to test my API key here?
Yes! All testing happens in your browser - we never see or store your API keys. The key never leaves your device.
What if my API key test fails?
Check the error message above. Common issues include invalid keys, expired keys, insufficient credits, or rate limiting. Use the troubleshooting guide above for specific solutions.
Can I test multiple API keys?
Yes, you can test as many keys as you need. Each test is independent and secure.
Why do I need to use the terminal?
Some providers use server-side authentication for enhanced security. The terminal method provides direct access to test your API key with full compatibility.
Use Cases
- Quickly verify if your DeepSeek API key is valid
- Troubleshoot API key-related issues with detailed error messages
- Understand DeepSeek API response codes and their meanings
- Test API connectivity before integrating AI models into your applications
- Verify model access and rate limits for your account
Supported DeepSeek Responses
This tool handles all DeepSeek error codes, including:
- 200 (OK): Key is valid and working correctly
- 201 (Created): Request successful and resource created
- 202 (Accepted): Request accepted and being processed
- 400 (Bad Request): Invalid request format or parameters
- 401 (Unauthorized): The API key is incorrect or invalid
- 403 (Forbidden): API key lacks required permissions
- 404 (Not Found): Requested resource doesn't exist
- 429 (Rate Limit Exceeded): Too many requests in a short period
- 500 (Server Error): DeepSeek servers are experiencing issues
Refer to the DeepSeek Documentation for more details.