DeepSeek V4’s public preview release was April 24, 2026. That date marks the preview launch—not a later general-availability milestone. DeepSeek’s API release notice says the preview was live and the API was available that day, with V4-Pro and V4-Flash model names. (api-docs.deepseek.com)
There is a small date-label discrepancy in DeepSeek’s own materials: its research-and-news page dates the V4 preview announcement April 23, 2026, while its API notice is titled “DeepSeek V4 Preview Release” and identified as news260424. CNBC also reported the preview release on April 24. So, for the release-date query, April 24 is the clearest date for the public preview and API launch; April 23 is the date shown on DeepSeek’s separate news page. The sources do not explain the one-day difference. (deepseek.com)
What the release date refers to
On April 24, DeepSeek described V4 as a preview, said V4-Pro and V4-Flash were live, and announced API availability. That is not the same as saying every V4 model or version reached general availability on that date. (api-docs.deepseek.com)
DeepSeek later published a separate V4-Pro general-availability notice. That announcement distinguishes the later GA milestone from the original preview launch. (api-docs.deepseek.com)
Can you use DeepSeek V4 through an API now?
The API was available at the preview launch, but the current API model mapping matters if you are choosing a production endpoint. As of November 8, 2026, DeepSeek’s API documentation says the deepseek-flash model name is served by DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017. The official changelog also says requests using deepseek-v4-pro are routed to V4.1-Flash starting September 14, until V4.1-Pro launches. In other words, an API name containing “V4” does not necessarily mean your request is running the original V4 preview model. (api-docs.deepseek.com)
Practical takeaway: April 24, 2026 is the answer for the V4 preview release. For an API evaluation today, check DeepSeek’s current model documentation and routing notes, and confirm which underlying model your chosen identifier invokes before comparing output, cost, or performance. (api-docs.deepseek.com)
Sources
DeepSeek V4 Preview Release | DeepSeek API Docs
DeepSeek-V4 Preview: Entering the Era of Affordable Million-Token Context
China's DeepSeek releases preview of long-awaited V4 model | CNBC
DeepSeek-V4-Pro GA Release | DeepSeek API Docs
Your First API Call | DeepSeek API Docs