How to Get a DeepSeek API Key and Make Your First API Request

To get an official DeepSeek API key, use DeepSeek’s API Keys page. Sign in or create an account, then follow the prompts on that page to create a key. DeepSeek’s API documentation directs users to create a key before making API calls. (api-docs.deepseek.com)

Get an official DeepSeek API key

1. Open DeepSeek’s API Keys page and sign in or create an account.
2. Follow the key-creation prompts shown in your account and copy the new credential.
3. Store it securely, such as in a password manager or your deployment environment’s secret store. Don’t put it in browser-side code or a public repository.

Use a credential created for the API platform. Don’t substitute a token from DeepSeek’s chat website or browser storage, or a key from a third-party provider; those are different credentials and routes.

Make your first direct API request

Set the key as an environment variable in your terminal. For macOS or Linux:

export DEEPSEEK_API_KEY="paste-your-key-here"

Then make a non-streaming chat-completions request:

curl https://api.deepseek.com/chat/completions \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${DEEPSEEK_API_KEY}" \
  -d '{
    "model": "deepseek-flash",
    "messages": [
      {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant."},
      {"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}
    ],
    "stream": false
  }'

The endpoint, Bearer authentication, model, messages, and stream: false format follow DeepSeek’s first-call example. The documented model name is deepseek-flash; DeepSeek says it is served by DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017. (api-docs.deepseek.com)

A successful response is JSON with the generated completion. In DeepSeek’s SDK example, the assistant’s text is at choices[0].message.content. (api-docs.deepseek.com)

Keep the key private

Treat the API key as a secret. For an application, make API requests from your server and read the key from a server-side environment variable or secret manager—not from front-end JavaScript, a public repository, screenshots, or logs.

If you believe the key has been exposed, stop using it and consult DeepSeek’s official API Keys page or support for the applicable key-management action. DeepSeek’s public API documentation links to the key-creation page but does not specify an exposed-key invalidation procedure. (api-docs.deepseek.com)

API usage is billed by tokens, with fees deducted from topped-up or granted balance. Check the current Models & Pricing documentation before budgeting; DeepSeek notes that prices may change. (api-docs.deepseek.com)

If the request fails

• Authentication issue: Check that DEEPSEEK_API_KEY is set in the terminal running curl, and that the header is Authorization: Bearer followed by the key.
• Model issue: Use the documented model name deepseek-flash; don’t assume a model identifier from a third-party wrapper works with the direct API. (api-docs.deepseek.com)
• Balance issue: Having a key and having a balance available for API calls are separate things. DeepSeek’s balance endpoint reports is_available, which indicates whether the balance is sufficient for API calls. Check that endpoint or your account’s balance information; model-use fees are deducted from topped-up or granted balance. (api-docs.deepseek.com)

Sources

DeepSeek Platform — API Keys

Your First API Call | DeepSeek API Docs

DeepSeek API | DeepSeek API Docs

Models & Pricing | DeepSeek API Docs

Get User Balance | DeepSeek API Docs