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DeepSeek: Authentication Failed / Invalid API Key

Current Status: Major Outage
Last checked: 21m ago

What We're Seeing Right Now

No recent issues reported. If you're experiencing problems with DeepSeek, report below to help the community.

What is this error?

An authentication error from DeepSeek means your API key, token, or login credentials were rejected. This can happen when keys expire, are misconfigured, or when DeepSeek's authentication service itself is having problems.

Error Signatures

401 Unauthorized403 ForbiddenInvalid API keyAuthentication failedInvalid authenticationIncorrect API key providedinvalid_api_keypermission_deniedAPI key not foundYour account has been disabled

Common Causes

  • API key is invalid, expired, or revoked
  • Wrong API key for the organization or project
  • Environment variable not set or set incorrectly
  • Billing issue — account suspended due to payment failure
  • DeepSeek's authentication servers are experiencing issues

✓ How to Fix It

  1. Verify your API key is correct — regenerate it from DeepSeek's dashboard if needed
  2. Check that the key is assigned to the right organization/project
  3. Ensure the environment variable (OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, etc.) is properly set
  4. Check your billing status — overdue payments can disable keys
  5. If using OAuth/SSO, try logging out and back in
  6. Check this page — if others report auth issues, it may be a DeepSeek-wide problem
DeepSeek Resources:

Live Signals

Service Components
DeepSeek Chat
Operational
DeepSeek API
Operational

Recent Incidents

MAJOR✓ Resolved
API intermittent timeouts
DeepSeek API endpoints returning occasional 504 Gateway Timeout errors
7d ago → 7d ago

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my DeepSeek API key not working?
The most common cause is an expired, revoked, or misconfigured key. Regenerate your key from DeepSeek's dashboard and make sure it's correctly set in your environment.
Is DeepSeek authentication down?
Check the community reports below. If multiple users report 'Login Issues' at the same time, DeepSeek's auth system may be having problems.
How do I fix DeepSeek 401/403 errors?
Follow the step-by-step guide above. Most auth errors are fixed by regenerating your API key and checking your billing status.

Related Pages

📊 DeepSeek Status Dashboard❓ Is DeepSeek Down?
Other DeepSeek issues:
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