Connect to DeepSeek (Recommended)
Estimated time: 5-10 minutes
DeepSeek is great for beginners: direct access (no VPN needed in most regions), simple registration, extremely affordable, and strong coding capabilities.
If you haven't read "What is an API Key", we recommend going back to 1.4 Overview to understand the concepts first.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Get a DeepSeek API Key
- Connect DeepSeek in OpenCode
- Send your first message and receive a response
🎒 Before You Start
- [ ] Completed 1.2 Installation and can run
opencode - [ ] Can access
https://platform.deepseek.com
Follow Along
Step 1: Register a DeepSeek Account
Visit: https://platform.deepseek.com
Click "Login/Register" in the top right corner, and follow the prompts to register with your phone number or email.
Step 2: Get Your API Key
Go to the API Keys page:
- Left menu in console:
API Keys - Or visit directly: https://platform.deepseek.com/api_keys
Create a new Key and copy and save it immediately.
Only shown once!
Most platforms only display the Key once. Once you close the window, you won't be able to see the complete Key again.
Please copy it to a safe place (password manager/notes) immediately. Don't share it in group chats, don't screenshot it, don't commit it to GitHub.
Step 3: (Optional but Recommended) Add Credits
DeepSeek usually gives new users a small amount of credits, but they run out quickly. Adding about 10 CNY worth of credits will last you a long time.
Step 4: Connect DeepSeek in OpenCode
Start OpenCode:
opencodeIn the input box, enter:
/connectSelect DeepSeek from the provider list, then paste your API Key.
After success, you'll enter the model selection interface showing DeepSeek's available models (such as deepseek-chat, deepseek-reasoner). Select a model to start chatting.
Step 5: Send Your First Message (Verify Success)
In the input box, enter:
Hello, please introduce yourselfIf you receive a response, the connection is successful.
Checklist ✅
- [ ] Sending messages receives AI responses
- [ ] No errors (such as
API key invalid/insufficient balance/connection timeout)
Common Issues
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
API key invalid | Key copied incorrectly or has extra spaces | Copy again, make sure there are no extra spaces |
insufficient balance | Insufficient balance | Add credits in the console |
connection timeout | Network fluctuation | Wait a moment and try again |
Next Steps
- Go back to 1.4 Overview to choose your next path, or proceed to 2.1 Interface & Basic Operations
Having issues?
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