Zed custom model setup: API Key and Base URL

Add an OpenAI-compatible provider in Zed Agent Settings, then enter the BetterToken API Key, Base URL, and Model ID. Zed stores keys saved through this screen in the system keychain instead of settings.json.

Key settings

Field	Value
Provider	`BetterToken`
API Key	`YOUR_API_KEY`
Base URL	`https://bettertoken.ai/v1`
Model	`YOUR_MODEL_ID`

Prerequisites

Install the current version of Zed
Create a BetterToken API Key
Copy YOUR_MODEL_ID from the model plaza

Install

Install or update to the current version from the Zed website. Start Zed, then use the steps below to open Agent settings.

Manual setup

Add an OpenAI-compatible provider

Click Add Provider, choose OpenAI Compatible, and enter BetterToken as the Provider Name.

Enter the connection settings

Field	Value
API URL	`https://bettertoken.ai/v1`
API Key	`YOUR_API_KEY`
Model ID	`YOUR_MODEL_ID`

Enter only the Base URL. Zed constructs the Chat Completions endpoint.

Save the API Key

Save the provider in Zed settings. Zed stores the API Key in the local system keychain and does not write it to settings.json.

Select the model

Open the Agent Panel model picker and select YOUR_MODEL_ID under BetterToken.

Do not place YOUR_API_KEY in settings.json, a project file, or a Git repository.

Optional: declare the provider and model in `settings.json`

When you need file-managed model declarations, run zed: open settings file. Keep only the provider, api_url, and model metadata in the file:

{
  "language_models": {
    "openai_compatible": {
      "BetterToken": {
        "api_url": "https://bettertoken.ai/v1",
        "available_models": [
          {
            "name": "YOUR_MODEL_ID",
            "display_name": "YOUR_MODEL_ID",
            "max_tokens": 128000
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}

Zed requires max_tokens as the model context-window declaration. Adjust it to the selected model. Enter the API Key in Agent Settings so the system keychain stores it.

Verify the connection

Select BetterToken / YOUR_MODEL_ID in the Agent Panel.
Send a short test message.
A normal response without authentication or model errors confirms the setup.

Fully quit and restart Zed after changing provider or model settings.

Switch models

Choose another BetterToken model in the Agent Panel model picker. To add a Model ID, copy the current value from the model plaza, then update the provider settings or available_models.

Common errors

Error	Fix
`401` or `Unauthorized`	Re-enter the BetterToken API Key in Agent Settings and remove surrounding spaces.
`404`	Use `https://bettertoken.ai/v1` as the API URL; do not append `/chat/completions`.
`model not found`	Copy `YOUR_MODEL_ID` again from the model plaza.
Settings do not apply	Save the provider, fully quit Zed, and reopen it.
Zed uses an old key	Remove any provider environment variable that overrides the keychain, then restart Zed.

Advanced setup

Supported providers

Provider	Status
Claude	Not supported
GPT	Manual setup
Kimi	Manual setup
GLM	Manual setup

Statuses apply to the BetterToken setup documented on this page.

What the setup methods mean

Manual setup: enter the API Key, Base URL, and Model.
Not supported: no verified direct setup is currently available.

Technical details

Keychain, settings file, and endpoint

Zed calls BetterToken through an OpenAI-compatible provider. The settings screen stores the key in the system keychain; settings.json contains only the provider, api_url, and model declaration. Use https://bettertoken.ai/v1 as the Base URL and let Zed append the Chat Completions path.

Getting started

Coding Agent setup

AI application platform setup

Advanced

Zed custom model setup: API Key and Base URL

Key settings

Prerequisites

Install

Manual setup

Optional: declare the provider and model in `settings.json`

Verify the connection

Switch models

Common errors

Advanced setup

Supported providers

Technical details

​Key settings

​Prerequisites

​Install

​Manual setup

​Optional: declare the provider and model in settings.json

​Verify the connection

​Switch models

​Common errors

​Advanced setup

​Supported providers

​Technical details

​Related FAQ

Key settings

Prerequisites

Install

Manual setup

Optional: declare the provider and model in `settings.json`

Verify the connection

Switch models

Common errors

Advanced setup

Supported providers

Technical details

Related FAQ