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DeepSeek provides powerful AI models with an OpenAI-compatible API.
PropertyValue
Providerdeepseek
AuthDEEPSEEK_API_KEY
APIOpenAI-compatible
Base URLhttps://api.deepseek.com

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Install plugin

Install the official plugin, then restart Gateway: 
openclaw plugins install @openclaw/deepseek-provider
openclaw gateway restart

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Getting started

1

Get your API key

Create an API key at platform.deepseek.com.
2

Run onboarding

openclaw onboard --auth-choice deepseek-api-key
Prompts for your API key and sets deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash as the default model.
3

Verify models are available

openclaw models list --provider deepseek
To inspect the plugin’s static catalog without a running Gateway:
openclaw models list --all --provider deepseek
For scripted or headless installations, pass all flags directly:
openclaw onboard --non-interactive \
  --mode local \
  --auth-choice deepseek-api-key \
  --deepseek-api-key "$DEEPSEEK_API_KEY" \
  --skip-health \
  --accept-risk
If Gateway runs as a daemon (launchd/systemd), make sure DEEPSEEK_API_KEY is available to that process (for example, in ~/.openclaw/.env or via env.shellEnv).

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Built-in catalog

Model refNameInputContextMax outputNotes
deepseek/deepseek-v4-flashDeepSeek V4 Flashtext1,000,000384,000Default model; V4 thinking-capable surface
deepseek/deepseek-v4-proDeepSeek V4 Protext1,000,000384,000V4 thinking-capable surface
deepseek/deepseek-chatDeepSeek Chattext131,0728,192DeepSeek V3.2 non-thinking surface
deepseek/deepseek-reasonerDeepSeek Reasonertext131,07265,536Reasoning-enabled V3.2 surface
V4 models support DeepSeek’s thinking control. OpenClaw also replays DeepSeek reasoning_content on follow-up turns so thinking sessions with tool calls can continue. Use /think xhigh or /think max with DeepSeek V4 models to request DeepSeek’s maximum reasoning_effort; both map to "max".

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Thinking and tools

DeepSeek V4 thinking sessions require replayed assistant messages from a thinking-enabled turn to include reasoning_content on follow-up requests. OpenClaw’s DeepSeek plugin backfills that field automatically, so normal multi-turn tool use works on deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash and deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro even when history came from another OpenAI-compatible provider (no native reasoning_content) or from a plain assistant message. No /new required after switching providers mid-session. When thinking is disabled (including the UI None selection), OpenClaw sends thinking: { type: "disabled" } and strips replayed reasoning_content from outgoing history, keeping the session on the non-thinking DeepSeek path. Use deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash for the default fast path. Use deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro for the stronger model when you can accept higher cost or latency.

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Live testing

To run only the DeepSeek V4 direct-model checks from the modern model live suite: 
OPENCLAW_LIVE_PROVIDERS=deepseek \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_MODELS="deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash,deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro" \
pnpm test:live src/agents/models.profiles.live.test.ts
Verifies both V4 models complete and that thinking/tool follow-up turns preserve the replay payload DeepSeek requires.

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Config example

{
  env: { DEEPSEEK_API_KEY: "sk-..." },
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      model: { primary: "deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash" },
    },
  },
}

Model selection

Choosing providers, model refs, and failover behavior.

Configuration reference

Full config reference for agents, models, and providers.