DeepSeek complete usage tutorial, 2026 domestic AI assistant from download to advanced gameplay

DeepSeek complete usage tutorial, 2026 domestic AI assistant from download to advanced gameplay

In the past year, if you pay attention to domestic AI, there is one name that is almost unavoidable, and that is DeepSeek. This company called Deep Search is known for its continuous open source, strong reasoning capabilities, and API prices that are the lowest among domestic models. It is used by many developers and ordinary users as their daily main assistant. Many people were a little hesitant when they first heard about DeepSeek, wondering whether the domestic model could only be used in the Chinese scene. After actually getting started, they discovered that its performance in Chinese, English, code, and mathematical reasoning was not bad. It was even surprising in some tasks. This article sorts out the entire usage process from registration to advanced gameplay. It not only takes care of novices who have never touched it before, but also provides some tips for those who are already using it.下面的内容都是基于截至本文写作时官方公开的产品形态来写的,版本号和具体能力会随着官方迭代变化,以官方文档为准。

What is DeepSeek and why are domestic developers using it?

DeepSeek is a domestic company that focuses on the development of general-purpose large models. Its product forms include conversation assistants for ordinary users and APIs for developers. It also releases model weights to platforms such as Hugging Face in an open source form. Unlike many vendors that only provide closed-source services, DeepSeek chooses to take the parallel route of open source and self-developed services. This is quite friendly to the developer community, because the open source weight means that it can be deployed locally or on a private cloud, and the data does not have to go through external services. The model's performance in Chinese scenarios has been generally recognized by the industry, and it is also close to the mainstream level in English and coding tasks. According to public reports, it is close to the top closed-source model level in some inference tasks. The reasons why domestic developers are willing to use DeepSeek can be summarized into several reasons: the model effect is sufficient, the API price is famously low in China, the documentation community is all in Chinese, and the network environment is friendly and there is no need to bother with an agent. The combination of these pragmatic factors has allowed DeepSeek to penetrate rapidly among the domestic developer community in the past year. Whether it is product integration, personal projects or simply daily conversations, DeepSeek is an option worth putting in the toolbox.

Several ways to register and log in, web App API

There are three entrances to DeepSeek. Which one you choose depends on your usage scenario. The first one is the web version. Open chat.deepseek.com and register with your mobile phone number or email. After completing the verification, you can enter the conversation interface. The whole process does not require filling in complicated information. The second is a mobile app. You can find the official version by searching DeepSeek in the iOS App Store and Android App Market. After opening it for the first time, log in with the same account. The conversation history of the web page and the app are synchronized. The third is the API, which needs to be registered on the official open platform platform.deepseek.com. After generating the API Key, you can call it in your own program. This path is suitable for developers and users with automation needs. The same account system is used behind the three methods. You can log in directly to the App after registering on the web page. Multiple sets of API Keys can also be generated under the same account to facilitate the differentiation of projects. Newbies are advised to start familiarizing themselves with the conversation function on the web version first, then consider installing the app after frequent daily use, and then apply for the API when there are development needs. This is a relatively smooth entry path.

Interpretation of web moderator interface functions

The interface design of the web version is minimalist. When you first enter, you will see a dialogue input box in the middle, a dialogue history sidebar on the left, and the ability to switch model types at the top. There are usually several switches above the input box, such as whether to enable deep thinking mode and whether to enable online search. These two options determine how the model works when answering.深度思考模式会调用推理强化版本的模型,适合数学题、代码题、需要分步推理的任务,响应稍慢但答得更稳;联网搜索会让模型在回答前先查互联网上的资料,适合需要最新信息的问题,例如最近的新闻、行业动态、产品发布。 The conversation history in the sidebar will be automatically saved and can be renamed, pinned, or deleted. After long-term use, it is recommended to clearly separate the conversations on different topics, so that subsequent review will be much easier. The setting entrance is in the avatar in the upper right corner. You can adjust the interface language, font size, clear all conversation history, etc. These are the most commonly used items on a daily basis. Generally speaking, the web version does not have many complicated options. Once you are familiar with the few switches around the input box, you can basically get started.

How to download and use mobile App

The user experience of the mobile version is basically the same as that of the web version. The main difference is that the interactive form is more suitable for mobile operation. In terms of download channels, iOS users directly search for DeepSeek in the App Store, identify the official account, and search for the released version to download and install to avoid being misled by copycat apps with similar names. Android users can search and download from mainstream channels such as Xiaomi App Store, Huawei App Store, OPPO Software Store, and vivo App Store, or they can enter from the download link provided by the official website deepseek.com. When you open the app for the first time, there will be a short boot page, and you can start the conversation after logging in. Several commonly used functions on the mobile phone are worth mentioning. Voice input supports Chinese recognition, which is suitable for use when typing is inconvenient; copying and sharing conversation content is very convenient, long press the message to see the options; message notifications can be turned on in the settings, and the assistant can remind you of certain matters when necessary. Compared with the computer version, the advantage of the mobile version is that it can be used anytime and anywhere. The disadvantage is that the experience of long text input and code viewing is worse. Therefore, it is more convenient to return to the computer when using the App during daily commuting and fragmented time.

Model selection, when to use V and when to use R

DeepSeek's models are mainly divided into two series, the V series for general dialogue direction and the R series for inference enhancement direction. Please refer to the official public page for the specific version number as of the time of writing this article. The difference between the two can be summarized in one sentence. The V series responds quickly and is suitable for daily conversations and most routine tasks. The R series will perform multi-step reasoning before answering and is suitable for difficult questions that require rigorous thinking. Specific to usage scenarios, the V series is sufficient for daily chatting, writing copywriting, translating, checking information, and writing ordinary scripts; when it comes to math competition questions, complex algorithm questions, logical analysis that requires rigorous reasoning, and complex code debugging, switching to the R series will have significantly better results. The price of the R series is longer response time. Sometimes you have to wait for tens of seconds or even longer for a question, because the model will expand the thinking process and run. This should be expected when you are in a hurry. You can generally switch between the web version and the app at the top of the conversation interface. When the deep thinking mode is turned on, the R series is called. A practical suggestion is not to turn on Deep Thinking by default. It is enough to use V for simple problems. Leave R for difficult problems that really need it, so that the experience will be better.

Advanced gameplay, access to third-party clients and workflows

After getting familiar with the basic dialogue, DeepSeek can also play more tricks through third-party clients and workflows. One type is desktop clients. Multi-model aggregation clients such as Chatbox, Cherry Studio, NextChat, etc. all support configuring DeepSeek API as the backend, so that you can use DeepSeek and other models in a unified interface at the same time to facilitate comparison of effects. The other type is browser plug-ins. Plug-ins such as Sider and Monica allow you to select text on a web page and directly call model interpretation, translation, and summary. It is also possible to connect to DeepSeek on the back end. Another category is workflow automation tools. Low-code platforms such as n8n, Coze, and Dify all support access to the DeepSeek API. You can build automated processes such as email classification, document summarization, automatic replies, and content review.开发者层面还有 LangChain、LlamaIndex 等框架的官方或社区适配,方便把 DeepSeek 接入到 RAG 知识库、Agent 编排等更复杂的应用里。 What these advanced gameplays have in common is that they all require a set of API Keys as access credentials. They are suitable for users who are willing to spend some time and pursue deeper integration. For ordinary daily conversations, the official webpage or app is enough.

Getting started with API calls example

If you want to integrate DeepSeek into your own program, API calls are the most direct way. The whole process is divided into three steps: register an account on the open platform, generate API Key, and call the interface according to the document. The DeepSeek API is designed to be compatible with OpenAI, which means that a large number of ready-made SDKs and sample codes can run with minor modifications. The following is the simplest Python calling example, which only uses the standard requests library and does not need to install additional dependencies.

import requests

url = "https://api.deepseek.com/v1/chat/completions"
headers = {
    "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}
data = {
    "model": "deepseek-chat",
    "messages": [
        {"role": "system", "content": "You are a concise assistant"},
        {"role": "user", "content": "Explain what entropy is in one sentence"}
    ]
}
resp = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=data, timeout=60)
print(resp.json()["choices"][0]["message"]["content"])

If you are used to the command line, you can also use curl to initiate calls. Just pass the above url, headers, and json data to curl as they are. The specific model name, parameter description, and billing method are subject to the official API document. The latest available name and context length limit of each model will be listed in the document. Overall, the barrier to entry for the DeepSeek API is not high. Any developer familiar with HTTP requests can make the first call within half an hour.

What to look out for when it comes to privacy and data compliance

Any online AI service must face the problem of data flow, and DeepSeek is no exception. When using the web version and app, the content you enter will be sent to the server for processing. Officials usually explain the purpose of the data, retention period, whether to participate in model training, etc. This information is listed in the user agreement and privacy policy. A pragmatic suggestion is not to send highly sensitive personal information, internal corporate secrets, undisclosed contract code, etc. directly to any online AI assistant. This principle applies to all cloud models and not just DeepSeek. If the work involves sensitive data but you want to use AI assistance, you can consider two options. One is to use the open source version and deploy it locally or in a private cloud, so that the data does not leave the Internet at all. The other is to desensitize it and then hand it to the model, replacing the person's name, company name, and specific numbers with placeholders, and letting the model handle the logical structure. When purchasing AI services, enterprise users are advised to use data compliance as a hard indicator for evaluation, including server location, whether the data is cross-border, whether to participate in training, security certification status, etc. It is much easier to ask clearly before signing a contract than to make remediation afterwards. At the regulatory level, there are already domestic generative AI service management measures, and service providers need to complete corresponding filings. These compliance frameworks are still being improved, and users only need to remain basically informed.

Common usage scenarios suitable for DeepSeek

In which scenarios DeepSeek is most convenient to use, here are some common ones according to frequency of use. The first category is Chinese writing assistance, which can be used for everything from public account articles, marketing copywriting, email responses to paper polishing. The naturalness of Chinese expression is more stable than many overseas models. The second category is Chinese-English translation. Whether it is daily email translation or technical document translation, terminology processing is more detailed than general translation tools. The third category is code assistance, which can handle daily scripting, bug troubleshooting, algorithm implementation, and SQL generation. Mainstream languages ​​such as Python, JavaScript, and Go are well supported. The fourth category is mathematics and logical reasoning, which is the strength of the R series. It is relatively stable in doing Olympiad questions, interview questions, and complex business logic analysis. The fifth category is learning aids. It teaches you concepts you don’t understand, translates and explains passages in papers you don’t understand, and translates complex legal provisions into vernacular. These scenarios are very useful for students and professionals. The sixth category is daily knowledge questions and answers. The answers to life-related questions such as cooking, fitness, decoration, and financial management are quite reliable, and the timeliness is not bad with the blessing of Internet search. DeepSeek can give satisfactory answers in these types of scenarios, and it is no problem to use it as the main assistant in daily workflow.

FAQ

Is DeepSeek free?

The web version and mobile app are basically free and open to individual users. After logging in, you can have direct conversations. There are no core functions that require payment. The free version may have response speed or concurrency limits during peak periods, which is common practice with most free AI services. If you are a developer, you need to connect DeepSeek to your own program to make API calls. This part is billed based on token usage. Among domestic models, it is known for its low price. The specific unit price is based on the official open platform public page. Overall, free web pages and apps are sufficient for ordinary users. Only large-scale integration will involve payment. This pricing strategy is friendly to individual users.

Which one is better, DeepSeek or ChatGPT?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, it depends on the specific task and specific version. DeepSeek's naturalness of expression in Chinese scenarios is generally well received. The industry generally believes that there is little gap with top closed-source models in Chinese writing, Chinese translation, and Chinese knowledge question and answer. In terms of code and mathematical reasoning tasks, according to public reports, the reasoning-enhanced version of DeepSeek is close to the top closed-source level. The specific strength depends on the type of task. In English scenes and multi-modal scenes, the head closed-source model has undergone longer iterations and is still dominant in certain tasks. The pragmatic judgment is that DeepSeek is fully capable of daily Chinese-based workflows. When English academic writing or multi-modal advanced functions are required, other tools should be added. It is more cost-effective to use two sets of assistants together than to stick to one.

Can DeepSeek be used directly in China?

DeepSeek is a product of a domestic company. The servers and services are all deployed in China. The web version, App, and API can be directly accessed in the country. There is no need to access the Internet scientifically or to deal with agents. This is one of the practical reasons why many domestic users choose DeepSeek. The stability and access speed are stronger than overseas services. The account system can also be registered with a mobile phone number, which is in line with the usage habits of domestic users. If you need a stable and reliable AI assistant in your workflow, but don’t want to worry about the network environment, DeepSeek is a very suitable choice. It should be noted that the coverage of some functions, such as online search, may be different from that of overseas search engines, which cannot be felt in daily use. When doing academic research involving foreign materials, you can use additional tools.

Can DeepSeek be deployed locally?

Can. DeepSeek releases the model weights in an open source form to platforms such as Hugging Face, allowing it to be downloaded and run on your own hardware. It is recommended that you read the specific license agreement terms carefully before downloading. Commercial use is usually permitted, but you must comply with the corresponding citation and compliance requirements. The prerequisite for local deployment is that you have sufficient hardware resources. A complete large-parameter model requires very high graphics memory, and it is difficult to run it directly on ordinary consumer-grade graphics cards; however, the official also provides versions with different parameter sizes, and the small-parameter version can run on consumer-grade graphics cards and even high-end Macs. Commonly used local deployment tools include Ollama, vLLM, llama.cpp, etc. Download the model weights locally and configure it to run. Local deployment is mainly for users who have data privacy requirements or want to do in-depth research. For ordinary users, official online services are enough.

Is DeepSeek suitable for coding?

It is suitable and is one of the more outstanding capabilities of DeepSeek. DeepSeek can provide usable answers for daily programming tasks such as writing scripts, checking API usage, interpreting other people's code, debugging errors, refactoring functions, and generating unit tests. Mainstream languages ​​such as Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, Go, and Rust are well supported. When encountering complex algorithm problems or multi-file collaboration scenarios, switching to the reasoning-enhanced version will significantly improve it. Using DeepSeek in conjunction with IDE programming tools with project understanding capabilities, you can take into account daily completion and complex task consultation. When writing code, you must still maintain critical judgment on the AI ​​output. The generated code must be reviewed and tested. This principle holds true for all AI programming assistants.