Create your first API key
An API key is your "pass" for calling models. We suggest creating separate keys by purpose (one per device, one per client) to make management, quotas, and loss control easier.
Creation steps
- Log in to the console and go to the API Keys page
- Click New API Key
- Fill in the configuration:
| Setting | Description | Suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Identifier for the purpose | e.g. laptop-main, codex-cli, cherry-studio |
| Bound group | The service groups this key can call | Choose based on the models you want to use |
| Quota limit | Total call quota cap (optional) | Recommended for shared devices |
| Rate limit | Max requests per minute (optional) | Abuse prevention |
| Expiration time | Automatically expires when reached (optional) | Recommended for temporary use |
- Click "Generate"
Important: Save the key immediately
WARNING
The key is shown only once when it is generated. After you close the page, you can no longer view it!
- Copy it immediately after generating and save it to your password manager
- If you closed the page without saving it → delete that key and create a new one
Key format
- Platform keys usually start with
sk-(for examplesk-xxxxxxxx) - In some cases they start with
s2a-; both are normal formats
Run a check right after creating it
We recommend using the "First call check" feature on the key page to verify all of the following at once:
- ✅ Whether the key is valid
- ✅ Whether the bound group is available
- ✅ Whether the selected model exists
- ✅ Whether the balance/subscription quota is sufficient
- ✅ Whether the API endpoint is correct
Once everything passes, you can go to Configure the client.