Create an API Key

An API key identifies and authorizes requests. Treat it like a password because it can consume your account quota.

Create a key

1. Sign in to the dashboard.
2. Open API key management.
3. Create a key with a recognizable name such as macbook-codex.
4. Select the group or model scope required for this use case.
5. Store the complete key immediately.

Use the key in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

Prefer an environment variable instead of source code:

export OPENAI_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"

Never commit a key to Git, expose it in browser code, or include it in screenshots and support messages.