Create an API Key

Use a separate key for each application and environment. This makes usage easier to trace and lets you revoke one client without interrupting everything else.

Create the key

1. Open API Keys.
2. Select Create API Key.
3. Enter a descriptive name, such as local-development or CC Switch.
4. Choose a group that supports your target model.
5. Set an expiration time and a small initial quota.
6. Optionally restrict models and IP addresses.
7. Save, copy the full key once, and store it securely.

The English form groups the key's access controls in one place. The screenshot does not contain a real API key.

Store it for local testing

Replace only sk-your-key; keep the environment variable name unchanged.

macOS / Linux

# export makes the key available to commands launched from this terminal.
# Closing the terminal removes this temporary value.
export SPRELAY_API_KEY="sk-your-key"

Windows PowerShell

# $env: sets the variable for this PowerShell window and its child processes.
$env:SPRELAY_API_KEY = "sk-your-key"

Use the hosting platform's secret manager in production. Never commit a real key to .env.example, Git history, a frontend build, or documentation.

Next: Choose a Group and Model