Getting Your OpenAI API Key

(TODO) Getting Your OpenAI API Key

Purpose: Create and secure an OpenAI API key, then add the minimum US$5 credit required to start making requests from your apps or backend services.

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Video Walkthrough

Watch these quick steps in action: YouTube Short

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1. Prerequisites

• A valid email address and mobile phone number (for verification).
• A payment method capable of adding credit to your OpenAI account.
• An OpenAI account (create one at https://platform.openai.com if you do not already have one).

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2. Sign In or Create an Account

1. Navigate to the OpenAI Platform: https://platform.openai.com
2. Click Log in or Sign up and follow the on‑screen steps.
3. Verify your email address (check your inbox for the confirmation link).

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3. Verify Your Phone Number

Before any API key can be generated, OpenAI requires a one‑time phone number verification:

1. In the dashboard, you will be prompted to Add a phone number.
2. Enter a valid mobile number (VOIP numbers are typically rejected).
3. Enter the 6‑digit code sent via SMS to complete verification.

Once verified, the “API keys” section becomes available.

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4. Generate an API Key

1. In the left‑hand sidebar, click API keys (under the Developers section).
2. Press + Create new secret key.
3. (Optional) Give the key a name that describes its use—e.g., personal‑backend, saas‑prod, etc.
4. Select a usage scope:
   • Default project (personal use) – good for testing, hobby apps, local development.
   • Service account / team project – best for production servers, SaaS products, or CI/CD.
5. Click Create secret key.
6. Copy the key immediately—this is the only time it will be displayed.
7. Store the key securely (e.g., password manager or CI secret vault).

# .env (example)
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk‑...

Never hard‑code the key in your source files and never share it publicly.

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5. Add a Minimum Credit (US$5)

OpenAI requires a small initial credit load before an account can issue live requests:

1. In the sidebar, click Billing → Payments.
2. Select Add payment method and enter card details.
3. Choose Add credit → type $5 → Add funds.
4. Once the transaction succeeds, your usage quota becomes active.

Without at least US$5 of prepaid credit (or an approved billing plan), API calls will return invalid_request_error: Must add funds first.

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6. Test the Key in the Playground

1. Click Playground in the sidebar.
2. Ensure the Organization and Project match the key you just generated.
3. Type a prompt—e.g., Say hello—and press Submit.
4. A successful response confirms that the key and credit are active.

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7. Next Steps

• Integrate the key into your backend (process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY).
• Rotate or revoke keys periodically via API keys → ⋯ → Delete.
• Monitor usage in Usage → Daily cost to avoid unexpected charges.

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Troubleshooting

Issue	Fix
invalid_request_error: Billing hard limit reached	Add more credit or raise the hard‑limit in Billing → Usage limits.
Unable to verify phone	Use a non‑VOIP mobile number; one account per phone number limit applies.
Key leaked publicly	Revoke the key immediately and create a new one.

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Congratulations! You now have a secure, funded OpenAI API key ready for use in your projects.