OpenClaw API Keys: Connect OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, and More

Connect multiple AI models safely, avoid auth errors, control costs, and keep workflows running without provider failures breaking your agent.

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Why API Keys Matter in OpenClaw

API keys let OpenClaw connect with AI model providers such as OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, OpenRouter, Groq, and other compatible APIs.

In simple words, API keys decide:

Which AI models OpenClaw can use
Whether your workflows can run
How much each request costs
Which provider handles coding, research, chat, or automation
Whether fallback models are available when one provider fails

A wrong API key does not only break chat replies. It can break browser actions, scheduled workflows, coding agents, research tasks, and tool-based automation. That is why setting up API keys properly matters before running serious OpenClaw workflows.

API Key Setup Is Different for Every Provider

Not every provider uses the same setup. Some only need an API key. Others need a base URL, model name, billing access, or project-level permission.

Provider Type	What You Usually Need
OpenAI-compatible APIs	API key, base URL, model name
Claude / Anthropic	API key, billing, model access
Gemini	API key, project access, model name
OpenRouter	API key, model slug, route access
Groq	API key and supported model
Local models	Local host URL, port, installed model

This is where many users make mistakes. They add a key, forget the model name or base URL, then wonder why OpenClaw behaves like a haunted calculator.

Before You Add API Keys

Before connecting any provider, check these basics:

Create an account with the provider
Generate a fresh API key
Confirm billing or free credits are active
Check that your selected model is available
Copy the key without extra spaces
Keep the key private
Never commit API keys to GitHub
Use .env or environment variables where possible

Add your .env file to .gitignore:

echo ".env" >> .gitignore

This prevents your API keys from being pushed to a public repository. Simple, boring, and it protects paid credentials from strangers on the internet.

Recommended API Key Format for OpenClaw

A clean .env file keeps provider setup easier to manage.

Example:

OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_anthropic_key
GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_key
OPENROUTER_API_KEY=your_openrouter_key
GROQ_API_KEY=your_groq_key

For OpenAI-compatible providers, you may also need a base URL and model name:

CUSTOM_PROVIDER_API_KEY=your_provider_key
CUSTOM_PROVIDER_BASE_URL=https://api.provider.com/v1
CUSTOM_PROVIDER_MODEL=model-name

Value	Purpose
API key	Proves your account has access
Base URL	Tells OpenClaw where to send requests
Model name	Tells OpenClaw which model to use

If any one of these is wrong, OpenClaw may return no output, model errors, or authentication failures. For deeper no-output debugging, see our model not responding fix guide.

How to Add API Keys in OpenClaw

You can add API keys through the OpenClaw dashboard or through environment variables, depending on your setup.

Option 1: Add API Keys Through OpenClaw Settings

Use this method if your OpenClaw setup has a dashboard or provider settings page.

Steps:

Open the OpenClaw dashboard
Go to model or provider settings
Select your provider
Paste the API key
Add the base URL if required
Select the model
Save the configuration
Test the provider before running workflows

Option 2: Add API Keys Through Environment Variables

Use this method if you are running OpenClaw on a VPS, local machine, or server setup.

Open your .env file:

nano ~/.openclaw/.env

Add your provider keys:

OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_anthropic_key
GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_key
OPENROUTER_API_KEY=your_openrouter_key
GROQ_API_KEY=your_groq_key

Save the file, then restart the OpenClaw gateway so it picks up the new values:

openclaw gateway restart

If your setup runs OpenClaw as a systemd service, restart the service instead:

sudo systemctl restart openclaw

After restart, OpenClaw should load the new provider keys.

Set the Default Provider and Model

Adding API keys is not enough. You also need to make sure OpenClaw knows which model to use by default.

List available models:

openclaw models list

Set your default model with openclaw config set:

openclaw config set agents.defaults.model.primary <provider>/<model-name>

Example:

openclaw config set agents.defaults.model.primary anthropic/claude-opus-4-6

Verify the change:

openclaw config get agents.defaults.model

The default model is used when a workflow does not specify a model manually.

For better results, use different models for different tasks:

Task	Recommended Model Type
Simple chat	Fast, low-cost model
Summaries	Mid-range model
Coding	Strong reasoning model
Research	Large-context model
Browser automation	Reliable tool-calling model

This helps reduce cost and improves workflow quality. See our switch AI model guide for a deeper walkthrough of changing the default model, and our best AI model for OpenClaw comparison for concrete picks.

Set Provider Fallbacks

A fallback provider helps OpenClaw continue working when the primary provider fails.

Provider failures can happen because of:

Rate limits
Billing problems
Expired API keys
Temporary provider outage
Wrong model name
Region restrictions
Permission errors

Example fallback strategy:

Workflow Type	Primary Provider	Fallback Provider
Coding agent	Claude or OpenAI	OpenRouter
Fast chat tasks	Groq	OpenAI-compatible provider
Research workflows	Gemini or OpenAI	Claude
Low-cost automation	Small model	Larger model only when needed

A fallback provider prevents one failed key from killing the full workflow. It is a small setup step that saves you from very stupid debugging sessions later. If you keep hitting quota errors, see our API rate limit fix guide.

Tired of juggling provider keys and restarts?

Ampere.sh runs OpenClaw with provider auth already wired up. Add your key or use pooled credits, no gateway restarts, no env file editing.

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How to Test Every API Key

Do not assume a provider works just because you pasted a key. Test it.

Test 1: Check Available Models

openclaw models list

This checks whether OpenClaw can detect your provider and available models.

Test 2: Confirm Provider Auth

openclaw models status

This shows which providers are authenticated and where each key is loaded from (env, config, or profile).

Test 3: Run a Simple Reply Test

Send a one-line prompt to OpenClaw:

Reply with the active provider name and model name in one sentence.

This confirms the API key and model are working end to end.

Test 4: Run a Tool-Calling Test

Use this prompt:

Create a short task plan with 3 steps and ask for approval before taking action.

This checks whether the selected model can follow agent-style instructions.

Test 5: Run a Long Context Test

Use this prompt:

Summarize this long input into 5 bullets and keep the original meaning.

This helps test whether the model handles longer inputs correctly.

Test	What It Checks
Model list	Provider connection
Models status	Auth source and validity
Simple reply	API key validity
Tool-calling test	Agent reliability
Long context test	Context handling

Common API Key Problems and Fixes

Problem	What It Means	Fix
Invalid API key	Key is wrong, expired, or copied badly	Regenerate the key and paste it again
No output	Provider is connected but model failed	Check model name and logs
Model not found	Wrong model ID	Use the exact provider model name
401 error	Authentication failed	Check API key and account access
403 error	Key exists but lacks permission	Enable API access or billing
429 rate limit	Too many requests	Use fallback or upgrade limits
Billing required	Provider requires payment method	Add billing or use another provider
Empty tool output	Model is weak at tool use	Switch to a better tool-capable model

If OpenClaw still fails after fixing the key, check logs:

openclaw logs --follow

Or, if OpenClaw runs as a systemd service:

journalctl -u openclaw -f

Logs usually show whether the issue is authentication, billing, rate limit, or wrong model name.

Provider-Specific Notes

OpenAI

OpenAI-compatible setup usually needs:

API key
Correct model name
Billing enabled
Supported endpoint

Use OpenAI for general tasks, tool workflows, coding, and automation.

Claude / Anthropic

Claude is useful for reasoning, coding, writing, and agent workflows.

Check:

API key is active
Billing is enabled
Your account has access to the selected model
Model name is correct

Claude may fail if your key is valid but model access is not enabled.

Gemini

Gemini is useful for research, long-context work, and multimodal tasks.

Check:

API key is active
API access is enabled
Project permissions are correct
Model name matches the provider documentation

Wrong project setup can cause errors even when the key looks valid.

OpenRouter

OpenRouter is useful when you want access to many models through one API key.

Check:

OpenRouter API key is valid
Model slug is correct
Selected model is available
Credits or billing are active

OpenRouter is good for fallback routing, but model quality can vary depending on the selected provider.

Groq

Groq is useful for fast responses and low-latency workflows.

Check:

API key is valid
Model is supported
Workflow does not require advanced reasoning beyond the model's strength

Groq is fast, but not every fast model is ideal for complex agent workflows.

Local Models / Ollama

Local models usually do not need external API keys.

Check:

Ollama or local runtime is running
Model is installed
Host URL and port are correct
Model can handle OpenClaw workflow requirements

Example Ollama check:

ollama list

Run a model manually:

ollama run model-name

Local models can reduce API cost, but weaker models may fail at tool calling. Free is nice until your agent starts producing nonsense with confidence. For a full walkthrough, see our set up Ollama with OpenClaw guide.

API Key Security Best Practices

API keys are sensitive. Treat them like passwords.

Follow these rules:

Never paste keys in public chats
Never commit .env files
Use separate keys for development and production
Rotate leaked keys immediately
Delete unused keys
Use provider spending limits
Review usage logs regularly

Before pushing code, check staged files:

git status

Check what will be committed:

git diff --cached

If .env appears, stop and remove it from Git tracking:

git rm --cached .env

Then commit again after confirming the key file is not included.

Cost Control When Using Multiple Providers

Using multiple providers gives OpenClaw more flexibility, but it can also increase cost if you route everything to expensive models.

Use this simple strategy:

Workflow	Best Model Choice
Reminders	Low-cost fast model
Short summaries	Mid-range model
Coding / debugging	Strong reasoning model
Browser automation	Reliable tool-calling model
Long research	Large-context model
Final review	Stronger model

Cost control tips:

Use cheap models for simple tasks
Use stronger models only when needed
Set spending limits in provider dashboards
Avoid sending huge context to expensive models
Use fallback models carefully
Review provider usage weekly

The goal is not to use the strongest model for everything. That is how people turn a simple automation into a billing crime scene. For a deeper look at token usage and cost, see our token usage and cost control guide.

When Manual API Key Setup Becomes Annoying

Manual setup is fine if you want full control. But it can become painful when you need to manage:

Multiple .env files
Provider-specific settings
Server restarts
Gateway issues
Expired keys
Failed workflows
Rate limits
Uptime
Logs and monitoring

This is where many users stop building workflows and start debugging infrastructure instead. Very productive, if your goal is sadness.

Easier Option: Run OpenClaw on Ampere.sh

If you want OpenClaw running without managing servers, ports, gateway setup, uptime, or manual provider configuration, use Ampere.sh.

With Ampere.sh, you can deploy OpenClaw in a managed environment, connect model providers, and start running workflows without spending hours fixing setup issues.

Use Ampere.sh if you want:

Managed OpenClaw hosting
Faster setup
Easier provider configuration
Always-on workflows
Less server maintenance
Fewer gateway and port issues
A cleaner path from setup to real automation

Run OpenClaw on Ampere.sh and spend less time fixing keys, configs, and failed provider connections.

Run OpenClaw on Ampere.sh

Frequently Asked Questions

What API keys do I need for OpenClaw?

You need API keys for the model providers you want to use, such as OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, OpenRouter, Groq, or other OpenAI-compatible providers.

Can I use multiple API providers in OpenClaw?

Yes. Using multiple providers can improve reliability, reduce cost, and give OpenClaw fallback options when one provider fails.

Why is my OpenClaw API key not working?

Common reasons include a wrong key, expired key, missing billing, wrong model name, missing base URL, or provider permission issues.

Can I use OpenRouter with OpenClaw?

Yes. OpenRouter can be useful when you want access to many models through one API key. Make sure you use the correct model slug.

How do I safely store OpenClaw API keys?

Store keys in environment variables or a .env file. Never commit keys to GitHub, and rotate keys immediately if they leak.

Do I need to restart OpenClaw after adding an API key?

Usually yes. If OpenClaw loads keys from environment variables or the .env file at startup, restart the gateway so it picks up the new value.

Which provider should I pick first?

Start with whichever provider you already have credits or an account on. Anthropic Claude and OpenAI are good defaults for agent workflows. Add OpenRouter or Groq later for fallback or low-cost tasks.

Also Read

Guide

How to Switch AI Models in OpenClaw Easily

Troubleshooting

OpenClaw Model Not Responding: Fix No Output & Empty Replies

Guide

Best AI Model for OpenClaw: Compare Pricing & Features

Written by

Michael Park

Senior Technical Writer & DevRel

Michael creates comprehensive installation and setup guides for developers and system administrators. With experience across Linux, macOS, Windows, and embedded systems, he has written over 200 technical tutorials used by millions of developers. He focuses on clear, step-by-step instructions that work the first time, covering everything from Raspberry Pi to enterprise servers.

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