> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://inference-docs.cerebras.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# API Keys

> Authenticate to the Cerebras API with API keys.

API keys are static secrets you generate in the Cloud Console and include in every request for authentication.

* **Create a key:** Go to the **API Keys** page in the [Cloud Console](https://cloud.cerebras.ai). On paid accounts, select a project first to scope the key to that project's rate limits and usage.
* **Use the key:** Set the `Authorization: Bearer` header on direct HTTP requests, or set the `CEREBRAS_API_KEY` environment variable. Learn more in our [Authentication guide](/api-reference/authentication).

API keys do not expire. Store them in a secrets manager and rotate them periodically.

To rotate a key, create a new one, update your application to use it, then delete the old one. To delete a key, click the delete icon next to it on the **API Keys** page. Deletion is immediate and permanent — any application still using the key will receive authentication errors.