How to Generate Anthropic API Key

Learn how to create and configure your custom Anthropic API key for Claude models in VoxWrite.

Getting Your API Key

Step 1: Create Anthropic Account

1. Visit console.anthropic.com
2. Click "Sign Up" or "Log In"
3. Complete the registration process

Step 2: Set Up Billing

1. Navigate to "Settings" → "Billing"
2. Add a payment method
3. Set an optional spending limit
4. Note: Anthropic requires billing setup before API access

Step 3: Generate API Key

1. Go to "API Keys" in the dashboard
2. Click "Create Key"
3. Give your key a name (e.g., "VoxWrite")
4. Set permissions if prompted (usually read/write)
5. Click "Create"
6. Copy immediately: You won't see it again!

Step 4: Configure VoxWrite

1. Open VoxWrite settings. To do this, click the VoxWrite extension icon in your browser toolbar, then click the gear icon in the top-right corner.

2. Go to "API Keys" section

3. Paste your API key in the designated field

4. Click "Save"

API Key Format

Anthropic keys follow this format:

sk-ant-api03-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Make sure to copy the entire key including the sk-ant-api03- prefix.

Security Best Practices

Keep Your Key Safe

• ✅ Never commit to version control
• ✅ Don't share in screenshots or videos
• ✅ Use environment variables in code
• ✅ Rotate regularly: Create new keys periodically
• ✅ Monitor usage: Check the dashboard for anomalies

Managing Multiple Keys

• Create separate keys for different applications
• Use descriptive names to identify each key's purpose
• Delete unused keys to minimize security risk

Troubleshooting

Authentication Errors

"Invalid API Key"

• Verify the key is copied completely
• Check for spaces or hidden characters
• Ensure the key hasn't been deleted
• Try creating a new key

"Insufficient Credits"

• Add a payment method in billing
• Check if you've exceeded your spending limit
• Verify your payment method is valid

Rate Limit Issues

• Anthropic has rate limits based on your plan
• Implement exponential backoff in your requests
• Consider upgrading if you need higher limits
• Space out requests to stay within limits

Connection Problems

• Verify internet connectivity
• Check status.anthropic.com for service status
• Ensure firewall isn't blocking requests
• Try using a different network

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