Supported Key Types
| Key Type | Format | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropic API Key | sk-ant-api... | Anthropic Console |
| Anthropic OAuth Token | sk-ant-oat01-... | claude setup-token CLI |
| OpenAI API Key | sk-... | OpenAI Dashboard |
Adding a Key
- Go to Settings → API Keys on the OpenClaws dashboard
- Paste your key in the input field
- Click Save
Security
All keys are encrypted at rest using AES-256 via Supabase pgcrypto. Keys are only decrypted server-side when pushed to your isolated gateway environment variables.
- Stored in plaintext
- Logged or displayed after saving
- Shared between users
- Accessible via the API after creation
Priority Order
When multiple keys are configured, the gateway uses this priority:- User’s own key (BYO API key or OAuth token)
- Platform managed key (included with subscription)
BYO Key Chat (Free)
With a saved Anthropic or OpenAI key, you can chat immediately from the Dashboard — no subscription required. Your key is decrypted server-side and used to call the AI provider directly.BYO Key Chat gives you instant value with zero infrastructure cost. For browser automation, messaging channels, 51+ skills, and persistent memory, upgrade to OpenClaws Pro.
When Can You Add Keys?
You can save and validate BYO API keys at any time — even before subscribing. Your keys are stored encrypted and ready to go.| Action | Requires Subscription? |
|---|---|
| Save / validate API keys | No (free) |
| Select preferred model | No (free) |
| Connect Composio toolkits | No (free) |
| Chat with BYO key | No (free) |
| Deploy gateway (full experience) | Yes ($29/mo) |