> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://sandgarden.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://sandgarden.gitbook.io/docs/getting-started/add-your-ai-provider-key.md).

# Add Your AI Provider Key

You add your organization's AI provider key in one of two places: the **Add an AI API key** step in the **Get Started with Doc Holiday!** checklist right after signup, or the **AI Provider Keys** page in Settings any time. Until a key exists, the dashboard also shows a banner: **Doc Holiday requires an AI API key to write documentation.**, with a **Manage keys** link.

### Who needs this

Use this page for the Bring Your Own Key and Open Source Software plans. Enterprise does not use this setup page; see [Billing and plans](/docs/administration/billing-and-plans.md) for plan details.

Doc Holiday accepts keys from many providers; see [Supported AI Providers](/docs/administration/supported-providers.md).

### Add the key

Your key must support real inference. A key that can only list models fails verification.

From the checklist, select **Add an AI API key**; it opens the **AI Provider Keys** page with the add dialog ready.

From Settings, as an admin on the Bring Your Own Key or Open Source Software plan:

1. Open **AI Provider Keys**.
2. Select **Add AI Provider Key**.
3. Fill in **Name**, **Provider**, and **API Key**.
4. Select **Add Key**.

Doc Holiday verifies the key before it saves anything. If verification fails, Doc Holiday requires a new key and the setup restarts; if verification cannot complete, the setup retries. The first saved key becomes **Active** automatically.

![The AI Provider Keys page with two keys: one Active and Healthy, one Unhealthy](/files/87QdXWVpfbiS8EQ3Vl12)

### Verify

The key appears with status **Active**, and **Test** in the key's menu confirms it works.

### Next

Continue with [AI provider keys](/docs/administration/ai-provider-keys.md) or review [Billing and plans](/docs/administration/billing-and-plans.md).