Complete Guide: Bring Your Own API Key

Why Bring Your Own API Key?

When you use your own Groq API key with Chat, you get complete control over your data, billing, and usage. Your conversations go directly from your browser to Groq's servers—Chat never sees your messages, ensuring maximum privacy and security.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Create a Groq Account

First, you'll need to create a free account on Groq's platform. This gives you access to their powerful AI models and API.

What you'll need:

• Valid email address
• Phone number for verification
• Credit card (for usage billing, if you exceed free tier)

Visit Groq Console →

Navigate to API Keys

Once logged in to the Groq console, you'll need to generate an API key for use with Chat.

Path: Console → API Keys → Create API Key

Click on your profile/account settings

Select "API Keys" from the sidebar

Click "Create API Key" button

Generate Your API Key

Create a new API key specifically for use with Chat. Give it a descriptive name so you can identify it later.

Important Security Note

Copy your API key immediately—you won't be able to see it again once you close the dialog.

Enter a name like "Chat Application"

Set appropriate permissions (default is usually fine)

Click "Create" and immediately copy the key

Configure Chat

Now it's time to add your API key to Chat. This process is secure and your key stays on your device.

In Chat:

1. Open Chat in your browser
2. Look for the settings icon (⚙️) or API key input
3. Paste your Groq API key
4. Save the settings

Privacy Guarantee

Your API key is stored only in your browser's local storage. Chat never transmits it to our servers.

Test Your Setup

Send a test message to make sure everything is working correctly. You should see fast responses powered by Groq.

Try asking:

"Hello! Can you tell me a fun fact about artificial intelligence?"

Understanding Groq's Pricing

Groq offers competitive pricing with a generous free tier to get you started:

🆓 Free Tier

• $5 in free credits for new users
• Access to all available models
• No time limits or expiration
• Perfect for testing and light usage

💰 Pay-as-you-go

• $0.10 per 1M tokens (input)
• $0.10 per 1M tokens (output)
• Extremely cost-effective
• Only pay for what you use

Example: A typical conversation with 100 messages might cost less than $0.01

Security Best Practices

Keep your API key secure with these important practices:

❌ Don't Do This

• Share your API key with others
• Store it in plain text files
• Include it in code repositories
• Use it on untrusted websites

✅ Best Practices

• Only use trusted applications like Chat
• Monitor your usage in Groq console
• Regenerate keys if compromised
• Set up usage alerts in Groq

Troubleshooting Common Issues

🔑 "Invalid API Key" Error

This usually means the key was copied incorrectly or has been revoked.

Solution: Double-check the key for extra spaces or missing characters. Generate a new key if needed.

⚡ Slow Responses

If responses are slower than expected, it might be a network issue.

Solution: Check your internet connection and try refreshing the page.

💳 Billing Issues

If you've exceeded your free tier and don't have billing set up.

Solution: Add a payment method in the Groq console under billing settings.

Next Steps

Now that you have Chat set up with your own API key, you can:

🚀 Explore Features

• Create multiple chat sessions
• Try different AI models
• Use for coding assistance
• Export conversations

📊 Monitor Usage

• Check usage in Groq console
• Set up billing alerts
• Track conversation metrics
• Optimize for cost efficiency

Ready to start your private AI conversations?