The short version
- Make the key on the API Keys page of Google AI Studio. Every key belongs to a Google Cloud project.
- Set up billing on that project, then set a monthly spend cap on the Spend page.
- In Runner, an owner or admin pastes it under Settings, then LLM providers, presses Test, then Connect.
- Rather skip all of it? With AI included there is nothing to set up, and you can change your choice later.
Create the key in Google AI Studio
Gemini API keys are made in Google AI Studio, and every key belongs to a Google Cloud project, which is what Google bills. If you're new to Google Cloud, AI Studio makes a default project for you. If you already have a Google Cloud account it doesn't, and you bring a project in from Dashboard, then Projects, with Import projects.
Open API Keys
In Google AI Studio, open the API Keys page, at aistudio.google.com/api-keys.
Press Create API key
AI Studio generates a new key on the project.
Copy it somewhere safe
Treat it like a password, and keep it where only you can reach it: Google suggests a secure secret store, such as Google Cloud Secret Manager.
Set up billing on the key's project
Setting up billing moves the project from Google's Free Tier to its Paid Tier, which Google describes as the way to ensure your prompts and responses are not used to improve Google products.
Press Set up billing
On the Projects page, find the key's project and press Set up billing under Billing Tier. The API Keys page has the same button.
Add a billing account
Choose your country and agree to the Terms of Service, then fill in your contact details and payment method, or pick a billing account you already have.
Prepay, or choose Postpay
Google asks you to prepay at least $5, or offers Postpay. Either one finishes the setup.
When a prepaid balance runs out
At $0, Google refuses requests until you add credits.
Set a monthly spend cap at Google
Google sets spend caps per project, and anyone with the project's editor, owner or admin role can set one.
Open Spend
In Google AI Studio, open the Spend page.
Edit the cap
Under Monthly spend cap, press Edit spend cap and set the most the project may spend in a month.
How exact the cap is
Google calls project caps experimental, and says spend can run past one when billing data hasn't caught up with new charges, or during long-running work. Your billing account's tier has a cap of its own, and reaching it pauses every project on the account until the 1st of the next month.
Paste the key into Runner, under Settings, then LLM providers
The key belongs to your Runner organization, so every product in it can use the key, and only an owner or admin can connect one. Runner encrypts it before storing it and never shows it again.
A key you connect is used before credits, even on AI included.
Open LLM providers
In Runner, open Settings, then LLM providers, under What the AI uses.
Find the Google card
If it's folded under More providers, open it. Paste the key into Google API key.
Press Test, then Connect
Test asks Google whether it accepts the key, without using any credit. When it says Google accepted it, press Connect.
Keep the key secret, and keep it to Gemini
Google's first rule is to treat your Gemini API key like a password. Restricting it to the Gemini API also limits the damage if it ever leaks.
Find the key's label
On API Keys in AI Studio, hover over the Unrestricted label beside the key.
Restrict it
Click Add restrictions, select Restrict to Gemini API only, then click Restrict key.
- Never check it into source control, such as Git.
- Never put it in a website or an app that people download.
- Set up billing alerts in the Google Cloud console, so a spike in use or cost reaches you.
- Paste it only into Runner's key box, never into a chat, an email or a support ticket.
Swap the key for a new one, or switch it off
Google's order for replacing a key is to make the new one, move to it, and only then disable or delete the old one, so nothing stops in between.
Make the new key
Create a replacement key in Google AI Studio, as above.
Swap it in Runner
On the Google card in LLM providers, press Disconnect, then Confirm disconnect, and paste the new key, Test it and Connect. Disconnecting stops your team using the old key at once.
Disable or delete the old key
Once the new key works, disable the old one in the Google Cloud console, or delete it.
If the old key leaked
Check billing and API usage in the Google Cloud console for anything you didn't do.
Rather not make a key at all?
With AI included, your team runs on the AI credits your plan includes, with nothing to set up: no API keys, no vendor accounts, no billing with an AI company.
Every plan comes two ways, AI included or your own key, and you can change your choice later in Settings.
AI included or your own key: help me chooseGive your business a growth team.
Create your account and pick a plan. Your team is built once the plan is paid.