# What is an API key?

The 2-minute explanation. Read this once and everything else makes sense.

## The simple version

An **API key** is a password for software, not for people.

- You log in to Smartlead with your email and password.
- Our automation logs in to Smartlead with an **API key**.

Same account, same data. Different door.

## Why not just give you my password?

- **Your password**: Opens everything. Changing it logs out everyone. Often protected by 2-factor codes on your phone, so automations can't use it anyway.

- **An API key**: Made only for us. You can switch it off any time, without changing your own password. Some tools let you limit what it can do.

## Names you will see

Tools use different names for the same idea. They all mean "a secret code our automation uses to get in":

| Name in the tool | What it is |
| --- | --- |
| API key | The most common. One long code. |
| API token / Access token / Personal access token | Same idea as an API key. |
| API secret | A second code that comes with the key. Send both. |
| Client ID + Client Secret | A pair, used for "Sign in with..." connections (Slack, Google, Teamleader). Send both. |
| Workspace ID / Base ID / Administration ID | Not secret. Tells us **which** account to use. Send it with the key. |

## What a key looks like

A long string of random letters and numbers, for example:

```
sk_live_51Hx8aB2kQ9vT0dE3fG7hJ...
```

> **Careful:**
> Copy the **whole** thing. Use the copy button in the tool when there is one. A key with one character missing will not work.

## Some keys are shown only once

Many tools show the key **one time**, right after you create it. If you close the window, you can't see it again. That is normal and safe.

If that happens: delete the key and create a new one. It takes 30 seconds.

## Next

- [How to send a key to us safely](https://guide.upliftedconsulting.com/start-here/sending-securely.md): Takes 1 minute. Do this for every key.

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Source: https://guide.upliftedconsulting.com/start-here/what-is-an-api-key · Updated 2026-10-22