Get an OpenAI key

Before you start

• An email address, to create an account on the OpenAI platform.
• A payment card. New OpenAI API accounts pay in advance: you buy credits before using the API, and OpenAI takes the cost of what TAKT uses from them.
• Your account needs a few dollars of credit before the key works. In the left menu, the Add credits box has a Go to Billing button.

Get your key

1. Go to platform.openai.com. Enter your email address and click Continue, or click Continue with Google, Continue with Apple, Continue with Microsoft or Continue with phone.

   

2. Open API Keys in the left menu and click Create new secret key.

   

3. In the Create new secret key window, leave Owned by set to You. Type a Name if you like, choose an Expiration, and leave Permissions on All. Click Create secret key.

   

4. Click Copy, then Done. OpenAI says you won't be able to view the key again, so copy it now.

   

5. Your key is now listed on the API keys page.

   

Paste it into TAKT

Go back to TAKT. On the Set up screen, click Add key on the OpenAI card. Paste your key into the box marked Paste your OpenAI key, then click Check and save. The button shows Checking… while TAKT tests the key. When it works, you see ✓ Connected.

Keep it safe

• Treat the key like a password, and do not share it with anyone.
• OpenAI shows the full key only once. If you lose it, make a new one and use that instead.
• Set a monthly spend limit. In your organization limits, under Spend, select Edit spend limit. Turn on Enforce a hard limit if you want requests to stop at that amount. OpenAI explains it on its spend limits page.

What it costs

You pay OpenAI directly, at OpenAI's prices, and TAKT adds nothing on top. OpenAI lists its prices on its pricing page.

If it does not work

• Your credits ran out. OpenAI calls this credit_balance_exhausted. Open your billing overview and buy more credits. The new balance can take a few minutes to show.
• Your spend limit was reached. If you set a hard limit, requests stop at it. Raise it in your organization limits, or wait for the next month.
• Part of the key is missing, or it was deleted. A deleted key cannot be used. Make a new key on the API keys page and copy all of it.

Last checked: 11 October 2026, against these OpenAI pages:

• developers.openai.com/api/docs/quickstart
• help.openai.com: Where do I find my OpenAI API key?
• help.openai.com: Setting up and managing prepaid API billing
• developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/spend-limits
• developers.openai.com/api/docs/pricing
• The OpenAI platform screens, as shown in the screenshots, 16 October 2026