Get an OpenAI API key

This guide walks you through getting an OpenAI API key (OpenAI makes ChatGPT) and adding it to Recall. It takes about 10 minutes. You need an email address, a phone and a payment card.

The provider's website changes now and then. If a button is named a little differently from what you see here, look for the closest match.

1. Create your account

1. Open platform.openai.com. This is the OpenAI Platform, the place for API keys. (It isn't chatgpt.com, the chat website.)
2. Sign up, or log in with the account you already use for ChatGPT. Having a ChatGPT account (even a paid one) doesn't give you API credit, but you can use the same login.
3. If you signed up with email, open the email OpenAI sends you and click the link in it.
4. Answer the short welcome questions. If you're asked for your phone number, enter it and type in the code you receive by text message.

You're now on the Platform.

2. Buy some credit

The API is paid in advance. Start small: you can add more any time.

1. Click the gear icon (Settings) and open Billing (direct link).
2. Click Add payment details, enter your card, then Add to credit balance and buy credit, for example $5 or $10.
3. Leave automatic recharge switched off. Then you're never charged more than you chose to buy.

3. Set a spending limit

This caps what can be spent per month, even if your key ever leaked.

1. In Settings, open Limits.
2. Set a monthly spend limit you're comfortable with (for example $10).
3. Choose to enforce it as a hard limit, so requests stop once the limit is reached. Without it, the limit only sends you an alert email and spending carries on. Then save.

4. Create the API key

1. Open Settings › API keys (direct link).
2. Click Create new secret key.
3. Give it a name you'll recognise, for example Recall. Leave the project as it is (Default project) and permissions on All.
4. If you're offered an expiration, choose one, for example 90 days. After that date the key stops working, and you simply make a new one. Recall reminds you before it happens.
5. Click Create secret key. The key appears on screen. It starts with sk-.
6. Copy it now, with the copy button next to it. OpenAI shows the key only this once. If you lose it, delete it and create a new one.

5. Add the key to Recall

1. Sign in to Recall and open Settings.
2. Under API keys, paste the key into OpenAI API key (ChatGPT).
3. Enter the key's expiry date (if it has one), so Recall can remind you before it runs out.
4. Click Save API keys.
5. Under Models, check which OpenAI model Recall should use. The default is fine to start with.

That's it. Create a topic, add some material and make your first exam.

Something went wrong?

What you see	What to do
Recall says your credit is too low, or mentions a quota	Buy more credit under Settings › Billing on the Platform.
Recall says the key isn't valid	Check that you copied the whole key. If needed, create a new one.
You lost the key	Delete it under API keys and create a new one.
You think someone else has your key	Delete it right away under API keys, then create a new one and add it to Recall.
The key expired	Create a new key and paste it into Recall's Settings.

Back to the wiki home, or read Get a Claude API key instead.