Setup API Key

ElevenLabs API Key Setup

Guide the user through obtaining and configuring an ElevenLabs API key.

Workflow

Step 0: Check for an existing API key first

Before asking the user for a key, check for an existing ELEVENLABS_API_KEY:

1. Check whether ELEVENLABS_API_KEY exists in the current environment. If it does, use that value for this initial check.
2. Only if it is not in the environment, check .env for ELEVENLABS_API_KEY=<value>.
3. Do not print, quote, or repeat the key. If you mention it, redact it.
4. If an existing key is found, validate it:

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   GET https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/user
   Header: xi-api-key: <existing-api-key>

5. If existing key validation succeeds:
   • Tell the user ElevenLabs is already configured and working
   • Skip the setup flow
   • Ask whether they want to replace/rotate the key; if not, stop
6. If existing key validation fails:
   • Tell the user the existing key appears invalid or expired
   • Continue to Step 1

Step 1: Request the API key

Tell the user:

To set up ElevenLabs, open the API keys page: https://elevenlabs.io/app/settings/api-keys (opens in a new tab)

(Need an account? Create one at https://elevenlabs.io/app/sign-up (opens in a new tab) first)

If you don’t have an API key yet:

1. Click “Create key”
2. Name it (or use the default)
3. Set permission for your key. If you provide a key with “User” permission set to “Read” this skill will automatically verify if your key works
4. Click “Create key” to confirm
5. Copy the key immediately - it’s only shown once!

Do not paste the key into this chat. Instead, copy/paste it into your local .env file:

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ELEVENLABS_API_KEY=your-api-key

If .env already has an ELEVENLABS_API_KEY=... line, replace that line. Tell me when you’ve saved it, without sharing the key.

Then wait for the user to confirm that the key is saved locally.

Step 2: Validate and configure

After the user says the key is saved:

1. Re-check both .env and the current environment for ELEVENLABS_API_KEY, but treat .env as the source of truth for this step.
2. If .env contains a value, validate that value even when the current environment also has a different ELEVENLABS_API_KEY.
3. If .env does not contain the key:
   • Tell the user .env does not appear to contain ELEVENLABS_API_KEY.
   • Show the expected line again.
   • If the current environment does contain a key, note that this step still requires saving the key in .env.
   • Remind them not to paste the key into chat.
4. If a .env key is found, validate it:

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   GET https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/user
   Header: xi-api-key: <local-api-key>

5. If validation fails:
   • Tell the user the local key appears invalid or expired.
   • Remind them of the API keys page.
   • Ask them to replace the .env value and tell you when it is saved.
6. If validation succeeds, confirm:

   Done. ElevenLabs is configured and the key in .env works.

Safety Rules

• Never ask the user to paste an API key, token, or secret into chat.
• Never print or echo API key values from environment variables or .env.
• Prefer .env or managed secrets over shell history for persistent local configuration.
• For browser or client-side apps, keep ELEVENLABS_API_KEY on the server and issue short-lived tokens where applicable.