Skip to main content
sideBar uses your own API key to connect to your chosen AI provider. This means your usage is billed directly to you by the provider, at their standard rates. sideBar stores your key encrypted and never displays it in full after you save it.

​
Choosing a Provider

sideBar supports three providers: Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google. All three work with sideBar’s core features. The best choice depends on which you already have an account with, or which model you prefer. You can switch providers at any time from Settings > sideBar without losing any of your content or memories.

​
Getting an API Key

Each provider has their own dashboard for creating API keys. Pick your provider below for step-by-step instructions.

​
Anthropic

  1. Go to platform.claude.com and sign up or sign in.
  2. Open Settings > Billing and add a payment method.
  3. Go to Settings > API Keys.
  4. Click Create Key, give it a name (e.g. “sideBar”), and click Create Key to confirm.
  5. Copy the key (it starts with sk-ant-api03-). This is the only time it will be shown.
For more details, see the Anthropic API docs.

​
OpenAI

  1. Go to platform.openai.com and sign up or sign in.
  2. Open Settings > Billing and add a payment method.
  3. Click API keys in the left sidebar.
  4. Click Create new secret key, give it a name (e.g. “sideBar”), and click Create secret key.
  5. Copy the key (it starts with sk-proj-). This is the only time it will be shown.
For more details, see the OpenAI API docs.

​
Google

  1. Go to aistudio.google.com/apikey and sign in with your Google account.
  2. Click Get API key if you are not already on the API keys page.
  3. Click Create a Gemini API Key and select a Google Cloud project (or let Google create a default one for you).
  4. Copy the key (it starts with AIza). Unlike Anthropic and OpenAI, you can view this key again later from the same page.
The Gemini API includes a free tier. For usage beyond the free tier, you may need to enable billing on the linked Google Cloud project. For more details, see the Gemini API docs.

​
Adding Your Key to sideBar

  1. Open Settings > sideBar.
  2. Select your provider under AI Provider.
  3. Paste your API key into the field and save.
Only the last four characters of your key are shown after saving. The full key is never displayed again. To update your key, tap the field and paste a new one.

​
Troubleshooting

If sideBar shows an error after you add your key, the most common causes are:
  • Key copied incorrectly: make sure you copied the full key without extra spaces or missing characters
  • No credits or payment method: check your billing settings with your provider, as most providers require a payment method before keys can be used
  • Key revoked or expired: generate a new key from your provider’s dashboard and update it in Settings > sideBar
See Troubleshooting for more.