> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cal.id/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Get Your Cal ID API Key

> Create, secure, and rotate a Cal ID API key so you can connect your scheduling data to external applications and authenticate REST API requests.

The Cal ID API key is a secure credential that connects your scheduling data with external applications, custom websites, or the API docs. It lets different software systems communicate with your Cal ID account safely.

## Create your API key

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the developer dashboard">
    Log in to your **Cal ID** account, click **Settings**, then scroll the left sidebar to the **Developer** section and click **API Keys**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cal-id-docs/3fu9CIn5wG7tNW3N/images/developers/api-key-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3fu9CIn5wG7tNW3N&q=85&s=50d821c043675a560589f4e720418572" alt="API Keys management dashboard" width="1600" height="856" data-path="images/developers/api-key-1.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a new key">
    Click **Create an API Key**. A configuration window appears.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cal-id-docs/3fu9CIn5wG7tNW3N/images/developers/api-key-2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3fu9CIn5wG7tNW3N&q=85&s=4540ccab5779e083bbebb4020d846d2d" alt="Create an API Key button" width="1600" height="856" data-path="images/developers/api-key-2.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name the key">
    Enter a descriptive name in the **Name this key** field — for example, "My Personal Portfolio" or "Zapier Integration." A clear name makes it easy to tell later which app uses which key.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set an expiration">
    Decide how long the key stays active.

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Never expires">
        Switch the **Never expires** toggle **ON**. The key stays active until you manually delete it.
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Set an expiry date">
        Leave the toggle **OFF**, open the **Expiration date** dropdown, and choose **7 days**, **30 days**, **3 months**, or **1 year**.

        <Note>
          Once this date passes, the key expires and the integration stops working until you create a new one.
        </Note>
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create and copy the key">
    Click **Create**. Your secret key is shown **once** — click the copy icon and paste it somewhere safe, like a password manager.

    <Warning>
      For your protection, **Cal ID will never show this key again.** If you close the window without copying it, delete the entry and create a new one.
    </Warning>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Make your first request

Send an authenticated request to the `me` endpoint to confirm your key works — it returns your profile details.

```text theme={null}
GET https://api.cal.id/users/me
```

Here's the same call with `curl`:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X 'GET' \
  'https://api.cal.id/users/me' \
  -H 'accept: application/json' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer calid_XXXXXX'
```

Replace `calid_XXXXXX` with your API key.

<Tip>
  Prefer to explore interactively? Open the [API Reference](/docs/api-reference/introduction), click **Authorize**, paste your key, and run any endpoint against your live account right from the docs.
</Tip>

## Key security rules

* **Never share** your API key in emails, chat messages, or public code repositories like GitHub.
* **Use separate keys** for different integrations — safer than reusing one key everywhere.
* **Revoke unused keys** from the **API Keys** page with the **Delete** (trash) icon to cut off access instantly.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Explore the API Reference" icon="code" href="/docs/api-reference/introduction">
    Authorize once, then try every endpoint against your live account.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create your first booking" icon="calendar-plus" href="/docs/developers/guides/create-a-booking">
    A step-by-step recipe for booking through the API.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


## Related topics

- [Api Integration](/docs/developers/api-integration.md)
- [Webhook in Cal ID](/docs/developers/webhooks.md)
- [How to Find Your Event Type ID](/docs/developers/event-type-id.md)
- [Integrating Cal ID with Make](/docs/apps/make.md)