How to create an Anthropic API key to use in Ozeki AI Gateway

This guide demonstrates how to create an Anthropic API key and configure it in Ozeki AI Gateway. You'll learn how to access the Anthropic platform, generate a new API key for Claude models, and set up Anthropic as a provider in your gateway. By following these steps, you can connect your Ozeki AI Gateway to Anthropic's Claude models and services. 

API URL: https://api.anthropic.com/v1
Example API Key: sk-ant-api03-abc123...
Default model: claude-sonnet-4-5

What is an Anthropic API key?

An Anthropic API key is a unique authentication credential that allows applications to access Anthropic's Claude AI models and services. The API key serves as a secure token that identifies your Anthropic account and authorizes API requests. When configuring Anthropic as a provider in Ozeki AI Gateway, you need this API key to establish the connection between your gateway and Anthropic's services.

Overview
Overview

Steps to follow

  1. Open Anthropic platform dashboard
  2. Navigate to API keys
  3. Create new key
  4. Choose workspace and key name
  5. Copy API key
  6. Open Providers page in Ozeki AI Gateway
  7. Create provider

How to create an Anthropic API key video

The following video shows how to create an Anthropic API key and configure it in Ozeki AI Gateway step-by-step. The video covers accessing the Anthropic platform, generating a new API key, and setting up Anthropic as a provider in your gateway.

Step 0 - Install Ozeki AI Gateway

Before configuring Anthropic as a provider, you need to have Ozeki AI Gateway installed and running on your system. If you haven't installed Ozeki AI Gateway yet, follow our Installation on Linux guide or Installation on Windows guide to complete the initial setup.

Step 1 - Open Anthropic platform dashboard

Open your web browser and navigate to the Anthropic platform dashboard. Sign in with your Anthropic account credentials. If you don't have an Anthropic account yet, you'll need to create one before proceeding. The Anthropic dashboard is where you'll manage your API keys and access to Claude models (Figure 1).

Open Anthropic platform dashboard
Figure 1 - Open Anthropic platform dashboard

Step 2 - Navigate to API keys section

In the Anthropic dashboard, locate and click on "API keys" in the left sidebar navigation menu. This section allows you to create and manage authentication credentials for accessing Claude models through API requests (Figure 2).

Go to Manage API Keys
Figure 2 - Navigate to Manage API Keys

Step 3 - Create key

On the API keys page, click the "Create Key" button to begin the key generation process. This initiates the API key creation workflow where you'll configure the key with a name and associate it with a workspace (Figure 3).

Press Create Key
Figure 3 - Click Create Key button

Step 4 - Choose workspace and key name

Enter a descriptive name for your API key that identifies its purpose, such as "ozeki-ai-gateway". Select the workspace you want to associate with this API key from the dropdown menu. The workspace determines billing and usage tracking for requests made with this key (Figure 4).

Choose workspace and key name
Figure 4 - Choose workspace and enter key name

After entering the key details and selecting your workspace, click the Add button to generate your new Anthropic API key. Anthropic will create a unique authentication credential that you'll use to connect Ozeki AI Gateway to Claude models (Figure 5).

Click Add Key
Figure 5 - Click Add Key to generate

Step 5 - Copy API key

After the API key is generated, Anthropic displays the complete key value. Click the copy button to copy the key to your clipboard. Store this key securely as it provides access to your Anthropic account and Claude models (Figure 6).

The API key is shown only once during creation. Make sure to copy and securely store the key before closing this window.

Copy API key
Figure 6 - Copy API key

Step 6 - Open Providers page in Ozeki AI Gateway

Open the Ozeki AI Gateway web interface and navigate to the Providers page. This is where you'll configure Anthropic as a new provider using the API key you just created (Figure 7).

Open Providers page
Figure 7 - Open Providers page in Ozeki AI Gateway

Step 7 - Create provider

Click the "New" button to begin the provider creation process. This opens a form where you'll enter the connection details for Anthropic (Figure 8).

Add new provider
Figure 8 - Click add new provider button

Fill in the provider configuration form with your Anthropic details. Enter the provider name, select "Anthropic" as the provider type, paste the API endpoint URL (https://api.anthropic.com/v1), and paste your API key. Select your preferred Claude model from the dropdown list, then click "Create" to save the configuration (Figure 9). 

https://api.anthropic.com/v1

Enter details and create provider
Figure 9 - Enter Anthropic provider details and create

After creation, the Anthropic provider is added to Ozeki AI Gateway. The provider now appears in the list, confirming that your gateway can route requests to Anthropic's Claude models. You can now create routes that allow users to access Claude models through your gateway (Figure 10).

Provider created
Figure 10 - Anthropic provider created successfully

To sum it up

You have successfully created an Anthropic API key and configured it as a provider in Ozeki AI Gateway. Your gateway can now communicate with Anthropic's services and access Claude models including Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Opus, and Claude Haiku. This setup allows you to manage Anthropic access for multiple users and applications from a single point.

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