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

# Provider keys

> Add, replace and revoke keys for all five supported AI providers, and understand failure and plan behavior.

Use your own provider accounts for supported model, voice and transcription calls. The provider bills those calls to your account.

> [!NOTE]
>
> This capability needs the **Premium** plan or higher.

## Before you start

Before you start, sign in to [the dashboard](https://dashboard.hellotars.com) and select the organization you want to work in.

Admins manage keys in **Settings → Integrations → Provider keys**. Add and Replace require Premium or Enterprise.

The tab remains visible on Free. You can revoke an existing key, but cannot add or replace one.

## Providers and revocation

| Provider | Used for | Get a key | What revoking does |
| - | - | - | - |
| OpenRouter | All AI model calls | [OpenRouter keys](https://openrouter.ai/keys) | OpenRouter-only models error until a key is added or the model changes |
| OpenAI | OpenAI voices and speech-to-speech | [OpenAI keys](https://platform.openai.com/api-keys) | Voices stop using your key from the next call and keep working |
| ElevenLabs | Voices from your ElevenLabs account | [ElevenLabs keys](https://elevenlabs.io/app/settings/api-keys) | Account voices stop working, so affected agents use their fallback voice |
| Cartesia | Voices from your Cartesia account | [Cartesia keys](https://play.cartesia.ai/keys) | Account voices stop working, so affected agents use their fallback voice |
| Deepgram | Call transcription | [Deepgram console](https://console.deepgram.com) | Calls stop using your key from the next call and keep transcribing |

## Add a key

**1. Select Add**

Choose the provider's row.

**2. Enter the key and optional label**

Labels can contain up to 60 characters. OpenRouter keys start with sk-or-, and OpenAI keys start with sk-.

**3. Confirm the acknowledgement**

Read which calls will use the key.

**4. Select Check and save**

The button shows **Checking…** while Tars checks the key with the provider.

Checks have a ten-second timeout. A rejected key shows the provider's rejection message and is not saved.

If the provider cannot be reached, try again later. Network errors, timeouts, rate limits and provider outages do not replace the saved key.

Keys are encrypted and never shown again after saving. Only the masked prefix and last four characters remain visible.

## Read the table

The table shows **Provider**, **Used for**, **Key**, **Status**, **Added** and **Last used**.

A missing key shows **Not added**. A saved key starts **Active**, and **Last used** shows **Never** before its first use.

**Added** includes the member who saved the key, or **a former member** if they have left.

## Replace

Select **Replace** or **Replace key**. Enter the new key and select **Check and save**.

The new key replaces the old one only after validation succeeds. Failed validation leaves the old key untouched.

## Revoke

Select **Revoke key** and confirm. Revocation is immediate and remains available on Free.

Review the provider-specific effect in the table above. For ElevenLabs and Cartesia, check each affected agent's fallback voice.

## Failing keys

A failing row shows **Failing** and an alert with the recent provider error. **Update key** opens Replace.

The state remains Failing until a later successful use is recorded or the key is replaced. It does not clear merely with time.

OpenRouter-only model calls can fail until repaired. OpenAI and Deepgram calls continue without your key.

ElevenLabs and Cartesia account voices switch to their fallback voice until the key works again.

Key changes and failures appear in the [audit log](https://hellotars.com/docs/guides/security/audit-log.md).

## Verify

After a successful provider call, inspect **Last used**. A newly recorded successful use can also clear **Failing**.

## Related pages

* [Data protection](https://hellotars.com/docs/guides/security/data-protection.md)
* [Plans overview](https://hellotars.com/docs/get-started/plans-overview.md)
* [AI Agent gambit](https://hellotars.com/docs/guides/building/gambits/ai-agent.md)


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