Link an OpenRouter key from inside Big-AGI

OpenRouter is the one AI service whose fastest route to a working key runs through Big-AGI. A button in the setup panel sends you to OpenRouter to authorise, then brings the key back and installs it. Nothing is copied or pasted.

Linking the key, or creating one by hand

1. Open Models (Ctrl + Shift + M), press More Services if the Setup AI Models wizard is showing, then Add -> OpenRouter.
2. Press Link OpenRouter Key. You authorise at OpenRouter and return with the key already in place. The button relabels itself Create New Key once a valid key is present.
3. Prefer to do it yourself? Create one at openrouter.ai/keys instead. The key reads sk-or-v1-... and the console shows it once - copy it before leaving the page.

On the hosted app the linking step opens a second window. A popup blocker will interrupt it, and the flow then continues as a full-page redirect.

Where the key lands

A linked key drops into API Key on its own. A manual key goes into that same field. Either way, press Models and the fetched list appears below the panel (add and manage your keys).

The deposit that funds it

The account runs on prepaid deposits drawn down per request, and that deposited balance is the limit - unless auto top-up is on, which refills it and removes the limit you thought you had. Add Credits on that page takes major credit cards, AliPay, or USDC. Some models are published at no charge on a low daily cap, so a first answer needs no deposit; real use does.

One account, many AI services

The catalogue here spans the major vendors on a single bill. Big-AGI shows a curated subset of it by default and hides the rest, so a model you expected can be present but hidden (hiding models you never use). A no-charge model then answers slowly on purpose: Big-AGI spaces its own calls about five seconds apart for those. That is pacing, not a fault.

Direct Connection

Direct Connection can be turned on once the key is in the browser. It starts off.

Related

• Connect an AI service
• What your provider does with your text