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

# Authentication

> Authenticate with API keys (ak_...).

Every request (except health checks) requires an API key tied to your SeedanceAPI account.

## Create an API key

1. Sign in at [seedanceapi.us/dashboard](https://seedanceapi.us/dashboard)
2. Your **Default** key is created automatically — copy it from Quickstart
3. Or click **Create API key** for additional keys

Secrets are shown when a key is created. Store them securely.

## Authorization header

```http theme={null}
Authorization: Bearer ak_...
```

## Example

```bash theme={null}
curl https://api.seedanceapi.us/v1/models \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ak_your_key_here"
```

## Idempotency

For video generation, pass an `Idempotency-Key` header to prevent duplicate charges on retries:

```http theme={null}
Idempotency-Key: unique-request-id-123
```

<Warning>
  Only use `ak_...` keys from your dashboard. Never send platform admin secrets as client tokens.
</Warning>