Add your AI key

Qanvas uses your own Gemini, Claude or OpenAI key, with no AI markup. You pay your provider directly for what you use. The key powers the chat, page generation, specification writing and the AI SEO Generator.

Supported providers

• Google AI Studio (Gemini)
• Anthropic (Claude)
• OpenAI (GPT)

Add a key

1. Open Settings (the gear icon in the top-right, or Ctrl+, / ⌘,) and select AI Engine.
2. Choose an AI Provider.
3. Use the Get an API key link to open your provider's key page, create a key, and copy it.
4. Paste it into the API key field and select Save key. The provider's badge changes from Not configured to Active.
5. Pick an Engine model. The provider's recommended model is marked (Recommended) and is the default.

To change a saved key, paste the new one and select Update. To delete it, select Remove. A saved key is shown masked; Qanvas uses it from the next message you send.

You can save a key for more than one provider. The chat's model picker then lists the models of every provider you have configured.

Choosing a model

Qanvas favours fast models: interactive design works best with quick responses, and heavy reasoning models add long waits before the first reply. Use the recommended default unless you have a reason to change it.

If a model you saved is retired by the provider, Qanvas switches your selection to that provider's current default, shows an Auto-upgraded badge, and tells you which model it replaced.

If a key is missing

If you select a model from a provider whose key is not set, Qanvas stops and tells you the key is missing. It never quietly switches to another provider.

Features that need AI, such as Synthesize in the SEO settings, show BYOK required and a Configure API keys button until a key is saved.

Privacy

AI keys are stored on your machine in your Qanvas data folder (~/.qanvas, or QANVAS_HOME). They are sent only to the Qanvas server running on your machine, and from there only to the provider you chose. Exported sites never include your keys.