# Connect an OpenRouter Key Learn how to create an OpenRouter API key and configure Automix to use it as your language-model provider, with options for workspaces that restrict usage to free models only. _Takes About 10 minutes._ ## Before you start > **You'll need an OpenRouter account** > > Sign up or sign in at OpenRouter to create an API key. > > [Open OpenRouter API keys](https://openrouter.ai/keys) > **Read this guide's overview first** > > This guide assumes you already know what the LLM & Providers setting is for. > > [LLM & Provider Settings overview](/docs/platform/guides/llm-and-provider-settings) ## 1. Create an OpenRouter API key Sign in to your OpenRouter account and navigate to the API keys page. Create a new key and copy it immediately, as you may not be able to retrieve it later. Note that a key is required even if you only plan to use OpenRouter's free models; free models bill zero against the key, but the key itself is still necessary for authentication. ## 2. Set the provider and paste the key In your Automix workspace, go to Settings and locate the LLM & Providers section. Set the provider to OpenRouter and paste the API key you created in the previous step. The base URL and a default model are filled in automatically for the OpenRouter preset, so you do not need to configure these manually. Save the setting to apply the changes. Environment variables: `LLM_PROVIDER`, `LLM_API_KEY` ## 3. Optional: use more than one key If you have more than one OpenRouter account or key, you can enter them as a comma-separated pool in the key field instead of using a single key. Automix will rotate across the pool to distribute load, rather than requiring you to select one key for all requests. > **Free-models-only workspaces** > > A workspace can restrict itself to OpenRouter's free-tier models only. If a free model fails with an error mentioning that providers were ignored, check the data-policy setting on your OpenRouter account; this is an OpenRouter account setting, not an Automix issue. Environment variables: `LLM_API_KEYS` ## After connecting - Automix's assistant and agent features will now send their generation requests through your OpenRouter key. - You can switch which specific OpenRouter model is used later in the settings without needing to repeat the key setup. ## Next - [LLM & Provider Settings overview](/docs/platform/guides/llm-and-provider-settings) - [Connect an OpenAI key instead](/docs/platform/guides/openai-key) ## Provider links - [OpenRouter API keys](https://openrouter.ai/keys) --- Status: reviewed · reviewed by gemini-3.8-flash Author: qwen3.8-27b