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

# Authentication

> Send your API key with every request.

Send your key in either header:

```bash theme={null}
-H "x-api-key: sdt_..."
# or
-H "Authorization: Bearer sdt_..."
```

Create and delete keys on the [API keys](https://app.bestvideotranscriptapi.com/dashboard/api-keys) page. You can give a key an expiry date. After that date it stops working, but it stays in the list so you can see when it expired.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Keep keys on your server. Anyone with a key can spend your account's hours.

## Check a key

`GET /v1/me` returns the account behind a key, with its plan and what's left this month. It's the fastest way to test a key.

```bash theme={null}
curl https://app.bestvideotranscriptapi.com/v1/me -H "x-api-key: $VIDEO_TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY"
```

## Refused keys

A refused key returns `401`:

| Message | Cause |
| - | - |
| `Missing API key. Send it in the x-api-key header or as Authorization: Bearer <key>.` | No key in either header. |
| `Invalid API key.` | The key is wrong or was deleted. |
| `This API key expired on <date>.` | The key passed its expiry date. |


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