Kimi API Key - How to Get, Setup & Use Your API Key (2025 Guide)

What is a Kimi API Key?

A Kimi API key is a unique authentication token issued by Moonshot AI that grants programmatic access to the Kimi family of large language models. It is a long alphanumeric string prefixed with sk- and serves as your digital credential for every API request.

Authentication & Identity

Your Kimi API key identifies you on every request. It is passed via the Authorization: Bearer header and links all usage to your account.

Billing & Usage Tracking

All token consumption is metered against your key. You can monitor usage, set spending limits, and track costs per model from the Moonshot dashboard.

Key Format

Kimi API keys follow the format sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. They are case-sensitive and must be kept confidential at all times.

Security Considerations

Anyone with your key can make requests billed to your account. Treat it like a password: never share it publicly, commit it to repositories, or embed it in client-side code.

How to Get Your Kimi API Key

Follow these steps to obtain your Kimi API key from the official Moonshot AI platform:

Register at platform.moonshot.cn

Visit the official Moonshot AI developer platform and create an account using your email or phone number. You can register at platform.moonshot.cn.

Complete Identity Verification

Follow the platform's verification process. Individual developers need a valid phone number; enterprise accounts may require additional business documentation.

Navigate to API Keys Section

Once logged in, go to your dashboard and find the "API Keys" or "API Management" section in the left sidebar.

Generate a New API Key

Click "Create New Key" or "Generate API Key". Give your key a descriptive name (e.g., "production-backend" or "dev-testing") to help you manage multiple keys.

Copy and Store Securely

Your key will only be displayed once. Copy it immediately and store it in a secure location such as a password manager or encrypted environment file.

Test Your API Key

Make a simple test request to verify your key works. Use the cURL command or Python snippet shown below to confirm successful authentication.

Test your Kimi API key with cURL:

curl -X POST "https://api.moonshot.cn/v1/chat/completions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KIMI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "moonshot-v1-8k",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello, Kimi!"}]
  }'

Using Kimi API Key with Our Proxy

Our proxy service is fully compatible with the official Moonshot API. Simply switch the base URL from the official endpoint to our proxy and enjoy 60% savings on every request. Your existing Kimi API key and code work without any other changes.

Official Endpoint

https://api.moonshot.cn/v1

Full price

SAVE 60%

Proxy Endpoint

https://kimi-api.com/v1

Same API, 40% of official price

Python - Switch to proxy (one-line change):

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    api_key="sk-your-kimi-api-key",
    # Official:  base_url="https://api.moonshot.cn/v1"
    base_url="https://kimi-api.com/v1"   # Proxy: save 60%
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="moonshot-v1-8k",
    messages=[
        {"role": "user", "content": "Hello, Kimi!"}
    ]
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

Kimi API Key Best Practices

Follow these guidelines to keep your Kimi API key secure and your integration reliable:

DO

+Use environment variables - Store your key in .env and load it with process.env.KIMI_API_KEY
+Add .env to .gitignore - Ensure your environment files are never committed to version control
+Rotate keys regularly - Generate new keys periodically and revoke old ones from the dashboard
+Use separate keys per environment - Create distinct keys for development, staging, and production

DON'T

-Hardcode keys in source code - Never embed API keys directly in your application files
-Commit keys to public repos - Bots scan GitHub for exposed API keys and can abuse them within minutes
-Use keys in client-side code - Frontend JavaScript exposes keys to anyone who views page source
-Share keys across teams without tracking - Each developer or service should have its own dedicated key

Common Kimi API Key Issues

Troubleshooting the most frequent problems developers encounter with their Kimi API key:

Invalid API Key (401 Unauthorized)

Cause: The key is malformed, revoked, or not yet activated on your account.

Fix: Double-check for extra spaces or line breaks when copying. Verify the key is active in your Moonshot dashboard under "API Keys". Generate a new key if the issue persists.

Rate Limit Exceeded (429 Too Many Requests)

Cause: You have sent too many requests in a short time window, exceeding your tier's rate limit.

Fix: Implement exponential backoff and retry logic. Check your current rate limits in the dashboard and consider upgrading your plan or adding request queuing.

Insufficient Credits (402 Payment Required)

Cause: Your account balance has been depleted and there are no remaining credits.

Fix: Top up your account balance on the Moonshot platform. Switch to our proxy service to reduce costs by 60% and stretch your budget further.

Connection Timeout

Cause: Network issues or regional restrictions blocking access to the official API endpoint.

Fix: Try our proxy endpoint at kimi-api.com/v1 which provides optimized global routing. Check your firewall settings and ensure outbound HTTPS traffic is allowed.

API Key Exposed in Public Repository

Cause: The key was accidentally committed to a public GitHub repository.

Fix: Immediately revoke the compromised key from your Moonshot dashboard and generate a new one. Audit your git history and use tools like git-secrets or pre-commit hooks to prevent future leaks.

Related Resources

Explore more guides and documentation to get the most out of your Kimi API key:

Kimi API Key - Complete Setup Guide