Fix API Key Problems in OpenClaw

Security Warning

Never share your clawhub.json or API keys in public Discord channels or GitHub issues.

API key errors are the #1 reason why OpenClaw agents fail to start. This guide covers how to identify and fix permission, quota, and synchronization issues.

Top 3 Common Errors

401 Unauthorized

Invalid key or expired session. Check for leading/trailing spaces.

429 Rate Limit

Zero balance or tier limits. Check provider dashboard.

404 No Model

Key doesn't have access to specific model (e.g. GPT-4o).

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Check for Spaces

Copy-pasting keys often includes a hidden space at the end. Open your clawhub.json and ensure the key is exactly between the quotes.

2. Verify Environment Variables

If you are using Docker, ensure variables are passed correctly in docker-compose.yml.

environment: - OPENAI_API_KEY=${OPENAI_API_KEY} - DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=sk-xxxxxx # Manual way

3. Use the Config Wizard

Instant Validation

Our Config Wizard validates your API key format in real-time.

Validate Keys Now

Still Failing?

Run our diagnostic tool to see if the issue is with the key itself or your network connectivity to the provider.

npx clawkit-doctor@latest

Seeing Other Errors Too?

API issues often come with these related problems:

Connection Refused

Agent not responding on localhost

Ollama 5-Min Timeout

Local model cuts off at 300 seconds

Message Ordering Conflict

Unsupported developer role (Moonshot/Kimi)

Cost Optimization Guide

Reduce API costs and avoid rate limits