GLM API Key - How to Get and Use Your GLM API Key | Complete Setup Guide

What is a GLM API Key?

A GLM API key (also called GLM 4.7 API key or Zhipu AI API key) is a unique authentication token that allows you to access Zhipu AI's GLM models programmatically. Think of it as a password that identifies your account and authorizes API requests.

🔑 Key Characteristics

Format: Typically a long alphanumeric string (e.g., sk-abcd1234efgh5678...)
Purpose: Authenticates your requests to GLM API endpoints
Billing: Usage is tracked and billed to your account via this key
Security: Must be kept secret - anyone with your key can make API calls on your behalf
Scope: Each key can be configured with different permissions and rate limits

⚠️ Important Security Note

Your GLM API key should be treated like a password. Never commit it to public repositories, share it in forums, or expose it in client-side code. Always store it in environment variables or secure secret management systems.

How to Get Your GLM API Key

Follow these detailed steps to obtain your GLM API key from Zhipu AI:

Create a Zhipu AI Account

Navigate to open.bigmodel.cn (智谱AI开放平台)

Click "注册" (Register) or "登录" (Login) in the top right corner
Choose registration method: Phone number (手机号) or Email (邮箱)
Enter your phone/email and verification code sent to you
Set a secure password (at least 8 characters, mix of letters and numbers)
Accept the terms of service

💡 Tip: If you're outside China, use email registration as phone verification may require a Chinese phone number.

Complete Identity Verification (Optional)

Some features require identity verification:

Navigate to "个人中心" (Personal Center) in your dashboard
Click "实名认证" (Real-name Verification) if prompted
For Chinese users: Submit ID card information
For international users: Submit passport or other ID
Wait 1-3 business days for approval

Note: Basic API access doesn't require verification, but it may be needed for higher rate limits or certain paid features.

Navigate to API Keys Section

Once logged in, find the API management area:

Look for "API密钥" (API Keys) or "密钥管理" (Key Management) in the sidebar
Alternatively, go to "工作台" (Workbench) → "API管理" (API Management)
You should see a list of existing API keys (empty if you're a new user)

Generate a New API Key

Create your first GLM API key:

Click "创建新密钥" (Create New Key) or "+ 添加密钥" (+ Add Key)
Give your key a descriptive name (e.g., "Production App", "Development", "Testing")
Optionally set permissions/scopes if the interface allows
Click "确定" (Confirm) or "创建" (Create)

🚨 CRITICAL: The API key will only be shown ONCE after creation. Copy it immediately and store it securely. If you lose it, you'll need to generate a new key.

Copy and Store Your API Key

Securely save your new GLM API key:

Click the "复制" (Copy) button next to your new API key
Paste it into a secure password manager (1Password, LastPass, etc.)
Or save it in your project's .env file immediately
Never save it in plain text files or commit it to version control

Example .env file:

# .env file (never commit this to git!)
GLM_API_KEY=sk-your-actual-key-here
GLM_API_URL=https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/paas/v4

Test Your API Key

Verify that your key works with a simple test request:

curl https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/paas/v4/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY_HERE" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "glm-4-flash",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
  }'

If successful, you'll receive a JSON response with the model's reply. If you get an authentication error, double-check that you copied the key correctly.

Using GLM API Key with Our Proxy

Our proxy service is 100% compatible with the official GLM API. To use your GLM API key with our service and save 60%, simply change the base URL:

❌ Official Zhipu AI API

API_URL = "https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/paas/v4/chat/completions"
API_KEY = "your-zhipu-api-key"

Costs: 100% of official pricing

✅ Our Proxy Service (40% Off)

API_URL = "https://api.glm-api.org/v1/chat/completions"
API_KEY = "your-proxy-api-key"

Costs: Only 40% of official pricing 🎉

🚀 Migration is Simple

Step 1: Sign up for our proxy service (leave email below)

Step 2: Receive your proxy API key within 72 hours

Step 3: Replace the base URL in your code

Step 4: Start saving 60% on every API call

Get Started See Pricing

Code Example with Proxy

import os
from openai import OpenAI

# Load from environment variables
client = OpenAI(
    api_key=os.getenv("GLM_API_KEY"),
    base_url="https://api.glm-api.org/v1"  # Our proxy endpoint
)

# Make API call (saves 60% vs official pricing!)
response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="glm-4-plus",
    messages=[
        {"role": "user", "content": "Explain machine learning in simple terms"}
    ]
)

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

GLM API Key Best Practices

Follow these security and operational best practices to protect your GLM API key:

✅ DO These Things

✓Store keys in environment variables or secret managers (AWS Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault)
✓Add .env to your .gitignore file
✓Rotate API keys periodically (every 90 days recommended)
✓Use different keys for development, staging, and production environments
✓Monitor usage regularly for unexpected spikes (could indicate key compromise)
✓Set up usage alerts and spending limits in your dashboard
✓Keep API keys server-side only - never expose in client-side JavaScript

❌ NEVER Do These Things

✗Commit API keys to GitHub, GitLab, or any version control system
✗Hardcode keys directly in your source code
✗Share keys via email, Slack, or instant messaging
✗Expose keys in client-side code (React, Vue, HTML)
✗Post keys in public forums, Stack Overflow, or issue trackers
✗Use the same key across multiple unrelated projects
✗Leave old/unused keys active - delete them when no longer needed

💡 Pro Tip: Use Environment-Specific Keys

Create separate API keys for development, staging, and production. This way, if a development key is compromised, your production environment remains secure. Label each key clearly in the Zhipu AI dashboard (e.g., "Production-App-2025", "Dev-Testing").

Common GLM API Key Issues

Troubleshooting guide for the most common GLM API key problems:

🔴 Error: "Invalid API Key" or "Authentication Failed"

Cause: The API key is incorrect, malformed, or has been deleted.

Solutions:

Double-check that you copied the entire key (they're usually 50+ characters)
Ensure there are no extra spaces or line breaks in the key
Verify the key still exists in your Zhipu AI dashboard
Try generating a new key and updating your application
Check that you're using the correct header format: Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY

🔴 Error: "Rate Limit Exceeded" (429)

Cause: You've exceeded the requests-per-minute (RPM) or tokens-per-day (TPD) limit for your tier.

Solutions:

Implement exponential backoff and retry logic in your code
Check your current rate limits in the dashboard
Upgrade to a paid tier for higher limits
Optimize your code to make fewer API calls (batch requests, cache responses)
Spread requests out over time instead of bursting

🔴 Error: "Insufficient Credits" or "Account Balance Too Low"

Cause: Your account has run out of credits or reached spending limits.

Solutions:

Check your account balance in the "账户中心" (Account Center)
Add funds or link a payment method
Switch to our proxy service for 60% cost savings (same features, lower price)
Review your usage to identify unexpected spikes

🔴 Error: "Connection Timeout" or "Network Error"

Cause: Network connectivity issues or API server downtime.

Solutions:

Check if the API endpoint URL is correct
Verify your internet connection
Check Zhipu AI's status page for service outages
Implement retry logic with exponential backoff
Increase request timeout values in your HTTP client
Consider using our proxy for better reliability (99.9% uptime SLA)

🔴 Key Accidentally Exposed in Public Repo

Immediate Actions:

IMMEDIATELY delete the exposed key in your Zhipu AI dashboard
Generate a new API key right away
Update your application with the new key
Check your usage logs for any unauthorized API calls
Monitor your account for unexpected charges
Remove the key from git history using git filter-branch or BFG Repo-Cleaner

GLM API Key - Complete Setup Guide

What is a GLM API Key?

🔑 Key Characteristics

⚠️ Important Security Note

How to Get Your GLM API Key

Create a Zhipu AI Account

Complete Identity Verification (Optional)

Navigate to API Keys Section

Generate a New API Key

Copy and Store Your API Key

Test Your API Key

Using GLM API Key with Our Proxy

❌ Official Zhipu AI API

✅ Our Proxy Service (40% Off)

🚀 Migration is Simple

Code Example with Proxy

GLM API Key Best Practices

✅ DO These Things

❌ NEVER Do These Things

💡 Pro Tip: Use Environment-Specific Keys

Common GLM API Key Issues

🔴 Error: "Invalid API Key" or "Authentication Failed"

🔴 Error: "Rate Limit Exceeded" (429)

🔴 Error: "Insufficient Credits" or "Account Balance Too Low"

🔴 Error: "Connection Timeout" or "Network Error"

🔴 Key Accidentally Exposed in Public Repo

Related Resources

GLM 4.7 API Guide →

GLM Free API Access →

API Documentation →

Pricing & Cost Calculator →

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