# Get a Grok API key

Create an xAI API key for Grok, add it to a Borago Board project, check it with Verify and run a first task on Grok.

Borago Board runs Grok models through the xAI API, on an API key from your own xAI account. A SuperGrok or X Premium plan cannot be used. xAI's terms keep a consumer plan to xAI's own apps, and API access is billed separately on an API key, so Borago Board has no subscription sign-in.

## You need

- The desktop app and a project, see [Creating a project](/docs/guides/creating-a-project/).
- An xAI Console account with billing set up. Prices are on [xAI's models and pricing page](https://docs.x.ai/docs/models).

## Steps

### 1. Create the key

Sign in at [console.x.ai](https://console.x.ai), open API keys and create a key. Copy it. It starts with `xai-`.

### 2. Paste it into the project

Press **Edit project** among the project's controls and open the **AI Auth** tab. Under **AI credentials (this project)**, find the card **Grok account (xAI)**. Tick the box confirming you are 18 or older and meet xAI's requirements. Paste the key into the field.

### 3. Verify, then save

Press **Verify** beside the field. It lists your account's models, which costs nothing, and prints **This key works.** Press **Save changes**, or **Create project** on a new project.

What happens. Saving encrypts the key and stores it. Saving does not test it, so Verify is the check. A key that fails on a real run pauses the project's queue with an HTTP 401 notice until you replace it. The key syncs to your other devices unless you tick **Keep this API token on this device only**. From a browser or a phone, the key passes through the cloud, held in memory and never stored, to your desktop app to be encrypted, so the desktop must be connected. Verify sends it the same way.

### 4. Choose Grok for the runs

Open the **AI Roles** tab. In **Task runner**, choose **Grok (xAI)**, then a model. Press **Save changes**.

What happens. Grok runs have a shell and a file editor in the project container, a code search, task breakdown and an investigator that explores the code in a separate context. Grok runs have no web search and no page fetch tool. The agent can still fetch a known address from the container. **Cost budget (USD, this machine)** on the Grok card pauses Grok tasks at a spend you choose.

## First task to try

Add a task in **Planning**, paste this, and move it to **To Do**.

```
List the files in the project's root folder, then create PROVIDER_CHECK.md
containing one sentence that says which files you found.
```

Related: [Choosing an AI provider](/docs/guides/choosing-an-ai-provider/), [Cost and usage](/docs/guides/cost-and-usage/), [Get a Gemini API key](/docs/tutorials/keys/gemini/), [Run the same task on three providers](/docs/tutorials/compare-providers/)