# How to Add Your Vercel AI Gateway Key to Appthetics

> Step-by-step instructions for Lifetime BYOK users to create a Vercel AI Gateway API key, connect it to Appthetics, and fix common setup issues.
- **Author**: aditya
- **Published**: 2026-06-16
- **Category**: Lifetime BYOK, Vercel AI Gateway, Account Setup
- **URL**: https://appthetics.com/blog/how-to-add-vercel-ai-gateway-key

---

If you bought the Appthetics Lifetime BYOK plan, you get lifetime access to Appthetics, but AI usage runs through your own Vercel AI Gateway account.

That means you need to connect a **Vercel AI Gateway API key** before you can generate designs.

This guide shows you exactly what to create, where to paste it, and what each status message means.

## What You Need

Before you start, make sure you have:

- An active Appthetics Lifetime BYOK account
- A Vercel account
- Access to Vercel AI Gateway
- Available balance or credits in your Vercel AI Gateway account

Appthetics needs a **Gateway API key**, not an OpenAI key, Anthropic key, Google key, or Vercel OIDC token.

## Step 1: Open Vercel AI Gateway API Keys

Go to the official Vercel AI Gateway API Keys page:

[Open Vercel AI Gateway API Keys](https://vercel.com/d?title=AI+Gateway+API+Keys&to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F~%2Fai-gateway%2Fapi-keys)

Vercel's authentication docs explain that AI Gateway supports API key authentication and that keys are created from the Vercel dashboard:

[Vercel AI Gateway authentication docs](https://vercel.com/docs/ai-gateway/authentication-and-byok/authentication)

## Step 2: Create a New API Key

Inside Vercel:

1. Click **Create key**.
2. Give it a clear name, for example `Appthetics Lifetime`.
3. Copy the key once it is shown.

Keep this key private. Treat it like a password.

## Step 3: Add the Key in Appthetics

In Appthetics:

1. Go to **Dashboard**.
2. Open **Usage**.
3. Click the **Vercel AI Gateway** card.
4. Paste your Gateway API key.
5. Click **Validate and connect**.

If the key is valid and funded, Appthetics unlocks generation for your lifetime account.

## What Appthetics Stores

Appthetics never stores your raw key in browser storage.

When you submit the key:

- It is sent to a secure server endpoint.
- It is validated server-side.
- It is encrypted before storage.
- Only a masked suffix is shown back to you.
- The full key is never displayed again.

You can replace, test, or remove the key from the Usage page at any time.

## What the Status Messages Mean

**API key required**

No Gateway key is connected yet. Add your Vercel AI Gateway API key before generating.

**Expired**

The saved key is missing, revoked, or no longer authenticates. Create a fresh key in Vercel and replace it in Appthetics.

**No credits left**

The key is valid, but the connected Vercel AI Gateway account does not have available balance or credits. Add funds in Vercel, then use **Test connection** in Appthetics.

**Active**

Your key is valid and funded. You can generate designs with Lifetime BYOK.

## Lifetime BYOK Limits

Lifetime BYOK accounts can generate up to **50 screens per UTC day**.

The allowance resets at **00:00 UTC**. If you use all 50 screens, generation unlocks again after the reset.

Only one BYOK generation job can run at a time. If a generation is already running, wait for it to finish before starting another one.

## Important Billing Note

With Lifetime BYOK, Appthetics does not charge credits for AI usage. Vercel bills AI model usage separately through your Vercel AI Gateway account.

If your Vercel Gateway balance runs out, Appthetics will not fall back to Appthetics' own AI key. You will need to fund your Gateway account or switch to an active subscription mode if your account has both plans.

## Quick Troubleshooting

If setup fails:

- Make sure you copied a Vercel AI Gateway API key, not a provider key.
- Make sure the key was not accidentally truncated.
- Make sure your Vercel Gateway account has balance.
- Try creating a new key in Vercel and replacing the old key in Appthetics.
- Use **Test connection** after adding funds or replacing a key.

Once the key is connected, return to the dashboard and start generating.
---
- [More Lifetime BYOK articles](https://appthetics.com/blog/category/lifetime-byok)
- [All articles](https://appthetics.com/blog)