Grok is a family of large language models developed by xAI.
Using the xAI API gives developers programmatic access to Grok models: you can build chatbots, automation tools, AI powered apps, or integrate Grok into your workflows.
To access the API, you need a unique API key this blog explains how to generate that key, store it securely, and make a first test call.
Create / Login to Your xAI Account
Go to the xAI developer portal (or the Grok API console).
https://console.x.ai/home
If you don’t have an account, sign up (you can use email, or login via supported OAuth providers).
Navigate to the “API Keys” Section
once logged in, open the API Keys
Click on Create API Key
Give a display name to the API key such that you can distinguish between multiple keys later on
Your new API key has been created. Copy it now, as we will not display it again.
Best Practices: Secure Storage & Management
Do not commit API keys in public repositories.
Use environment variables or secure .env files. For example:
export XAI_API_KEY="xai-your-unique-key-here"Optionally, use secret management tools (vaults, encrypted storage) if working in production or with a team.
Rotate keys periodically and delete unused ones to reduce risk.
Test Your Key: Make a First API Call
Once you have your key, test it with a simple request. For example (using curl):
curl https://api.x.ai/v1/chat/completions \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer xai-2wrGYqNFGoEKZJi9pPXzbwj2lPKViL1ZguyOEio20JP8qQoDb0novfUDg9Kp3NLElAxzYJLg6x9c0DjR" \
-d '{
"messages": [
{
"role": "system",
"content": "You are a test assistant."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Testing. Just say hi and hello world and nothing else."
}
],
"model": "grok-4-latest",
"stream": false,
"temperature": 0
}'If your key works, you’ll get a JSON response from Grok. But you need to purchase credits to use the Grok AI API features otherwise you will get error
{"code":"The caller does not have permission to execute the specified operation","error":"Your newly created teams doesn't have any credits yet. You can purchase credits on https://console.x.ai/team/<team-id>."}You can also use languages like Python or JavaScript, because the xAI API is compatible with OpenAI style SDKs.
Summary
Obtaining a Grok API key is straightforward: sign up on xAI, go to the API console, click Create API Key, copy it, store it securely then use it in your scripts or applications. Once you have the key, you can start building with Grok’s models by making HTTP or SDK based requests.
Raj Ranjan