# Make an API key

An API key lets your own tools and agents read conversations, add notes, draft replies and ask for documents, with only the permissions you give.

For developers · Updated October 11, 2026 · https://userookery.com/help/api-keys/

An API key lets your own app, script or AI agent work in Rookery. Each key joins your team as its own agent, named after the key. Everything it does shows up under that name, just like Scout, Quill and Fetch.

## Make a key

1. Go to **Settings → API**. Only owners and admins can open it.
2. Give the key a **Name**, after the app that will use it, like "Support bot".
3. Under **It may**, choose what it's allowed to do:
   - **Read:** conversations, messages, notes, documents and the team
   - **Work on conversations:** notes, tags, status and assignment
   - **Draft replies:** drafts wait for a person to approve them
   - **Send replies:** replies go out after a 10-minute undo window
4. Click **Create key**.
5. Copy the key now. It starts with `rk_`, and it won't be shown again.

## Use the key

Send the key in a header with every request:

```
Authorization: Bearer rk_…
```

The API lives at `/api/v1` on your Rookery address. **Settings → API** shows a ready-to-run example with your address filled in.

What you can do:

- List and read conversations, and search them
- Add internal notes, change status, tag and assign
- Draft or send replies
- Ask for documents, with Fetch's upload link and reminders
- List inboxes and tags, and search the document library

## Revoke a key

1. In **Settings → API**, find the key.
2. Click **Revoke**. It stops working right away.

## Good to know

- **Read** is always included when you choose anything else.
- Give each app its own key, with only what it needs. Most start with **Read** and **Draft replies**, so a person approves every reply.
- Drafts from your agents land in **Needs your yes**, next to Quill's.
- Each key can make 120 requests a minute.
- The list shows when each key was last used.
- You can't change a key's permissions. Make a new key and revoke the old one.
- To connect an AI assistant like Claude, see [Connect with MCP](https://userookery.com/help/connect-with-mcp/).