# Authentication

The Microshot API uses API keys to authenticate requests.

API keys are managed via the Microshot interface. To view or create one, navigate to your [API Keys](https://app.microshot.io/api-keys):

<figure><img src="https://3871769754-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FMUvIeDTAWvQfa5JFlA38%2Fuploads%2FGsr8B9GVegtggeru3ZAP%2Fapikeysms.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fb78794f-0b13-43eb-ab3f-5c3115c5b4cc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

API requests without authentication will fail.

Do not share your secret API keys in publicly accessible areas such as GitHub, client-side code, etc.

Add your API key to the `x-api-key` header to access the API endpoints.

```bash
# example cURL request
curl -H 'x-api-key: <your_api_key>' https://api.microshot.io/v1/screenshot?url=https://github.com
```