# API keys creation and management

You'll need an API key to send requests via Ahrefs API v3. Provide it in the Authorization header when making requests: `Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY`.

## Creating API keys

Create and manage existing API keys in [Account settings / API keys](https://app.ahrefs.com/account/api-keys). Note that only workspace owners and admins have access to this section.

You can create up to 1,000 API keys. Each key has a lifetime of 1 year, after which it will expire and become inactive. You can see the expiration date for each key and who created it on this page.

A key will also be invalidated if the user who created it is removed from the workspace.

![](<../images/API keys1.png>)

## Controlling usage

To control the monthly usage of API units in your workspace, limit the usage of particular API keys in [Account settings / API keys](https://app.ahrefs.com/account/api-keys).

![](<../images/API keys2.png>)

If your subscription plan allows pay-as-you-go charges, you can also limit the maximum number of API units that can be added on a pay-as-you-go basis or disable pay-as-you-go API units altogether in [Account settings / Limits & usage](https://app.ahrefs.com/account/limits-and-usage/web).

![Limits & usage](<../images/Limits & usage 2.png>)