> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://context7.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Authentication

> How to authenticate requests to your on-premise Context7 instance

The on-premise API supports API keys for server-to-server and MCP access. Pass the key in the `Authorization` header:

```bash theme={null}
Authorization: Bearer ctx7op-xxxxxxxx_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
```

Keys are scoped to the user account that created them and inherit that user's role (`admin` or `member`). There are no per-key scopes or expiry - revoke a key to invalidate it.

## Creating an API Key

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings">
    Go to **Personal Settings > API Keys** in the admin dashboard and click **Create API Key**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/context7/QUibka_ee7a5f8KO/images/enterprise/api-keys/api-keys-empty.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QUibka_ee7a5f8KO&q=85&s=9d50ab6fea00e6ff4266da7f626c81ef" alt="API Keys settings page" width="1574" height="778" data-path="images/enterprise/api-keys/api-keys-empty.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name the key">
    Give the key a descriptive name so you know which client or service is using it (e.g. `CI pipeline`, `Cursor`).

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/context7/QUibka_ee7a5f8KO/images/enterprise/api-keys/api-keys-create-dialog.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QUibka_ee7a5f8KO&q=85&s=a0d97c763d1f5c1f6a7d5b3f554620af" alt="Create API Key dialog" width="1574" height="1590" data-path="images/enterprise/api-keys/api-keys-create-dialog.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy the key">
    Copy the full key value before closing the dialog. It is only shown once.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/context7/QUibka_ee7a5f8KO/images/enterprise/api-keys/api-keys-created.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QUibka_ee7a5f8KO&q=85&s=c5593880c14f95fc0347f79cee0c8cde" alt="API Key Created dialog showing the key value" width="1574" height="1590" data-path="images/enterprise/api-keys/api-keys-created.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>API keys are shown only once at creation. Store yours securely before closing the dialog.</Warning>

## Revoking a Key

Go to **Settings > API Keys** and click the delete icon next to the key. Revocation is immediate and cannot be undone. Update any integrations using the key before revoking.

## Roles

| Role     | Access                                                                                  |
| -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `admin`  | Full access to all endpoints including settings, user management, and delete operations |
| `member` | Can trigger parsing and search. Cannot access admin endpoints                           |

Default credentials on a fresh install are `admin` / `admin`. Change them immediately from **Settings > Change Credentials**.

## Anonymous Access

Certain operations can be allowed without authentication. Configure them from **Settings > Permissions**:

| Permission                | Default |
| ------------------------- | ------- |
| Anonymous parse / refresh | Off     |
| Anonymous delete          | Off     |

The search (`GET /v2/libs/search`) and context (`GET /v2/context`) endpoints are always publicly accessible unless a global `API_KEY` environment variable is set, in which case every endpoint requires a bearer token.