Skip to main content

API Keys (Summaries & Embeddings)

Klip is local-first: you can browse/resume sessions without any API keys. API keys are only needed for optional features like session summaries and semantic search (embeddings).

This page covers provider API keys (Gemini/OpenAI/Anthropic). These are different from Klip daemon API keys (Pro feature) used to access the local daemon HTTP API from scripts/tools.

Key storage and precedence​

Klip supports multiple ways to provide API keys:

  1. VS Code Secret Storage (recommended)
    • Use the command palette: Klip: Configure Gemini API Key
    • Keys are encrypted by VS Code and are not written into your workspace files.
  2. VS Code Settings
    • klip.ai.geminiApiKey (embeddings)
    • klip.ai.openaiApiKey (embeddings)
  3. Environment variables (useful for CI / managed environments)

When multiple sources are present, Klip prefers Secret Storage, then settings, then environment variables.

Summaries (default: Gemini)​

Default model​

Klip's default summary model is gemini-2.5-flash, which can run using a Gemini API key (no CLI login required).

Gemini offers a free tier, but quotas and availability can change. Refer to Google's official docs for current limits.

  1. Create an API key in Google AI Studio: https://aistudio.google.com/app/apikey
  2. In VS Code, run: Klip: Configure Gemini API Key
  3. Choose Summaries (or Both) and pick a scope (This workspace or All workspaces)
  4. Restart the Klip daemon when prompted

Environment variables for summaries​

  • KLIP_GEMINI_API_KEY_SUMMARIES (use a dedicated key just for summaries)
  • KLIP_GEMINI_API_KEY (single key for Gemini features)
  • GEMINI_API_KEY / GOOGLE_API_KEY (fallbacks)

If you do not set a dedicated summaries key, Klip will fall back to the Gemini key used for embeddings (if present).

Using Claude/Codex for summaries​

If you switch the summary model to Claude or Codex, summaries are generated via the corresponding CLI and will require you to sign in there (claude login / codex login).

Embeddings power features like semantic search and similarity. Klip can use either OpenAI or Gemini embeddings.

Choose provider​

The daemon auto-selects an embeddings provider based on which keys are present, but you can force it in settings:

  • klip.ai.embeddingProvider: auto (default), openai, or gemini

Gemini embeddings​

  • VS Code setting: klip.ai.geminiApiKey
  • Environment variables: KLIP_GEMINI_API_KEY -> GEMINI_API_KEY -> GOOGLE_API_KEY

OpenAI embeddings​

  • VS Code setting: klip.ai.openaiApiKey
  • Environment variables: KLIP_CODEX_API_KEY -> KLIP_OPENAI_API_KEY -> OPENAI_API_KEY

Optional: Claude API key (advanced)​

You do not need an Anthropic API key for normal Klip usage. Claude-based summaries run via the Claude Code CLI (claude login).

If you enable provider model fetching (klip.models.enableAPIFetch=true) and want Claude model lists via the Anthropic API, provide:

  • KLIP_CLAUDE_API_KEY (recommended) or ANTHROPIC_API_KEY