---
updatedAt: 2026-03-10T12:02:57.000Z
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://developer.tenable.com/llms.txt
---

# Generate an API Key

The Vulnerability Management API uses key-based authentication, which pairs an access key and a secret key in request headers. To get an API key, you must have a Tenable Vulnerability Management user account with the appropriate permissions, as described in [Access Control](../API_Basics/access-control).

You generate API keys in the user interface. Each account can only have one API key at a time, so new keys invalidate existing keys.

**To generate a Vulnerability Management API Key:**

1. Log in to Tenable at [cloud.tenable.com](https://cloud.tenable.com).

2. In the upper-right corner, click the user profile icon.

   The **My Account** page appears.

3. In the left navigation, click **API Keys**.

   The **API Keys** section appears.

4. In the bottom-left corner, click **Generate**.

   In the top-right corner, a dialog appears with a message that existing keys will be unauthorized.

5. Click **Continue**.

   Under **ACCESS KEY** and **SECRET KEY**, new keys appear.

6. Copy the keys to a safe location. After you close the **My Account** page, you cannot view the keys again.