Connect your AI
Connect OpenRouter
One key, many models
1At a glance
- How it connects
- Connects with an API key What’s an API key?
- Cost
- Free models available; others pay-as-you-go
- With a free account
- Free models available; others pay-as-you-go.
- Research
- Built-in web search
2Step by step
5 steps. Nuxa shows you these same steps, one at a time.
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Step 1
Sign in or create a free OpenRouter account
Nuxa opens the OpenRouter key page in your web browser. Sign in, or create a free account.
Button in Nuxa: Open OpenRouter
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Step 2
Click “Create Key”
Give it any name, such as Nuxa. You can leave the credit limit empty.
Button in Nuxa: I've created a key
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Step 3
Click “Copy”
Copy it now — it's shown only once. It starts with “sk-or-”.
Button in Nuxa: I've copied it
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Step 4
Nuxa finds your key
Come back to Nuxa: it offers the key it finds on your clipboard. Or click Paste key.
Button in Nuxa: Paste key
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Step 5
Checking your key…
Nuxa sends one tiny test message to OpenRouter, then keeps the key in your Mac's Keychain.
Button in Nuxa: Test again
3Free account limits, in plain words
Free models available; others pay-as-you-go. Here’s what happens if you hit a limit, and what to do.
When you’ve used your allowance, Nuxa says:
You've reached OpenRouter's free limit for now. Wait a minute and try again (daily limits reset overnight), or choose another AI.
When the account has no credit, Nuxa says:
OpenRouter says your account has no credit yet. Add credit or a payment method on the OpenRouter website, then click Test again, or choose a free option.
Wait
Wait a little
Most limits clear within a minute; free daily limits reset overnight. Then click Test again in Nuxa.
Switch
Choose another AI
Free choices: Google Gemini, Ollama on your Mac, or ChatGPT. You can switch any time.
4Troubleshooting
Tap a problem to see the fix.
Step 1 Sign in or create a free OpenRouter account
It asks me to verify my email
The page didn't open
The page won't load
Step 2 Click “Create Key”
It asks me to add credits
I don't see “Create Key”
Step 3 Click “Copy”
I closed it before copying
I can't find a copy button
Step 4 Nuxa finds your key
Nuxa says it looks like a different kind of key
Nuxa says the key looks incomplete
macOS asks whether Nuxa may paste
Paste key does nothing
Step 5 Checking your key…
OpenRouter didn't accept the key
It says the limit was reached
It says there's no credit
It says Nuxa couldn't reach OpenRouter
Any step Something else
I'm offline
I use a VPN or a work network
macOS asks for permission
Nothing seems to happen
5Still stuck?
Email us and tell us which step you’re on. A human reads every message.
6Last checked September 25, 2026