Connect a Provider

Connecting a provider is like registering your own card at a shop you visit every day: you hand it over once, the shop checks it works, and from then on purchases go on your account instead of the shop's tab.

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Before you start

• An account with an AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Azure, Fireworks, DeepInfra, OpenRouter, or a compatible service).
• That account's API key — a private password that lets Nirvai connect to the provider for you. You create it in the provider's own dashboard, usually under "API keys".

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Step-by-step

1. Open AI Providers from the main menu.
2. Click Connect a provider and pick your provider from the list.
3. Paste your key. For a Custom provider, also paste the service's address (the provider tells you this — it's usually on the same page as the key).
4. Pick the models you want available. Nirvai suggests recommended models with speed and quality stats; you can also add any model your provider offers.
5. Save. Nirvai immediately sends a tiny test message ("hi") to check the connection, then shows the result on the provider's card.

My OpenAIsk-p…4kF2Ready

3 of 5 models onDefault for new chatsTest connection

A connected provider card. The green status means the test message worked; the key is only ever shown as its first and last characters.

Your key is safe

Keys are stored encrypted and are never shown again after you save them — the card only displays the first and last few characters so you can recognize which key it is.

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Connection statuses

Status	What it means	What to do
Ready	The test message worked	Nothing — start using it
Not tested yet	Saved but not verified	Click Test connection
Needs attention / Not working	The provider rejected the key (revoked, out of funds, or mistyped)	Open the provider, fix or replace the key
Spend not tracked	Works, but the provider doesn't report usage numbers	Fine to use — the Analytics tab just shows less detail

While a provider is not working, conversations set to its models fall back to Nirvai's models so nothing breaks — see the technical reference for exactly how.

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Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
"Not working" right after connecting	Key copied with a space, or from the wrong provider page	Re-copy the key and use Test connection
The model I want isn't listed	It's not in the recommended list	Add it manually by its exact model name from your provider's docs
Connected fine but a chat still bills credits	The chat is on a Nirvai model	Pick your model in that chat's model menu — see Use your own models

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What's next

Your provider is connected — now use it from the chat, set it as your default, or put an agent on it.