---
url: /razorpay-acellemail/guides/get-api-keys.md
description: >-
  Generate a Razorpay Key ID and Key Secret from the Razorpay Dashboard and
  understand test vs live key prefixes before you paste them into Plugin
  Settings.
---

# Get your API keys

Before AcelleMail can talk to Razorpay, you need an **API key pair** — a **Key ID** and a **Key
Secret** — from your Razorpay account. Both gateways (**Razorpay** for one-time payments and
**Razorpay Subscription** for recurring plans) share the same pair, so you only generate it once.

## Generate the key pair

Follow these steps in your Razorpay account:

### 1. Sign in to the Razorpay Dashboard

Open the Razorpay Dashboard at `dashboard.razorpay.com` and log in with an account that can manage
API credentials.

### 2. Open the API keys screen

Go to **Settings → API Keys**. This is where Razorpay lists and generates the credentials your
integration uses.

### 3. Generate a key

Click to generate a new key pair. Razorpay shows you the **Key ID** and a matching **Key Secret**.

::: warning Copy the Key Secret now
Razorpay shows the **Key Secret** only once, at the moment you generate it. Copy it immediately —
if you lose it, you'll have to regenerate the pair.
:::

## Test keys vs live keys

Razorpay issues separate credentials for its two environments, and you can tell them apart by the
prefix on the **Key ID**:

| Prefix | Environment | Use it for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `rzp_test_…` | Test | Trying the flow end to end without moving real money |
| `rzp_live_…` | Live | Taking real payments from customers |

The plugin does **not** have a separate sandbox switch — the environment is chosen entirely by the
key prefix you paste in. Start with your `rzp_test_…` keys, confirm everything works, then swap in
your `rzp_live_…` keys when you're ready. See [Going live](/razorpay-acellemail/guides/going-live)
for that switch.

![Razorpay Dashboard API Keys screen](/razorpay-acellemail/img/razorpay-get-api-keys-dashboard.png)
*Razorpay Dashboard → Settings → API Keys*

## Enter them in AcelleMail

Once you have the pair, open **Admin → Plugins → Razorpay → Settings** and paste the **Key ID**
into **API Key ID** and the secret into **API Key Secret**, then click **Save Settings**. Keep the
Key Secret confidential — never expose it in client-side code.

## Related pages

* [Installation](/razorpay-acellemail/installation) — upload, activate, enter keys, save
* [Settings reference](/razorpay-acellemail/settings) — the fields in Plugin Settings
* [Configure webhooks](/razorpay-acellemail/guides/configure-webhooks) — verify incoming events
* [Going live](/razorpay-acellemail/guides/going-live) — switch from test to live keys