---
title: Step 1: Getting Started with Authentication
slug: zen-master-api/step-1-getting-started-with-authentication
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-03-04T23:24:23.093Z
---

# Overview

The ZEN Master Control Plane features video management software, providing complete visibility across your entire media supply chain. You can use the ZEN Master API to manage your deployment programmatically. 

To access the ZEN Master API, you will use an API authentication key.

As an API user with administrator privileges, you can view and update all objects in your account. Using Roles and Tags, you can configure API user permissions for specific objects. For details, see [Configuring API Keys](docId\:ZD3XPBLkFoO54qwF2_V4n).

# Create an API Key 

You will use a ZEN Master API authentication key when sending requests to the ZEN Master API. You can configure this key to be read-only or allow updates in ZEN Master.

To create a ZEN Master API Key, follow these steps:


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In a web browser, navigate to **https\://\{youraccount}.zen.zixi.com**
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When you sign in, you should see the Zixi ZEN Master dashboard.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/dqih-YhtESGGSF4wzK596_image.png)
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In the left navigation, hover over **Configuration** and select **API Keys**.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/Pl3cUoLBpqqmhNOTlqSRX_image.png" size="80" width="868" height="430" position="center" showCaption="false"}
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To create a new key, click **Add Key**. You need to be an Admin user to create new API keys.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/f2Df967-Sp10uaoFn_DyK_image.png)
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Enter a name for the key using any alphanumeric value.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/jltU43tBlzyUztG4YoYkh_image.png" size="80" width="1342" height="936" position="center" showCaption="false"}
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Set an expiration date for the API key. By default, all ZEN Master API keys will expire one year after the creation date.
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Choose one of the following permissions, or leave these options blank to control permissions using Roles and Tags.

- **Read only** - Limit users to GET objects only.
- **Account Administrator** - Allow users to read and write all objects, including account management objects (Users, User Groups, Roles, etc.).
- **Administrator** (Object manager) - Allow users to read and write objects, except for account management objects.
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To restrict the API key using Roles and Tags, uncheck all of the above permissions. Then, select one or more Roles. For details, see [Configuring API Keys](docId\:ZD3XPBLkFoO54qwF2_V4n).
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Click **Save**.
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You should now see your new key in the API Keys list. Click **Show** to see the key value.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/pUBTbYhXPeNNiCLPB_lu-_image.png)
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Click **Copy** to copy the key value to your clipboard.
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Once you have created your ZEN Master API authentication key, you can use it to make requests to the ZEN Master API, using your tool of choice.