# Create an IONOS API key

> To connect IONOS, InfraNest needs an API key. The same key covers DNS, domains and certificates.

Source: https://infranest.io/docs/create-an-ionos-api-key
Last updated: 2026-08-14

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This article walks you through generating an API key in IONOS so you can connect it to InfraNest for managing DNS, domains, and certificates.

## Overview

- InfraNest uses a single IONOS API key to handle DNS, domains, and certificates for your account.
- You'll generate this key directly in the IONOS console, then bring it back to InfraNest to finish the connection.

## Create the key

1. Go to **developer.hosting.ionos.com** and sign in.
2. Create an API key.

<!-- manual-screenshot: create-an-ionos-api-key-1 — taken by hand in the IONOS console; the capture rig cannot reach it -->

3. Your key has two parts — a **prefix** and a **secret** — shown together as `prefix.secret`.
4. Copy the whole value, including the part before the dot.

> [!WARNING]
> Copy the full `prefix.secret` value. Leaving off the prefix (the part before the dot) is the most common cause of an "authentication failed" error.

## Next step

Go back to InfraNest and follow **Connect IONOS** to paste your key.