---
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 pasting them into Plugin Settings.
---

# Get your API keys

Generate your **API key pair** (**Key ID** and **Key Secret**) from the Razorpay dashboard. Both direct and subscription gateways share this credential pair.

* **Prerequisites:** Active Razorpay merchant account with permission to generate API keys.

## Generate the key pair

1. Sign in to the Razorpay Dashboard at `dashboard.razorpay.com`.
2. Open **Settings → API Keys**.
3. Generate a new key pair. Razorpay shows the **Key ID** and a matching **Key Secret**.

::: warning Copy the Key Secret now
Razorpay shows the **Key Secret** only once, at generation. Copy it immediately — if you lose it, you must regenerate the pair.
:::

## Test keys vs live keys

The environment is chosen entirely by the **Key ID** prefix — there is no separate sandbox switch:

| 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 |

Validate your checkout flow with `rzp_test_…` keys first, then replace them with `rzp_live_…` keys when deploying to production. See [Going live](/razorpay-acellemail/guides/going-live).

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

## Enter them in AcelleMail

1. Navigate to **Admin → Plugins → Razorpay → Settings** in AcelleMail.
2. Enter your **Key ID** into **API Key ID**.
3. Enter your **Key Secret** into **API Key Secret**.
4. Click **Save Settings** (never expose the Key Secret in client-accessible 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