# Quickstart

Generate your first file with the API in three steps.

## Before you begin: create an account

API keys live in your account, so you need one first:

1. **Sign up** at **[llms-txt.io/sign-up](/sign-up)** — with Google, or an email and password.
2. **If you signed up with email, verify it before logging in.** We send a verification link to your inbox — click it before you try to sign in, or the login won't go through. Check your spam folder if it hasn't arrived in a minute. (Signing up with Google skips this step.)
3. **Sign in** at **[llms-txt.io/login](/login)**.

::callout{type="note"}
The API and managed sites are paid features — see [Pricing](/pricing). The web generator stays free and needs no account.
::

## 1. Create an API key

Once you're signed in, open **[Account → API keys](/account/api)** and click **Create key**. Copy the key immediately — it's shown only once and looks like:

```text
llmstxt_sk_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
```

::callout{type="warning"}
Treat your key like a password. It's stored only as a hash on our side, so a lost key can't be recovered — just revoke it and create a new one.
::

## 2. Generate a file

Send a `POST` to the generate endpoint with your key in the `x-api-key` header:

```bash
curl https://llms-txt.io/api/v1/generate \
  -X POST \
  -H "x-api-key: $LLMSTXT_KEY" \
  -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "url": "https://example.com", "fileType": "both" }'
```

The response contains both files as strings:

```json
{
  "url": "https://example.com",
  "domain": "example.com",
  "fileType": "both",
  "llmsTxt": "# Example\n\n> A one-line summary…",
  "llmsFullTxt": "# Example\n\n## Page title\n…",
  "llmEnhanced": true,
  "note": null
}
```

## 3. Validate it (optional)

Lint a file — by URL or raw content — before you publish:

```bash
curl https://llms-txt.io/api/v1/validate \
  -X POST \
  -H "x-api-key: $LLMSTXT_KEY" \
  -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "url": "https://example.com" }'
```

## What next?

- Want this to stay current without re-running it? Set up a [managed site](/docs/managed-sites/overview).
- Read the full [Generate](/docs/api/generate) and [Validate](/docs/api/validate) references.
- Learn how [rate limits and errors](/docs/api/rate-limits-and-errors) work.