Add a Groq API Key to OpenClaw

What Is Groq?

Groq is an AI inference company that built its own chip — the LPU (Language Processing Unit) — designed from the ground up to run transformer models at maximum speed. Where GPU-based inference typically returns a first token in 1–3 seconds, Groq regularly hits under 500 ms first-token latency even on 70B-parameter models, and sustains hundreds of tokens per second throughout the response.

Groq offers a free tier with generous daily rate limits, making it an excellent choice for hobbyists, prototypers, and production workloads that need snappy responses. Pay-as-you-go pricing activates once you exceed the free limits. All models listed below are available on the free tier subject to those daily caps.

What Your Groq Key Unlocks in OpenClaw

After you add a Groq key on the API Keys page, the following models become available as the primary model for your OpenClaw instances. All models offer a 131K-token context window.

• Llama 3.3 70B Versatile (llama-3.3-70b-versatile) — the default Groq model; excellent general-purpose reasoning and coding
• Llama 3.1 8B Instant (llama-3.1-8b-instant) — smallest and fastest option; ideal for simple Q&A and high-volume tasks
• Kimi K2 (moonshotai/kimi-k2-instruct) — Moonshot AI's flagship coding and reasoning model
• GPT-OSS 120B (openai/gpt-oss-120b) — OpenAI's open-weights 120B model, served at Groq speed
• Qwen 3 32B (qwen/qwen3-32b) — Alibaba's multilingual and math-capable 32B model

How to Get a Groq API Key

1. Open the Groq console — Visit console.groq.com/keys. If you don't have an account, click Sign Up — it takes under a minute and no credit card is required.
2. Create a new API key — Click Create API Key, give it a name (e.g. “OpenClaw Launch”), and confirm.
3. Copy the key immediately — Groq shows the full key only once. Copy it now; you won't be able to retrieve it again from the dashboard.
4. Note the prefix — Your key starts with gsk_followed by a long alphanumeric string. This prefix is how OpenClaw validates it before saving.

Add Your Groq Key on OpenClaw Launch

1. Sign in at openclawlaunch.com and open the API Keys page.
2. Find the Groq card, paste your gsk_ key into the input field, and click Save. OpenClaw validates the key live against the Groq API before storing it.
3. Once saved, click “Set as primary model” to point your running instances at your preferred Groq model. The change applies to all running instances without a redeploy.
4. Your key is encrypted at rest. OpenClaw never logs or exposes it in plaintext.

Troubleshooting

401 Unauthorized — Invalid API Key

• Check that your key starts with gsk_. If it doesn't, you may have copied an org token or a partial key from the Groq dashboard.
• Verify there are no leading or trailing spaces. Paste into a plain-text editor first to inspect.
• If you rotated the key after creation, the old value is permanently invalidated. Generate a new key and re-enter it on the API Keys page.

Model Not Found or Not Available

• Confirm you are using one of the exact model IDs listed above (e.g. llama-3.3-70b-versatile). Groq's model IDs are case-sensitive.
• Groq occasionally adds and removes preview models. If a model disappears, switch to the default Llama 3.3 70B while the situation resolves.

Rate Limit or Daily Quota Exceeded

• Free-tier keys have per-minute and daily token limits. Heavy workloads will hit these. Enable billing in the Groq console to remove daily caps.
• Switching from Llama 3.3 70B to Llama 3.1 8B Instant significantly reduces token consumption and extends your free quota.
• OpenClaw surfaces the 429 error in instance logs — check there if responses stop arriving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Groq free to use with OpenClaw?

Groq offers a free tier with daily token limits that cover typical personal use. You can sign up at console.groq.com/keys without a credit card. For higher-volume workloads, Groq provides pay-as-you-go billing once you add a payment method.

What does a Groq API key look like?

Every Groq API key starts with gsk_ followed by a long alphanumeric string. If your key does not start with this prefix, check that you copied the API key and not an organization ID or another credential from the Groq console.

Do I need to redeploy my OpenClaw instance after adding the key?

No. The API Keys page applies the key to your existing running instances immediately. After saving, use “Set as primary model” to switch the active model — that change hot-applies without a container restart.

Can I use multiple AI providers at the same time?

Yes. OpenClaw Launch lets you store keys for multiple providers. Only the provider you select as the primary model handles chat. Other saved keys remain available for quick switching. Session memory (embeddings) continues via OpenRouter regardless of which chat provider you select.

What's Next?

• Groq for Hermes Agent — Same ultra-fast inference, wired into a Hermes Agent instance instead
• OpenClaw BYOK overview — Full guide to bringing your own keys across all supported providers
• AI coding plans compared — See how Groq stacks up against OpenRouter and other providers for coding
• API Keys page — Add or update your Groq key right now