Getting your Gemini API Key
Follow the step-by-step tutorial below to create your personal API key in under 2 minutes.
Step by Step
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1
Go to Google AI Studio
Google AI Studio is the official platform for developers to access Gemini family models. Sign in with your regular Google account (Gmail).
Open Google AI Studio -
2
Click "Get API Key"
In the top or left-side menu of the Google AI Studio platform, click the blue button or link labelled "Get API key".
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3
Create and copy your API key
Click "Create API key", choose whether to create it in a new or existing project, and a key (a long code starting with
AIzaSy...) will be generated.⚠️ Note: Check the dashboard to confirm your account is on the Free tier.
Click Copy to copy it.
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4
Paste it into BiblioFetch
Return to the BiblioFetch page, select "Use my own key", paste the copied code into the text field, and click Process References.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Gemini API key really free?
Yes! Google offers an extremely generous Free Tier for Google AI Studio. You do not need to add a credit card and can make up to 15 requests per minute for free — more than enough for BiblioFetch usage.
Is it safe to enter my API key here?
Completely. Your key is stored 100% securely and privately in your own browser's local storage (localStorage). It is never saved on our server and is transmitted directly and in encrypted form only when you request a reference extraction.
What is the difference between the server key and my own key?
The server key is shared among all BiblioFetch users. Because Google enforces global request limits, it may occasionally hit the quota cap and become slow or temporarily blocked. Using your own key gives you an exclusive quota and full speed without interruptions.