# Generate a Key

An Object Storage key must be generated manually through the DCD or [<mark style="color:blue;">Object Storage Management API</mark>](https://api.ionos.com/docs/s3-management/v1/). Only on generating the first key, the **Canonical User ID** is displayed in the [<mark style="color:blue;">Object Storage Credentials</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/storage-and-backup/concepts/key-management#object-storage-credentials) and **Management** > **Users & Groups** > **Users** > **Object Storage Keys** > **Object Storage** section.

## Generate a key for your account

{% hint style="info" %}
**Prerequisite:** Make sure you have the corresponding permission to manage the Object Storage. If you are not the contract owner or the administrator, you must be added to a group with **Use Object Storage** privilege.
{% endhint %}

To create an access key, follow these steps:

1\. In the **DCD**, go to **Menu** > **Storage & Backup** > **IONOS Object Storage**.

2\. In the **Key management** tab, go to the **Access keys** section and click the **Generate a key**.

![Generate key](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1c403eb714172058473900e133ba8bfc67ac1d7b%2Fs3-generate-key.png?alt=media)

3\. Confirm key generation by clicking **Generate**. The keys generated from April 2024 onwards will have access to both contract-owned buckets and user-owned buckets. It works with all [<mark style="color:blue;">Endpoints</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/storage-and-backup/ionos-object-storage/endpoints).

{% hint style="success" %}
**Result:** A new access key for <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud\_object\_storage</code> is successfully generated and is in `active` status by default.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Info:** It is recommended to download the **Access Key** and **Secret Key** as a backup copy by using the **Download key pair** option. Using the key details, you can sign in to other Object Storage applications. A maximum of five unique Object Storage Keys can be created per user for different S3 applications.
{% endhint %}

To deactivate or delete keys, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Manage Keys</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/storage-and-backup/ionos-object-storage/how-tos/manage-keys).

## Generate a key for other users

{% hint style="info" %}
**Prerequisite:** Make sure you have the corresponding permission to manage the Object Storage. If you are not the contract owner or the administrator, you must be added to a group with **Use Object Storage** privilege.
{% endhint %}

1\. In the **DCD**, go to **Menu** > **Management** > **Users & Groups**.

2\. Select the user from the **Users** list and click the **Object Storage Keys** tab.

3\. Click **+ Generate Key** and confirm key generation by clicking **OK**.

![Generate a key for other users](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-fa414156b4e3cb8e3b3077481c87371933d11e2a%2Fs3-generate-key-other-users.png?alt=media)

{% hint style="success" %}
**Result:** A new access key for <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud\_object\_storage</code> is successfully generated for the user and listed in the user's **Object Storage Keys** tab. By default, the key is in the `active` status.
{% endhint %}

### Next steps

* From the **Object Storage Keys** list, click the ![Copy key](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4aac24dc13e32312341c34df4a8a990c4224baf6%2Fs3-key-copy.png?alt=media) on the respective key you want to use. Copy the **Key** value and **Secret** value from the respective fields to sign in to other Object Storage applications.

![Copy key value for other users](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bc372e92775977463417690938a6108ca628fd3a%2Fs3-key-value.png?alt=media)

* To deactivate or delete keys, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Manage Keys</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/sections-test/guides/storage-and-backup/ionos-object-storage/how-tos/manage-keys).