content/operate/rc/api/get-started/enable-the-api.md
If you have a Redis Cloud account, you can use a REST API to manage your subscriptions and databases programmatically.
For security reasons, the Redis Cloud API is inactive by default.
To enable the API:
Sign in to your Redis Cloud account as an account owner.
From the menu, choose Access Management.
When the Access Management screen appears, select the API Keys tab.
{{<image filename="images/rc/access-management-api-keys-tab.png" width="75%" alt="Use the **API Keys** tab of the **Access Management** screen to manage your REST API keys." >}}
If a Copy button appears to the right of the API account key, the API is enabled. This button copies the account key to the Clipboard.
{{<image filename="images/rc/button-copy.png" alt="Use the **Copy** button to copy the access key to the Clipboard." >}}
If you see an Enable API button, select it to enable the API and generate your API account key.
{{<image filename="images/rc/button-access-management-enable-api.png" alt="Use the **Enable API** button to enable the REST API for your account." >}}
To authenticate REST API calls, you need to use both the API account key and an [API user key]({{< relref "/operate/rc/api/get-started/manage-api-keys#api-user-keys" >}}) to make API calls.
Only account owners can see the access key in the account settings and give API access to other users.
{{< warning >}} Make sure that you keep your access keys secret. Anyone who sends an API request with a valid access key can make changes to your account. {{< /warning >}}
To manage your API keys or to limit IP addresses for user keys, see [Manage API keys]({{< relref "/operate/rc/api/get-started/manage-api-keys.md" >}}).