Set up BYOK across PromptDC Desktop, Chrome, and IDEs

Bring your own key (BYOK) connects PromptDC to an API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or xAI. In the flagship PromptDC Desktop app for macOS and Windows, your API key enables prompt enhancement everywhere you work—across every browser (Safari, Chrome, Edge, Firefox), workplace apps (Mail, Slack, Notion, Word, Outlook, Teams, Discord, Notes), AI desktop apps (ChatGPT desktop, Claude desktop, Grok), IDEs (Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Antigravity, Trae, Kiro), and terminal CLIs (Terminal, iTerm, Warp, Ghostty, Termius, Windows Terminal, and inside Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Grok, Agy, OpenCode). You can also configure BYOK in the Chrome extension or optional IDE extensions.

Available with Lifetime from $69. You pay your provider for usage. Last updated: August 2026

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and xAI with provider-specific default models.

PromptDC Desktop works across any app, browser, IDE, and terminal CLI.

Keys stay local and pass through backend memory only during requests.

Create a key with your provider

  1. 01

    Choose the provider

    Use OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or xAI. The defaults are gpt-5.6-luna, claude-haiku-4-5, gemini-3.6-flash, and grok-4.6 respectively. You can also enter a custom model string, which PromptDC uses as given.

  2. 02

    Open the provider's key page and sign in

    Use a link in the table below. You should see the provider's API key management screen. If access is denied, check the provider account and organization permissions.

  3. 03

    Create a new secret key

    Give it a recognizable name (e.g. PromptDC). You should see the newly issued secret. If creation fails, follow the provider's account verification or access instructions.

  4. 04

    Copy the complete key while it is visible

    Store it using your normal secure credential process. If you use the desktop app on macOS or Windows, one key configuration enables enhancement across all your applications, browsers, IDEs, and terminal CLIs (including Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Grok, Agy, and OpenCode).
ProviderKey page
OpenAI, default gpt-5.6-lunaOpenAI API keys
Anthropic, default claude-haiku-4-5Anthropic API keys
Google, default gemini-3.6-flashGoogle AI Studio API keys
xAI, default grok-4.6xAI Console

Desktop setup (macOS and Windows)

The PromptDC Desktop app is the flagship setup. One configuration powers prompt enhancement everywhere: every browser, desktop app, IDE chat panel, and terminal CLI.

  1. 01

    Open Settings

    Open PromptDC from the macOS menu bar or Windows tray and choose Settings. You should see the General settings page.

  2. 02

    Choose the provider and model

    Find the API key section, choose your provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or xAI), and keep its default model or enter a custom model string.

  3. 03

    Paste the provider key and save locally

    Paste the key that matches the selected provider and save it in local settings on this device. PromptDC never writes keys to its database.

  4. 04

    Enhance text anywhere

    Select text in any app, browser, IDE, or terminal CLI (such as Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Grok, Agy, or OpenCode) and press Cmd+Shift+E (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows). The editable review popover appears instantly with Replace and Copy options. PromptDC is the first desktop app to enhance prompts inside terminal CLIs.

The desktop app alone covers every textarea, coding app, browser, and terminal on macOS and Windows.

Chrome extension setup

The Chrome extension offers in-place rewriting for editable web fields and form controls without requiring Accessibility permissions.

  1. 01

    Open the Chrome BYOK controls

    Install and enable the PromptDC Chrome extension, then open the BYOK controls for that surface. If you need account access, open Account, Subscription in the same Chrome profile.

  2. 02

    Choose provider, key, and model

    Choose OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or xAI, then keep the default model or enter your own model string. PromptDC uses a supplied model string as given.

  3. 03

    Save the local setting

    Save the matching provider key on this surface. You should see Saved on this device. The setting remains local in Chrome extension storage, and PromptDC does not write the key to its database.

  4. 04

    Run a test enhancement

    Open an editable web page, enter text, and run an enhancement. If the extension reports that a key is required, return to the extension settings in the same Chrome profile, confirm the key is saved, and retry.

Chrome extension configuration is stored locally in Chrome and operates as an addition for Chrome users.

VS Code and Cursor setup

Optional editor extensions for users who want dedicated sidebar controls with target-agent pickers and Simple/Structured output in the editor's AI chat panel. The PromptDC Desktop app already covers IDE chat panels and terminals on macOS and Windows without needing these extensions.

VS Code setup

  1. Open the Command Palette and run PromptDC: Open Settings. You should see the PromptDC Settings editor.
  2. In API Key, choose OpenAI, Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google), or Grok (xAI), then select or enter the model.
  3. Paste the matching key and choose Save API Key. You should see an API key saved locally notification.
  4. Focus the AI chat input and run Enhance Prompt. VS Code targets that chat input and does not touch your source file. If a key error appears, verify the provider, model, and key.

VS Code stores each provider key in the PromptDC extension's local global state on that device.

Cursor setup

  1. Open the Command Palette and run PromptDC: Open Settings. You should see the PromptDC Settings editor.
  2. In API Key, choose OpenAI, Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google), or Grok (xAI), then select or enter the model.
  3. Paste the matching key and choose Save API Key. You should see an API key saved locally notification.
  4. Keep focus and selection in the intended chat input, then run Enhance Prompt. Cursor acts on the current selection in the focused control, so a source-file selection can be rewritten.

Cursor stores each provider key in its PromptDC extension's local global state, separate from the VS Code extension.

How the key is handled during a request

Local configuration

Every surface stores its own provider key locally on your device. PromptDC Desktop stores keys in local settings, Chrome in extension storage, and VS Code/Cursor in editor globalState.

Request transit

The configured surface includes the active provider key over HTTPS with each enhancement request. It passes through PromptDC's backend in memory only for that request to call the provider API.

Database security

Provider keys are never written to PromptDC's database or permanent storage.

Universal desktop setup

The desktop app alone covers every app, browser, IDE, and terminal CLI (Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Grok, Agy, OpenCode) on macOS and Windows with a single local configuration.

Rotate or remove a key

  1. 01

    Create the replacement key

    Generate a new secret key in your provider console (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or xAI).

  2. 02

    Replace the saved value on your surfaces

    Paste and save the new key in PromptDC Desktop Settings, Chrome, or your editor extensions. You should see the local save confirmation.

  3. 03

    Run a test enhancement

    Select text in any app, browser, IDE, or terminal CLI and press Cmd+Shift+E (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows) to confirm the new key functions properly.

  4. 04

    Revoke the old key

    Revoke the old key in the provider console once the replacement is verified. If a surface fails afterward, update the key on that surface and retest.

BYOK FAQs

Want the product view?
Read BYOK

Ready to enhance?
Continue with Enhancing text

How are keys stored?
See Security

Write better with AI

Enhance any text you select on the desktop, on the web, in your editor or terminals.

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