# Error: unauthorized

> No valid API key

Source: https://docs.vlayers.ai/errors/unauthorized

- HTTP status: 401
- Retry: No: fix the request first

## What happened

No valid API key.

## Why

The request carries no API key, or one that is unknown, revoked or of the wrong kind (a publishable `vl_pub_` key cannot call these routes). This refusal comes from the authentication layer, before any route runs: its body is `{ error, message }`.

## How to fix it

Send `Authorization: Bearer <key>` with a secret key from the dashboard (Developers → API keys). Test keys start with `vl_test_`.

## Example response

```json
{
  "error": "unauthorized",
  "message": "No valid API key."
}
```