API Key Required

Symptom

User sees: Gemini API key is required in BYOK mode, MerchantDrafts hosted backend is not configured for this site, or another access-configuration error before generation starts.

Likely Cause

• Hosted mode is active but the site has no valid license or backend configuration.
• BYOK mode is selected without a saved Gemini key.
• Plan entitlement does not allow the requested runtime mode.

Quick Fix

• For hosted mode errors: go to MerchantDrafts → About / License, confirm the license key is saved and validated.
• For BYOK mode errors (Agency Pro Premium / Agency White Premium in the direct monthly ladder): go to MerchantDrafts → About / License. Confirm Runtime Mode is set to BYOK and a valid Gemini API key (starting with AIza, 39 characters) is saved. A green status indicator confirms active BYOK.
• If the plan does not allow BYOK, switch Runtime Mode back to Hosted.
• Save settings and retry generation.

If the plan label on About / License looks different from the marketing label on Get Premium, treat About / License as the live runtime truth for that site.

Verify

• Generation starts without access-configuration errors.
• Model metadata appears after a successful run.

Escalate When

• License or entitlement looks valid but hosted requests still fail.
• BYOK key is present but requests still fail with Gemini auth-related errors.