AQ API Key returns 401 ACCESS_TOKEN_TYPE_UNSUPPORTED using official SDK and REST API

Google AI Studio
1

Hello,

I’m trying to use the Gemini Developer API with a brand new API key created in Google AI Studio.

Environment

  • Windows 11
  • Python 3.13
  • google-genai 2.20.0
  • requests latest

The API key is an AQ.* authorization key created today in AI Studio.

I tested:

  1. Official google-genai SDK

from google import genai

client = genai.Client(api_key=API_KEY)

list(client.models.list())

Result:

401 UNAUTHENTICATED
ACCESS_TOKEN_TYPE_UNSUPPORTED

  1. Plain REST request

GET https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/models?key=API_KEY

Result:

401 UNAUTHENTICATED
ACCESS_TOKEN_TYPE_UNSUPPORTED

I also tested:

  • Brand new Google account
  • Brand new AI Studio project
  • Brand new API key
  • Different Python virtual environment

Exactly the same result.

Is there any known issue with AQ authorization keys or project provisioning?

Thank you.

2

Hello, this 401 ACCESS_TOKEN_TYPE_UNSUPPORTED error typically occurs when the client library, tool, or extension being used does not yet support the updated “AQ.” API key format. Please ensure your tools and SDK extensions are updated to the latest version supporting standard AQ API key header passing, or configure custom HTTP headers (x-goog-api-key). If you are still facing this issue after updating, please let us know.

3

Hello, this error often occurs when using the newer “AQ.” API key format with older or deprecated models. Could you please share which specific model you are targeting? We recommend testing with a current model to see if that resolves the issue.

4

we started facing the same issue the model we are using is “gemini-3-pro-image” and the python sdk we use is google-genai>=2.10.0