AQ. prefix API key returns 401 – requesting AIza key restoration

Gemini API
1

Hi Google AI team,

My account is generating API keys with the AQ. prefix instead of the standard AIza format. These keys return 401 UNAUTHENTICATED when used with the google-genai Python SDK (v2.8.0) or generativelanguage.googleapis.com endpoint.

Details:

  • SDK: google-genai 2.8.0
  • Error: 401 UNAUTHENTICATED – Expected OAuth 2 access token
  • All new keys in this project generate with AQ. prefix
  • Standard AIza keys are no longer available in this account

Could you please restore the ability to generate standard AIza API keys , or advise how to use AQ. keys with the Python SDK?

Thank you.

2

We are moving away from Traffic keys (Alza) and towards a more secure Authentication Key (AQ). AI Studio will now only generate Authentication Key (AQ) keys. More information on key usage can be found in the Using Gemini API keys documentation.

Please submit any compatibility issues with services / SDKs etc. in this form for our engineering team to review. Thanks!