# Set up Glyph

Connect a Glyph API key to a bot so you can call it. Where to get the key, two places to paste it, and how to change or remove it.

Canonical page: https://themachine.myapps.ai/docs/desktop/live/set-up-glyph

Live calls run on **Glyph**, a voice service that gives each bot a real-time
voice. You bring your own Glyph account and connect it to each bot you want
to call. It takes about two minutes, and you only do it once per bot.

## What you need

- A **Glyph account**. Sign up at [glyph.myapps.ai](https://glyph.myapps.ai).
  Your Glyph plan decides which voices you get and how many minutes you can
  talk.
- A **personal Glyph API key**. It starts with `glk_`.
- A bot you can change. You connect the key to that bot only.

## Get your Glyph API key

### Open Glyph's developer settings

Sign in to [Glyph](https://glyph.myapps.ai) and go to **Settings → Developer
API**. Glyph's own [quickstart](https://glyph.myapps.ai/docs#quickstart) shows
the same steps.
### Create a personal key

Create a new **personal** key and copy it. It starts with `glk_`. Glyph may
only show it once, so keep the tab open until you've pasted it into Machine.

> **Never paste the key into a chat**
> Paste your Glyph key only into the key box described below, never into a
> message to a bot. If you pasted it into a chat by mistake, delete that key in
> Glyph and create a new one.

## Connect it to a bot

You can connect from the bot's settings ahead of time, or right when you make
your first call. Both do the same thing.

### From the bot's settings

### Open Channels

Open the bot's settings (click the bot's name at the top of the chat) and
open **Channels**.
### Paste the key

Find the **Glyph** row. It says **Not connected** and shows a key box. Paste
your key into **glk_… your Glyph API key**.
### Click Connect

Click **Connect** (or press **Enter**). Machine checks the key with Glyph. When
it's accepted, the row says **Connected** and shows **Connected as** followed by your
Glyph account name.

![The Glyph row in a bot's Channels settings, ready for a key](/images/docs/desktop/glyph-connect.webp)

### When you make your first call

Click **Live** in a thread with a bot that has no Glyph key yet. Instead of
starting a call, Machine shows **Talk with Writer live** with the same key box.
Paste the key and click **Connect**, and the call starts straight away.

![The first Live call for a bot asks for a Glyph key once](/images/docs/desktop/live-connect.webp)

On a phone this appears as a sheet from the bottom of the screen, with the
note *"Only the first time. After this, Live starts with one tap."*

## Where your key is kept

- **Machine keeps the key on its servers**, tied to that bot. Machine Desktop
  and the phone apps never store it on your device.
- **The bot never sees the key.** Machine talks to Glyph for it.
- **Each bot has its own key.** Connecting Glyph to Scout doesn't connect it
  to Writer. You can use the same key for several bots; paste it into each.

## After you connect

Once a bot is connected, its **Channels** settings show:

- **Connected as** followed by your Glyph account name
- **Manage**, which opens the bot's channel settings on the Machine web app
- **Disconnect**
- A **Live calls** panel where you choose the voice, language and how you take
  turns. See [Live settings](/docs/desktop/live/live-settings).

![Channels with Slack, Inkbox and Glyph all connected, and the Live calls settings below Glyph](/images/docs/desktop/channels-connected.webp)

## Use a different key

To switch to another Glyph account, or after you delete a key in Glyph:

1. In the bot's **Channels**, click **Disconnect** on the Glyph row and
   confirm.
2. Paste the new key and click **Connect**.

## Disconnect Glyph

Click **Disconnect** on the Glyph row. Machine asks you to confirm:
*"Disconnect Glyph from Writer? People there will stop reaching this bot."*

After you confirm, Live calls stop working for that bot until you connect a
key again. Past call transcripts stay in their threads. Your Glyph account
isn't changed.

## If connecting fails

| You see | What to do |
|---|---|
| A red message under the key box | Glyph didn't accept the key. Copy it again in full (it starts with `glk_`), or create a new one. |
| **Connect** stays greyed out | The key box is empty. Paste the key first. |
| **Couldn't reach Machine** when you click Live | Your key is safe. Machine just didn't answer. Check your connection and click **Try again**. |

More fixes are in [Live troubleshooting](/docs/desktop/live/troubleshooting).