If CaptureKit returns an authentication error, check the HTTP status and the response’s error message first. The documented header is x-api-key, but a 401 can mean either a credential problem or rate limiting. Repair the key or request when the message points to authentication; back off and retry when it identifies a limit.
1. Read the status code and error message
Do not diagnose the problem from 401 alone. CaptureKit’s error guide says the response body includes a human-readable error description; use it to distinguish an unrecognized or missing key from a rate-limit response. See CaptureKit’s Error Handling documentation.
- Message indicates a missing or unrecognized key: check the header name, value, and key state.
- Message identifies rate limiting or quota: stop sending requests briefly, then retry with backoff.
CaptureKit documents 401 for both authentication problems and rate limiting, so blindly retrying every 401 can waste requests without fixing the cause.
2. Send the key in the documented header
For a new integration, send your dashboard API key in the x-api-key request header. CaptureKit’s introduction documentation also lists x_api_key as a query-string option, but the header is the clearest choice for server-side requests. Do not expose a secret in browser-side code, a public repository, or logs that may be shared.
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cURL: test authentication against usage
Set the key in an environment variable so it is not embedded in the command history or source code:
export CAPTUREKIT_API_KEY='YOUR_API_KEY'
curl -i 'https://api.capturekit.dev/v1/usage'
-H "x-api-key: $CAPTUREKIT_API_KEY"The -i option shows the HTTP status and response headers as well as the body. Use the body’s error value to decide what to fix.
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Python: verify the key without screenshot parameters
import os
import requests
api_key = os.environ["CAPTUREKIT_API_KEY"]
response = requests.get(
"https://api.capturekit.dev/v1/usage",
headers={"x-api-key": api_key},
timeout=30,
)
print("HTTP", response.status_code)
print(response.text)Set CAPTUREKIT_API_KEY in your environment before running the script. Avoid printing or sharing the key itself.
Node.js: verify the key without screenshot parameters
const apiKey = process.env.CAPTUREKIT_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set CAPTUREKIT_API_KEY first");
const res = await fetch("https://api.capturekit.dev/v1/usage", {
headers: { "x-api-key": apiKey },
});
console.log("HTTP", res.status);
console.log(await res.text());CaptureKit describes /v1/usage as free and recommends it as an independent authentication check before debugging capture options. See the Quick start.
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3. Check the key and request for common mistakes
- Header missing or misspelled: use
x-api-keyexactly, including hyphens, and ensure the request actually sends it. - Wrong value: copy the key from the dashboard’s API Keys area. Watch for leading or trailing whitespace and avoid using a key from another account or environment.
- Inactive key: activate it in the dashboard before retrying.
- Expired key: extend it if available or generate a replacement, then update the application’s secret configuration.
- Invalid or unrecognized key: copy the correct key or create a replacement. Update the secret wherever the integration runs, including deployed environments.
CaptureKit’s introduction documentation covers key management and accepted authentication locations: Introduction.
4. Check whether an older integration uses the pre-migration format
CaptureKit’s migration notice, published February 19, 2026, says current API paths include /v1/, the screenshot route is /v1/capture, and the newer query parameter is x_api_key rather than the former access_key. Current introduction documentation specifies x-api-key as the header method. If an older request still uses access_key or a path without the current version prefix, compare it with the endpoint documentation and update the route and authentication format together.
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Read the migration details at CaptureKit is moving to a new dashboard.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Handle rate limits with backoff, not key changes
If the response message says the request was rate-limited or the quota was reached, changing a valid key is unlikely to help. Pause and retry after a delay; if the response recurs, review the applicable plan limit or per-key quota. Use increasing delays between repeated attempts rather than sending a rapid retry loop. CaptureKit’s error guide advises fixing authentication failures instead of retrying them blindly.
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6. Use API Logs to locate the failing request
When the cause is still unclear, note the request time and find that entry in CaptureKit’s API Logs. Check the request details and returned error to confirm whether the application sent the expected header and endpoint. The CaptureKit documentation help center includes API Logs in its integration workflow. Do not share screenshots or log excerpts that reveal the API key.
Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is to get reliable website screenshots rather than repair a CaptureKit integration, ScreenshotNeo is an alternative screenshot API. One GET request returns an image or PDF; for example:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for the request options. Cookie banners are accepted and removed before capture, along with supported newsletter popups and chat widgets; those steps can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. An MCP server provides screenshot tools for AI agents, including Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does CaptureKit use 401 only for bad API keys?
No. CaptureKit also uses 401 for rate limiting, so the response’s error message determines whether to fix credentials or back off.
Can I test my CaptureKit key without making a screenshot?
Yes. Send an authenticated request to https://api.capturekit.dev/v1/usage; CaptureKit describes this endpoint as free.
Quick Recap
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