# Installation (https://crawler-docs.lumen-labs.ai/docs/v2/installation)

> For the complete Lumen Crawler documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://crawler-docs.lumen-labs.ai/docs/llms.txt). A markdown version of any docs page is available by appending `.md` to its URL (e.g. https://crawler-docs.lumen-labs.ai/docs/v2/installation.md).

Create a console account and an API key. No SDK install is required.

Lumen Crawler is an HTTP API. You do not install a client. Use curl, fetch, or generated OpenAPI tools.

## Console

1. Open [https://crawlapp.lumen-labs.ai/signup](https://crawlapp.lumen-labs.ai/signup).
2. Register with email and password (minimum 12 characters, mixed case, and a digit).
3. Verify the email, then sign in.

The console shows monthly usage, API keys, recent crawls, and Stripe Checkout for Starter and Pro.

## API keys

Keys authenticate crawl endpoints. Create them under **API keys** in the console.

- The secret is shown **once**. Prefix `lc_live_`.
- Send `Authorization: Bearer <secret>` on every crawl call.
- Revoking a key makes later crawl calls return **401** `unregistered_key`.
- The prefix stored in the console is the first 12 characters, not the secret.

Account and billing routes use the Cognito JWT from the console session, not the crawl key. `GET /v1/crawls` also accepts that JWT so the console can list crawls.

## Local development

The public API is production. A local API from the `lumen-crawler2` source repository can run with `AUTH_MODE=open` and accepts any Bearer token. That mode is for engine tests, not for the hosted product.

## Related

- [Auth and keys](https://crawler-docs.lumen-labs.ai/docs/v2/auth)
- [Plans and quota](https://crawler-docs.lumen-labs.ai/docs/v2/quota)
- [Quickstart](https://crawler-docs.lumen-labs.ai/docs/v2/quickstart)