Create a dedicated ElevenLabs API key for Parlato, keep it private, check your usage controls, and connect it in WordPress for premium voices from your own ElevenLabs account.
Important: ElevenLabs is optional. Parlato can use OpenAI only, but ElevenLabs lets you use voices from your own ElevenLabs voice library. ElevenLabs usage is billed by ElevenLabs, not by Parlato.
ElevenLabs dashboard and API key settings
Step 1
Check your ElevenLabs account
Go to ElevenLabs and sign in with the account or workspace that should own the voice usage for this WordPress site.
If you use a team workspace, confirm that you are in the right workspace before creating or copying an API key. The voices and usage limits available to Parlato come from that ElevenLabs account.
Step 2
Open API keys
Open the ElevenLabs area for developers, workspace settings, or API keys. The dashboard UI can move over time, so look for labels such as Developers, API keys, Workspace, or Profile.
ElevenLabs’ API documentation explains that API requests authenticate with an API key sent in the xi-api-key header.
Step 3
Create a dedicated key for Parlato
Create a new API key and give it a name you will recognize later, such as Parlato WordPress or the site domain.
Use a dedicated key instead of sharing a key with another app. A dedicated key is easier to rotate, disable, or audit if you ever need to troubleshoot usage.
Step 4
Copy and store it safely
Copy the full API key while ElevenLabs shows it and store it in your password manager. Treat it like a password.
Never place the key in public page content, screenshots, Git commits, emails, support tickets, or browser-side code. If a key is exposed, disable or delete it in ElevenLabs and create a new one.
Step 5
Review usage controls
Before using the key in production, review the ElevenLabs usage, billing, or analytics area for the workspace. ElevenLabs bills API usage directly, and usage depends on provider pricing, generated characters, model, and account plan.
If your plan supports key restrictions, consider limiting the key to the speech features Parlato needs, setting a credit or character limit, or using IP allowlisting. ElevenLabs documents key restrictions for scope, credit quota, and allowed IPs.
Step 6
Open Parlato settings
In WordPress admin, open Parlato Settings. Go to the provider settings area where ElevenLabs is configured.
Keep ElevenLabs open in another browser tab while you test the connection, so you can quickly verify account, workspace, and usage settings if something fails.
Step 7
Paste and test the API key
Paste the key into the ElevenLabs API key field, save settings, and run Parlato’s connection check if it is available.
If the test fails, make sure the key is complete, the ElevenLabs account is active, the workspace has API access, and the key has permission to use text-to-speech voices.
Step 8
Next step
After ElevenLabs is connected, continue to First Audio and generate a short test from a real post.
For official ElevenLabs API details, read API Authentication, Create API key, and ElevenAPI pricing.