How do I start the llm-keys-ui interface?

Tell Codex to run: uvx --with llm-keys-ui llm keys-ui --all, then have it report the URL, including local network or Tailscale IPs.

How does an agent use a saved key later?

It can run a command like llm keys get anthropic as part of a shell command when it needs that key.

Why does this plugin exist?

Simon Willison wanted a way to get API keys onto a machine without pasting them into the ChatGPT app directly.

Large Language ModelsAI Coding AssistantsSimon Willison's WeblogSep 21, 2026Sep 21, 2026, 10:01 JST

llm-keys-ui 0.1 keeps API keys out of agent chats

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3 Key Points

What happened
Simon Willison released llm-keys-ui 0.1, a plugin that pairs with Codex Remote and serves a web interface — reachable via local network or Tailscale IPs — for saving API keys to a machine.
Why it matters
The plugin offers a way to move keys onto a machine and have the agent fetch them later, avoiding the need to paste them into a session.
What to watch
The technique hinges on the user running the command themselves and having the agent report back the URL, so the setup still depends on a human in the loop. The article does not give a release date or supported platforms.

WHO IT HITSDevelopers and engineers who use Codex Remote to run coding agents on remote machines and need to configure API keys are the most direct audience.

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Context & Analysis

Simon Willison built llm-keys-ui 0.1 for a narrow but recurring workflow: using Codex Remote to run coding agents on other machines from a phone, then needing to configure an API key on one of those machines. The plugin serves a web interface, reachable over a local network or a Tailscale device IP, where additional keys can be saved.

Later, an agent can retrieve a key as part of a shell command, for example llm keys get anthropic. For people who already run agents on remote hardware, that removes the step of pasting credentials into the session itself.

The trade-off is that the user still has to launch the interface and read back the URL from the agent, so the convenience depends on that handoff working smoothly. For developers with a handful of remote machines, the question is likely whether the plugin is worth the extra setup compared with simpler key management already in place.

FAQ

How do I start the llm-keys-ui interface?: Tell Codex to run: uvx --with llm-keys-ui llm keys-ui --all, then have it report the URL, including local network or Tailscale IPs.
How does an agent use a saved key later?: It can run a command like llm keys get anthropic as part of a shell command when it needs that key.
Why does this plugin exist?: Simon Willison wanted a way to get API keys onto a machine without pasting them into the ChatGPT app directly.

Simon Willison's WeblogRead Original Article

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