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LLM Provider Settings: The Brain of Your Agent

How to configure Direct providers and OpenRouter in Molten.Bot, with links for generating API keys.

Your LLM provider settings are the brain of your Agent. This is where you decide which model thinks, plans, and responds across your workflows.

In Settings → Provider Settings, you can choose between two setup modes:

  • Direct: Connect straight to a provider like Anthropic, OpenAI, xAI, Mistral, or Google Gemini with your own API key.
  • OpenRouter: Use one OpenRouter key to access many providers through a single endpoint.

How to Find Settings

If you are new MoltenBot, first read Using the Bottom Dock to quickly locate the Settings icon.

Direct Integration Setup

Use Direct when you want first-party provider billing, account controls, and direct model access.

Provider Settings configured in Direct mode with Anthropic selected.
Direct mode lets you select a provider, choose a model, and paste that provider key.

Direct Provider Console Links

Open the matching console, create an API key, then paste it into API Key in the app.

Direct Setup Steps

  1. Open Settings → Provider Settings.
  2. Select Direct.
  3. Choose your provider from the Provider dropdown.
  4. Choose the model you want from Model.
  5. Generate a key from the provider console link above and paste it into API Key.
  6. Click Save and restart.

What Is OpenRouter?

OpenRouter is a unified LLM gateway. Instead of managing separate provider integrations, you use one API key and one API shape to access many models across multiple providers.

This is useful when you want to:

  • Switch models quickly without reconfiguring your app integration
  • Test and compare providers from one place
  • Centralize usage and billing in one account

OpenRouter Setup

Provider Settings configured with OpenRouter and Auto Router model.
OpenRouter mode uses your OpenRouter key and supports Auto Router.

OpenRouter Links

OpenRouter Steps

  1. Open OpenRouter Keys and create a key (typically starts with sk-or-v1-).
  2. In the app, open Settings → Provider Settings.
  3. Select OpenRouter.
  4. Keep Model on Auto Router (or choose a specific model if needed).
  5. Paste your OpenRouter key into API Key.
  6. Click Save and restart.

Recommended Operating Pattern

  • Start with OpenRouter + Auto Router for faster setup and model flexibility.
  • Switch to Direct for a specific provider when you need first-party account controls or strict provider routing.
  • Rotate keys immediately if you suspect exposure.

Tip: Never paste API keys into prompts, chat messages, or git-tracked files. Keep them only in your secure settings/secrets flow.