How to Set Up Your Gemini API Key

What You'll Need

• A Google account (Gmail, Google Workspace, etc.)
• Stravnyk installed on your iPhone or iPad
• About 2 minutes of your time

Step 1 — Open Google AI Studio

1. Open Safari (or any browser) on your device
2. Go to aistudio.google.com/apikey
3. Sign in with your Google account if prompted
4. Accept the Terms of Service if it's your first time

Step 2 — Create an API Key

1. On the API keys page, click the blue "Create API Key" button
2. In the popup, select "Create API key in new project"
3. Wait a few seconds — Google will generate your key
4. Your API key will appear on screen. It looks something like: AIzaSyA1b2C3d4E5f6G7h8I9j0...
5. Tap "Copy" to copy the key to your clipboard

Step 3 — Open Stravnyk Settings

1. Open the Stravnyk app on your iPhone or iPad
2. Tap the Settings tab (gear icon) in the bottom navigation
3. Scroll down to the Preferences section
4. Tap "AI Features" (sparkles ✨ icon)

Step 4 — Enter Your API Key

1. In the AI Features screen, you'll see the "Enter Gemini API Key" field
2. Paste your API key (long-press the field → Paste)
3. Tap the "Save API Key" button
4. Stravnyk will automatically verify your key by connecting to Google's servers
5. If valid, you'll see a success confirmation ✅

Step 5 — Start Recognizing Recipes!

You're all set! Now you can use AI-powered recognition:

1. From the Recipes tab, tap "+" to add a new recipe
2. Select "Scan with Camera" or "Import from Photo"
3. Take a photo of a printed recipe, handwritten recipe card, or even a finished dish
4. Stravnyk's AI will analyze the image and extract the recipe — title, ingredients, instructions, and more
5. Review and edit the result, then save to your collection

What can the AI recognize?

• 📖 Printed recipes from cookbooks and magazines
• ✍️ Handwritten recipe cards and notes
• 📱 Screenshots of recipes from social media or websites
• 🍽️ Photos of finished dishes — AI will suggest a recipe to recreate it
• 📋 Recipe labels on food packaging

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Gemini API really free?

Yes. Google offers a generous free tier for the Gemini API that includes up to 15 requests per minute and 1,500 requests per day. This is more than enough for personal recipe scanning — you'd need to scan over 1,500 recipes in a single day to hit the limit. No credit card is required. See Google's pricing page for current details.

Will I ever be charged by Google?

Not unless you explicitly upgrade to a paid plan in Google Cloud Console. The free API key you create through AI Studio uses the free tier by default. There is no credit card required to create the key.

Does Stravnyk see or store my API key on its servers?

No. Your API key is stored exclusively in your device's secure Keychain (the same vault iOS uses for your passwords and Face ID credentials). When you scan a recipe, your device sends the photo directly to Google's Gemini API. Stravnyk's servers are never involved.

What data is sent to Google when I scan a recipe?

Only the photo you choose to scan, along with a text prompt asking Gemini to recognize the recipe. Google processes the image and returns structured recipe data. According to Google's API Terms, data sent via the paid API is not used to train their models.

Can I remove my API key later?

Yes, anytime. Go to Settings → AI Features and tap "Remove". The key is deleted from your device's Keychain immediately. You can also revoke the key from Google's side at aistudio.google.com/apikey.

Can I use the same key on multiple devices?

Yes. Your API key works across all your devices. Just paste the same key into Stravnyk on each iPhone or iPad. The free tier limits are per-key and shared across all devices using that key.

My key isn't working — what should I do?

1. Check for extra spaces: Make sure there are no leading or trailing spaces when pasting
2. Check internet connection: Key verification requires an active internet connection
3. Wait a moment: New keys can take up to 60 seconds to activate on Google's side
4. Regenerate the key: Go to aistudio.google.com/apikey, delete the old key, and create a new one
5. Check your Google account: Ensure your account doesn't have any restrictions or pending verifications

Still stuck? Email us at support@stravnyk.com and we'll help you troubleshoot.

Do I need a Google Cloud account or billing?

No. A regular Google account (Gmail) is all you need. AI Studio creates a lightweight Google Cloud project automatically when you generate a key — no billing setup, no credit card, no configuration needed.

Which Gemini model does Stravnyk use?

Stravnyk uses Gemini 2.0 Flash — Google's fastest and most efficient vision model. It provides excellent recipe recognition quality with quick response times, and is included in the free tier.