# card_required

Live keys need a card on file.

## What it means

Creating a live key (and with it live domains) needs a payment card on the account, even on Free. Test keys never do.

## Why it happens

- The account has no card yet: a new account on Free or still in its trial.
- The card was removed from the billing page.

## What to do

1. Add a card on the billing page, then create the live key again.
2. Keep building with a test key meanwhile; everything else works the same.

- [Open the dashboard](/app/domains)
- [All limits](/docs/limits-and-pricing)

## In the API

```
HTTP 402

{
  "error": {
    "code": "card_required",
    "message": "Live keys need a card on file.",
    "fix": "Add a card on the billing page.",
    "docs": "https://apexly.dev/docs/errors/card_required"
  }
}
```