---
title: "API Key (Simple Setup)"
sidebarTitle: "API Key"
description: "Set up AWS Bedrock with Cline using Bedrock API Keys. Simplest setup for individual developers to access frontier provider."
---

### Overview

-   **AWS Bedrock:** A fully managed service that offers access to leading generative AI models (e.g., Anthropic Claude, Amazon Nova) through AWS.\
    [Learn more about AWS Bedrock](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/bedrock/latest/userguide/what-is-bedrock.html).
-   **Cline:** A VS Code extension that acts as a coding assistant by integrating with AI models-empowering developers to generate code, debug, and analyze data.
-   **Developer Focus:** This guide is tailored for individual developers that want to enable access to frontier models via AWS Bedrock with a simplified setup using API Keys.

---

### Step 1: Prepare Your AWS Environment

#### 1.1 Individual user setup - Create a Bedrock API Key

For more detailed instructions check the [documentation](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/bedrock/latest/userguide/api-keys.html).

1. **Sign in to the AWS Management Console:**\
   [AWS Console](https://aws.amazon.com/console/)
2. **Access Bedrock Console:**
    - [Bedrock Console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/bedrock)
    - Create a new Long Lived API Key. This API Key will have by default the `AmazonBedrockLimitedAccess` IAM policy
      [View AmazonBedrockLimitedAccess Policy Details](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/bedrock/latest/userguide/security-iam.html)

#### 1.2 Create or Modify the Policy

To ensure Cline can interact with AWS Bedrock, your IAM user or role needs specific permissions. While the `AmazonBedrockLimitedAccess` managed policy provides comprehensive access, for a more restricted and secure setup adhering to the principle of least privilege, the following minimal permissions are sufficient for Cline's core model invocation functionality:

-   `bedrock:InvokeModel`
-   `bedrock:InvokeModelWithResponseStream`
-   `bedrock:CallWithBearerToken`

You can create a custom IAM policy with these permissions and attach it to your IAM user or role.

1.  In the AWS IAM console, create a new policy.
2.  Use the JSON editor to add the following policy document:
    ```json
    {
    	"Version": "2012-10-17",
    	"Statement": [
    		{
    			"Effect": "Allow",
    			"Action": ["bedrock:InvokeModel", "bedrock:InvokeModelWithResponseStream", "bedrock:CallWithBearerToken"],
    			"Resource": "*" // For enhanced security, scope this to specific model ARNs if possible.
    		}
    	]
    }
    ```
3.  Name the policy (e.g., `ClineBedrockInvokeAccess`) and attach it to the IAM user associated with the key you created. The IAM user and the API key have the same prefix.

**Important Considerations:**

-   **Model Listing in Cline:** The minimal permissions (`bedrock:InvokeModel`, `bedrock:InvokeModelWithResponseStream`) are sufficient for Cline to _use_ a model if you specify the model ID directly in Cline's settings. If you rely on Cline to dynamically list available Bedrock models, you might need additional permissions like `bedrock:ListFoundationModels`.
-   **AWS Marketplace Subscriptions:** For third-party models (e.g., Anthropic Claude), the **`AmazonBedrockLimitedAccess`** policy grants you the necessary permissions to subscribe via the AWS Marketplace. There is no explicit access to be enabled. For Anthropic models you are still required to submit a First Time Use (FTU) form via the Console. If you get the following message in the Cline chat `[ERROR] Failed to process response: Model use case details have not been submitted for this account. Fill out the Anthropic use case details form before using the model.` then open the [Playground in the AWS Bedrock Console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/bedrock/home?#/text-generation-playground), select any Anthropic model and fill in the form (you might need to send a prompt first)

---

### Step 2: Verify Regional Access

#### 2.1 Choose and Confirm a Region

1. **Select a Region:**\
   AWS Bedrock is available in multiple regions (e.g., US East, Europe, Asia Pacific). Choose the region that meets your latency and compliance needs.\
   [AWS Global Infrastructure](https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure/regions_az/)
2. **Verify Model Access:**
    - **Note:** Some models are only accessible via an [Inference Profile](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/bedrock/latest/userguide/inference-profiles-support.html). In such case check the box "Cross Region Inference".

---

### Step 3: Configure the Cline VS Code Extension

#### 3.1 Install and Open Cline

1. **Install VS Code:**\
   Download from the [VS Code website](https://code.visualstudio.com/).
2. **Install the Cline Extension:**
    - Open VS Code.
    - Go to the Extensions Marketplace (`Ctrl+Shift+X` or `Cmd+Shift+X`).
    - Search for **Cline** and install it.

#### 3.2 Configure Cline Settings

1. **Open Cline Settings:**
    - Click on the settings ⚙️ to select your API Provider.
2. **Select AWS Bedrock as the API Provider:**
    - From the API Provider dropdown, choose **AWS Bedrock**.
3. **Enter Your AWS API Key:**
    - Input your **API Key**
    - Specify the correct **AWS Region** (e.g., `us-east-1` or your enterprise-approved region).
4. **Select a Provider Model:**
5. **Save and Test:**
    - Click **Done/Save** to apply your settings.
    - Test the integration by sending a simple prompt (e.g., "Generate a Python function to check if a number is prime.").

---

### Step 4: Security, Monitoring, and Best Practices

1. **Secure Access:**
    - Prefer AWS SSO/federated roles over long-lived API Key when possible.
    - [AWS IAM Best Practices](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/best-practices.html)
2. **Enhance Network Security:**
    - Consider setting up [AWS PrivateLink](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vpc/latest/userguide/endpoint-services-overview.html) to securely connect to Bedrock.
3. **Monitor and Log Activity:**
    - Enable AWS CloudTrail to log Bedrock API calls.
    - Use CloudWatch to monitor metrics like invocation count, latency, and token usage.
    - Set up alerts for abnormal activity.
4. **Handle Errors and Manage Costs:**
    - Implement exponential backoff for throttling errors.
    - Use AWS Cost Explorer and set billing alerts to track usage.\
      [AWS Cost Management](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cost-management/latest/userguide/what-is-aws-cost-management.html)
5. **Regular Audits and Compliance:**
    - Periodically review IAM roles and CloudTrail logs.
    - Follow internal data privacy and governance policies.

---