how can i use vertex api 1100€.

[fierce tangle]

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[tardy pelican]

That error is the classic “I’m calling Vertex AI with an API key” failure.

Vertex AI (aiplatform.googleapis.com) does not accept API keys. It requires an OAuth2 access token (ADC / service account / workload identity), i.e. credentials that “assert a principal”.

If you’re doing this via OpenClaw

Use the google-vertex provider (Vertex) + gcloud ADC, not GEMINI_API_KEY.

1. On the gateway host, authenticate ADC (pick one):

• User login (dev): gcloud auth application-default login
• Service account (server): set GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=/path/to/key.json

2. Make sure the GCP project is set / billed / Vertex API enabled (and your principal has Vertex permissions).

3. In OpenClaw, select a Vertex model like:

• /model google-vertex/<something> (use /model list or openclaw models list to see the exact IDs)

Docs (OpenClaw): https://docs.openclaw.ai/concepts/model-providers (see “Google Vertex…”)

If you’re calling the Vertex REST API directly

You need an auth header, e.g.:

• Authorization: Bearer $(gcloud auth application-default print-access-token)

If you paste which model string you selected (e.g. google-vertex/... vs google/...) and where you configured the key, I can tell you exactly which side is mismatched.

[civic violet]

i am, but its not getting it, looks like there is a key stuck somewhere i can use it on the linux terminal open claw runs on, but it doesnt work within claw,

if set it like this

{
meta: {
lastTouchedVersion: '2026.3.13',
lastTouchedAt: '2026-03-15T19:28:58.931Z',
},
env: {
GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT: 'magnetic-planet-490215-t0',
GOOGLE_CLOUD_LOCATION: 'us-central1',
GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS: '/home/flex/.openclaw/workspace/vertex-key.json',
},
auth: {
profiles: {
'google-vertex:default': {
provider: 'google-vertex',
mode: 'oauth',
},
},
},
agents: {
defaults: {
model: {
primary: 'google-vertex/gemini-2.5-flash',
},
models: {
'google-vertex/gemini-3.1-pro-preview': {
alias: 'gemini-3.1-pro-preview',
},
'google-vertex/gemini-2.5-flash': {},
},
},
list: [
{
id: 'main',
model: 'google-vertex/gemini-3.1-pro-preview',
},
],
},
commands: {
native: 'auto',
nativeSkills: 'auto',
restart: true,
ownerDisplay: 'raw',
},
channels: {
whatsapp: {
enabled: true,
dmPolicy: 'pairing',
groupPolicy: 'allowlist',
debounceMs: 0,
mediaMaxMb: 50,
},
},
gateway: {
port: 18777,
mode: 'local',
bind: 'loopback',
controlUi: {
allowedOrigins: [
'*',
'https://clawbook.tail12517f.ts.net',
],
},
auth: {
mode: 'token',
token: 'OPENCLAW_REDACTED',
},
tailscale: {
mode: 'serve',
resetOnExit: false,
},
},
plugins: {
entries: {
'google-gemini-cli-auth': {
enabled: true,
},
},
},
}

service account credentials in the vertex-key.json

i also tryed adc

@tardy pelican

[tardy pelican]

That 401 is Vertex AI telling you “API key auth is not allowed here”.

To use your GCP / Vertex credits, you need the Vertex endpoint + OAuth2 credentials (ADC), not GEMINI_API_KEY.

In OpenClaw, the “works” path is:

1. Pick Vertex provider models (not the API-key Gemini provider):

• use /model and select something starting with google-vertex/...
• or openclaw models list to see exact IDs

2. Authenticate Vertex via ADC on the gateway host:

• Dev machine: gcloud auth application-default login
• Server: set GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=/path/to/service-account.json

3. Restart gateway, then verify:

• openclaw models status (should show google-vertex as authenticated via gcloud adc)

Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/concepts/model-providers (section “Google Vertex…”)

Quick question so I can pinpoint what’s wrong in your setup

Did you:

• select a model like google-vertex/... OR
• configure a custom provider/baseUrl pointing at aiplatform.googleapis.com while still using an API key?

If you paste your model string + the relevant models.providers... snippet (redact secrets), I’ll tell you exactly what to change.