> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.runtype.com/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.runtype.com/_mcp/server.

# Appearance and preferences

Customize how your Runtype dashboard looks and whether it downloads new API keys for you.

Runtype saves these preferences in your current browser. They don't affect other team members, and they don't follow you to another browser or device. Clearing your browser's site data resets them to their defaults.

## Open preferences

Open **Settings** and select **Dashboard**. The **Appearance** card holds these preferences.

## Choose a theme

Choose a theme from the **Theme** menu:

* **Light**: a light background with dark text.
* **Dark**: a dark background with light text.
* **System**: matches your operating system's appearance setting.

You can also click a card under **Preview** to apply that theme. The active theme's card is highlighted. Theme changes apply immediately.

The default is **System**. The **Theme** control in your account menu changes the same setting.

## Download API keys automatically

**Always download API keys** is on by default. When it's on, the dashboard downloads a JSON file each time it shows you a new key. This includes management keys you create in [Managing API keys](/user-guide/settings/managing-api-keys) and surface keys you create for a product in [Authenticating with product API keys](/user-guide/products-surfaces/authenticating-with-product-api-keys). The key dialog shows the name of the downloaded file.

Turn the preference off to download keys yourself. The key dialog then shows a **Download key file** button.

The file's contents depend on the key type:

* **Management key**: uses the `runtype.api-key/v1` format, the same format the Runtype CLI writes. Read the key from its `apiKey` field.
* **Surface key**: contains the key, its type, the API base URL, and an example `curl` command.

> **Warning**
>
> The file contains your full key in plain text, and the dialog won't show the key again. Move the file out of your downloads folder to a protected location (for management keys, `~/.runtype/keys`). Turn this preference off on shared computers.

## Next steps

* [Managing API keys](/user-guide/settings/managing-api-keys): create and manage API keys
* [Team members and permissions](/user-guide/settings/team-members-and-permissions): manage team access
* [Understanding the Runtype UI](/user-guide/getting-started/understanding-the-runtype-ui): navigate the dashboard