---
id: cloud-accounts.what-is-an-access-key-id
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/what-is-an-access-key-id
category: "Cloud accounts"
subcategory: "Other bucket storage (S3-compatible)"
question: "What's the difference between the Access Key ID and the Secret Access Key?"
alt_questions:
  - "Access Key ID vs secret key"
  - "Which S3 key goes where?"
  - "What is a secret access key?"
  - "S3 key pair explained"
  - "AKIA key Storage Studio"
short_answer: "They're two halves of one key pair: the Access Key ID is the public part identifying you; the Secret Access Key is the private part proving it — treat it like a password. Storage Studio keeps the secret encrypted on your Mac."
tags: ["access keys", "s3", "credentials"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/how-do-i-connect-amazon-s3", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/where-are-my-cloud-passwords-and-keys-stored"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What's the difference between the Access Key ID and the Secret Access Key?

They're two halves of one key pair. The **Access Key ID** is the public part that says who you are (on Amazon it usually starts with `AKIA`). The **Secret Access Key** is the private part that proves it — treat it like a password.

Storage Studio keeps the secret in its encrypted vault on your Mac and checks its strength when you type it. Your provider usually shows the secret only once, when you create the key, so store it in a password manager.