---
name: klaviyo-install-auth
description: |
  Install and configure Klaviyo Node.js SDK with API key authentication.
  Use when setting up a new Klaviyo integration, configuring API keys,
  or initializing the klaviyo-api package in your project.
  Trigger with phrases like "install klaviyo", "setup klaviyo",
  "klaviyo auth", "configure klaviyo API key", "klaviyo SDK setup".
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash(npm:*), Bash(pnpm:*), Bash(pip:*), Grep
version: 1.0.0
license: MIT
author: Jeremy Longshore <jeremy@intentsolutions.io>
tags: [saas, klaviyo, email-marketing, cdp]
compatible-with: claude-code
---

# Klaviyo Install & Auth

## Overview

Set up the official `klaviyo-api` Node.js SDK and configure private API key authentication against Klaviyo's REST API (revision `2024-10-15`).

## Prerequisites

- Node.js 18+ (or Python 3.10+ for Python SDK)
- Klaviyo account at https://www.klaviyo.com/
- Private API key from **Settings > API Keys** in Klaviyo dashboard
- Public API key (for client-side only -- never use in server code)

## Instructions

### Step 1: Install the Official SDK

```bash
# Node.js (official SDK -- NOT @klaviyo/sdk, that's deprecated)
npm install klaviyo-api

# Python
pip install klaviyo-api
```

> **Important:** The npm package is `klaviyo-api`, not `@klaviyo/sdk`. The SDK exports per-resource API classes (ProfilesApi, EventsApi, etc.) that each take an `ApiKeySession`.

### Step 2: Configure Authentication

```bash
# .env (NEVER commit to git)
KLAVIYO_PRIVATE_KEY=pk_***********************************
KLAVIYO_PUBLIC_KEY=UXxxXx    # Only for client-side endpoints

# .gitignore -- ensure secrets are excluded
echo '.env' >> .gitignore
echo '.env.local' >> .gitignore
```

Klaviyo uses two key types:
| Key Type | Prefix | Use Case | Header |
|----------|--------|----------|--------|
| Private API Key | `pk_` | Server-side REST API | `Authorization: Klaviyo-API-Key pk_***` |
| Public API Key | 6-char | Client-side Track/Identify | Query param `company_id` |

### Step 3: Initialize the SDK

```typescript
// src/klaviyo/client.ts
import { ApiKeySession, ProfilesApi, EventsApi, ListsApi } from 'klaviyo-api';

// Create a session with your private API key
const session = new ApiKeySession(process.env.KLAVIYO_PRIVATE_KEY!);

// Instantiate per-resource API clients
export const profilesApi = new ProfilesApi(session);
export const eventsApi = new EventsApi(session);
export const listsApi = new ListsApi(session);
```

### Step 4: Verify Connection

```typescript
// src/klaviyo/verify.ts
import { ApiKeySession, AccountsApi } from 'klaviyo-api';

async function verifyKlaviyoConnection(): Promise<void> {
  const session = new ApiKeySession(process.env.KLAVIYO_PRIVATE_KEY!);
  const accountsApi = new AccountsApi(session);

  try {
    const accounts = await accountsApi.getAccounts();
    const account = accounts.body.data[0];
    console.log(`Connected to Klaviyo account: ${account.attributes.contactInformation.organizationName}`);
    console.log(`Account ID: ${account.id}`);
  } catch (error: any) {
    if (error.status === 401) {
      console.error('Invalid API key. Check KLAVIYO_PRIVATE_KEY in your .env file.');
    } else if (error.status === 403) {
      console.error('API key lacks required scopes. Generate a new key with full access.');
    } else {
      console.error(`Connection failed: ${error.status} ${error.message}`);
    }
    process.exit(1);
  }
}

verifyKlaviyoConnection();
```

### Step 5: Set API Revision Header

All Klaviyo API requests require a `revision` header. The SDK handles this automatically, but if using raw HTTP:

```bash
# Direct cURL test
curl -X GET "https://a.klaviyo.com/api/profiles/" \
  -H "Authorization: Klaviyo-API-Key pk_***" \
  -H "revision: 2024-10-15" \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.api+json"
```

## Output

- `klaviyo-api` package installed in `node_modules`
- `.env` file with `KLAVIYO_PRIVATE_KEY` set
- Verified API connection with account name printed
- Per-resource API clients ready for import

## Error Handling

| Error | Status | Cause | Solution |
|-------|--------|-------|----------|
| `Authentication failed` | 401 | Invalid or expired private key | Regenerate key at Settings > API Keys |
| `Forbidden` | 403 | Key missing required scopes | Create key with appropriate scopes (e.g., `profiles:read`) |
| `Rate limited` | 429 | Exceeded 75 req/s burst or 700 req/min steady | Honor `Retry-After` header; see `klaviyo-rate-limits` |
| `MODULE_NOT_FOUND` | N/A | Wrong package name | Use `klaviyo-api`, not `@klaviyo/sdk` |
| `ENOTFOUND a.klaviyo.com` | N/A | DNS/network failure | Check internet connectivity, firewall rules |

## Python Setup

```python
# pip install klaviyo-api
from klaviyo_api import KlaviyoAPI

klaviyo = KlaviyoAPI(
    api_key="pk_***",
    max_delay=60,   # Max retry delay in seconds
    max_retries=3   # Number of retries on 429/5xx
)

# Verify connection
accounts = klaviyo.Accounts.get_accounts()
print(f"Connected: {accounts['data'][0]['attributes']['contact_information']['organization_name']}")
```

## API Scopes Reference

| Scope | Required For |
|-------|-------------|
| `profiles:read` / `profiles:write` | Create/read/update profiles |
| `events:read` / `events:write` | Track events, query metrics |
| `lists:read` / `lists:write` | Manage lists, subscribe profiles |
| `segments:read` | Query segments and members |
| `campaigns:read` / `campaigns:write` | Create and send campaigns |
| `flows:read` / `flows:write` | Manage flow actions |
| `templates:read` / `templates:write` | Create/edit email templates |
| `data-privacy:write` | GDPR/CCPA deletion requests |

## Resources

- [Klaviyo API Reference](https://developers.klaviyo.com/en/reference/api_overview)
- [Authentication Guide](https://developers.klaviyo.com/en/docs/authenticate_)
- [klaviyo-api npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/klaviyo-api)
- [klaviyo-api-node GitHub](https://github.com/klaviyo/klaviyo-api-node)
- [Klaviyo Status](https://status.klaviyo.com)

## Next Steps

After successful auth, proceed to `klaviyo-hello-world` for your first profile + event API call.