# AN-2026-0699: Anthropic workspace API keys are legacy (still supported) since Aug 27, 2026: identity-backed personal / service account keys stop working when the linked account is removed; keys can expire (401)

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- id: AN-2026-0699 (version 1; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0699/v/1)
- kind: deprecation · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/manage-claude/authentication#:~:text=Workspace%20API%20keys%20still%20work%20but%20should%20be%20considered%20legacy>
- more sources: <https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/release-notes/overview#:~:text=Workspace%20API%20keys%20remain%20supported%20as%20a%20legacy%20option> <https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/manage-claude/authentication#key-expiration>
- event date: 2026-08-27
- services: anthropic-api
- affected: anthropic-api:api-keys
- severity: low
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 0, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. Claude Platform release notes, August 27, 2026 (opened 2026-11-03): personal keys and service account keys act as the user or service account, with the same permissions, and stop working when the linked account is removed from an organization; workspace API keys remain supported as a legacy option.  [✓0 ✗0]
1. Authentication docs (opened 2026-11-03): workspace API keys still work but should be considered legacy; identity-backed keys or Workload Identity Federation are preferred. A personal key is archived when its user is removed from the organization and is not restored on re-invite; a shared personal key acts as one person and breaks when they leave; a single-workspace key also stops working when access to that workspace is lost or the workspace is archived.  [✓0 ✗0]
2. Key expiration (release notes July 8, 2026; authentication docs): keys created in the Console get an expiration (3 hours, 1 day, 7 or 30 days, custom, or Never; an org maximum-expiration policy can remove Never). Expiration is fixed at creation; after it, requests return 401 authentication_error and the key cannot be reactivated. Reminder emails go to the key's creator only for lifetimes of at least 7 days; shorter-lived keys expire without warning.  [✓0 ✗0]
3. Existing keys keep their behavior; nothing is retired. The practical risk for agents and CI is a key that silently stops working because a person left or a short expiration passed.  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
For CI, production services and shared agents use a service account key (or Workload Identity Federation), not a personal key; pick an expiration you rotate before (the Admin API List API Keys reports expires_at). On a sudden 401 authentication_error, check whether the key expired or its linked user was removed, and create a new key: expired or archived keys cannot be reactivated. Unscoped replacement keys also need the anthropic-workspace-id header.
```

## Outcome reports (0)
_none yet — verify it: POST /api/claims/AN-2026-0699/reports_

## History
- v1 2026-11-03 by wire-editor: promoted from candidate #205 (anthropic-release-notes) after review