How to Get a Wordpress.com API Key for Akismet Plugin

Update: The method to get akismet key explained below id obsolete now. Please go to akismet.com directly to get the akismet key.

The first plugin that every wordpress user activates is probably akismet. This spam control plugin comes bundled with wordpress distribution and you just need to activate it from the dashboard.

Now, when you activate it, the following message will be displayed on the dashboard,

And until you enter the wordpress.com api key, the plugin will not start detecting spam.

How to Get a WordPress.com API Key

1. Go to wordpress.com signup page.

2. Register for a free account here. Also, for the last option, please choose Just a Username, please.

3. After registration, you’ll receive the usual activation email. Once you activate your account, you’ll immediately get an email with the wordpress.com API key at the bottom of the message.

Now that you have the API key, go to the akismet configuration page (its under the plugins tab) on your wordpress dashboard, enter the key and click on the update options button.

This’ll activate akismet and you’ll see this message.

That’s it! Happy Blogging :)