> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).

# Authenticate requests

To connect to IPFS, Infura requires the use of Basic authentication in the [Authorization HTTP header](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/Authorization). Basic authentication involves sending a base64-encoded string that contains your username and password.

info

To access the IPFS network through Infura, you'll need to add a billing card to your account, even if you're using a free account. Refer to the [billing details](/services/how-to/use-ipfs/access-ipfs-content/dedicated-gateways/#stats-and-billing) for more information.

The format for the Authorization header is as follows:

```
Authorization: Basic <base64(USERNAME:PASSWORD)>

```

Username is the `API_KEY` and password is the `API_KEY_SECRET.` Find your authorization credentials in the API key's settings page after you [register your Infura account](https://app.infura.io/register) and [create an API key](/developer-tools/dashboard/get-started/create-api/) that includes the IPFS network.

For example, to authenticate and upload a file to IPFS using curl, you would use the following command:

```
curl -X POST -F file=@myfile -u "<YOUR-API-KEY>:<YOUR-API-KEY-SECRET>" "https://ipfs.infura.io:5001/api/v0/add"

```

curl automatically generates the authorization header and encodes your credentials.