> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hiveku.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Share Settings and Keys Across Several Sites

> Keep a setting or API key that several sites use in one group, link the group to each site, and change it in one place

When several of your sites use the same setting or API key, such as an ordering address or a service key, you can keep it once in an environment group and link the group to each site. Change it in the group, and every linked site gets the new value.

This guide makes a group for Northwind's café sites with one setting, links it to the Pearl District site, then removes it again.

## Make a group

**1. Open Environment groups**

Click **Settings** at the bottom of the left rail, then **Environment groups** under **Developer**. Click **New group**.

**2. Name it**

Type a **Name** and click **Create group**. A name can use plain letters, digits, spaces, dots, dashes and underscores, so leave out accents such as the é in café.

![New environment group, with the Name Cafe shared settings, outlined, and Create group, outlined](https://mintcdn.com/locusdigital/axWKM_my0_RftHT6/images/how-tos/websites/eg-01-new-group-closeup.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=axWKM_my0_RftHT6\&q=85\&s=0ccfcca0ed711d788383aea9dc81b034)

A new group

## Add a setting to it

**1. Click Add variable**

The group opens. Click **Add variable**.

**2. Fill it in**

Type the **Name** in capital letters with underscores, such as ORDER\_PICKUP\_URL, and the **Value**. Under **Tier**, keep **All tiers** to use it on Development, Staging and Production, or pick one. Tick **Sensitive** for a secret such as an API key: its value is never shown again. Click **Add variable**.

![Name ORDER\_PICKUP\_URL, Tier All tiers, Value https://order.example.com/northwind, and Add variable, each outlined](https://mintcdn.com/locusdigital/axWKM_my0_RftHT6/images/how-tos/websites/eg-02-add-variable-closeup.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=axWKM_my0_RftHT6\&q=85\&s=0d744fa29d303baa790bf3e2df45c346)

The setting and its value

The setting is listed under **Variables**, with its value hidden. The eye shows it, and the pencil changes it.

![Cafe shared settings with the variable ORDER\_PICKUP\_URL, All tiers, its value hidden, outlined; Linked sites says no site uses this group yet](https://mintcdn.com/locusdigital/axWKM_my0_RftHT6/images/how-tos/websites/eg-03-variable-saved-closeup.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=axWKM_my0_RftHT6\&q=85\&s=9cf10ed3f4ac3b930163c4ca3099f877)

The group's variable

## Link the group to a site

**1. Open the site's Environment Variables**

Open the website, click its name at the top of the page, then **Settings**. On the **Environment Variables** card, click **Manage**, and scroll to **Environment groups**.

**2. Choose the group and click Link**

Pick the group in the list and click **Link**.

![Environment groups on the site: Cafe shared settings chosen in the list, outlined, and Link, outlined](https://mintcdn.com/locusdigital/axWKM_my0_RftHT6/images/how-tos/websites/eg-04-link-closeup.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=axWKM_my0_RftHT6\&q=85\&s=f46caf62bbb96a220769476b4ea7b094)

Linking the group

The group is now listed with its variables, and a message says the site's deployed functions have its variables. Link the same group to each site that needs it.

![Cafe shared settings linked to the site with ORDER\_PICKUP\_URL and an Unlink button, outlined](https://mintcdn.com/locusdigital/axWKM_my0_RftHT6/images/how-tos/websites/eg-05-linked-closeup.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=axWKM_my0_RftHT6\&q=85\&s=c9a4d505a1dbd36fbad96d1e277139ee)

Linked to the site

## Good to know

* **A site's own setting wins.** If a site has its own variable with the same name, the site's value is used instead of the group's.
* **A change reaches every linked site.** Saving a group updates the deployed functions of every site it is linked to, so check which sites are listed under **Linked sites** before you change a value.
* **Unlink or delete.** **Unlink** on the site's card stops that site using the group. **Delete group**, in the group's menu, removes the group and its variables.
* **One site only?** Use [Store an API Key or Setting for Your Site](/how-tos/websites/store-a-secret-key.md) instead. For every rule and limit, see [Share Variables Across Sites](/how-tos/environment-groups.md).


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