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

# Add Hugging Face Token to your account

> Create a read-only Hugging Face access token and save it in HexGrid Cloud so your compute instances can download the models your account can access.

Save a read-only Hugging Face access token in HexGrid Cloud so your compute instances can download models from Hugging Face, including private and gated models your account is authorized to use.

## How the token works

A Hugging Face access token is a credential that lets applications authenticate with Hugging Face on your behalf. HexGrid Cloud uses it whenever your instances download a model from Hugging Face.

Use a **Read** token for this setup. It can download any model your account can access, but it cannot change your repositories or settings.

> [!NOTE]
>
> The token only carries your account's existing permissions. For gated models, request or accept access on the model's Hugging Face page before you try to download it.

## Before you begin

You need:

* A [Hugging Face account](https://huggingface.co/join).
* A [HexGrid Cloud](https://hexgrid.cloud/) account.
* Access to the models you plan to download, including approval for any gated models.

## Create a Hugging Face Read token

**1. Sign in to Hugging Face**

Go to [Hugging Face](https://huggingface.co/) and sign in.

![Hugging Face sign-in page](https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hex-grid-cloud/images/Screenshot-from-2026-10-22-16-15-39.png)

**2. Open the Access Tokens page**

Open your account settings and select **Access Tokens**, or go directly to [huggingface.co/settings/tokens](https://huggingface.co/settings/tokens). Sign in again if prompted.

![Hugging Face Access Tokens page](https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hex-grid-cloud/images/Screenshot-from-2026-10-22-16-16-44.png)

**3. Start a new token**

Click **Create new token** (shown as **New token** in some versions of the interface). The token configuration form opens.

![Create new token button on the Access Tokens page](https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hex-grid-cloud/images/Screenshot-from-2026-10-22-16-17-27.png)

**4. Choose Read access**

Select the **Read** token type.

If Hugging Face shows fine-grained permissions instead, grant only the read permissions for the repositories you plan to use.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Do not select **Write** access. HexGrid Cloud only needs to download models.

**5. Name the token**

Enter a name that identifies the token's purpose, such as `HexGrid Cloud`.

A dedicated token lets you revoke HexGrid Cloud's access later without affecting your other applications.

![Token form with Read selected and a token name entered](https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hex-grid-cloud/images/Screenshot-from-2026-10-22-16-18-46.png)

**6. Create and copy the token**

Click **Create token**. Hugging Face displays the new token, which starts with `hf_`:

```text theme={null}
hf_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
```

This example is not a working token.

![Newly created Hugging Face token ready to copy](https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hex-grid-cloud/images/Screenshot-from-2026-10-22-16-19-36.png)

> [!WARNING]
>
> Copy the token now and store it somewhere secure. Never put it in screenshots, source code, or Git commits.

## Add the token to HexGrid Cloud

**1. Open Third Party Tokens**

Sign in to [HexGrid Cloud](https://hexgrid.cloud/). In the left sidebar, go to **Compute → Access Keys**, then select the **Third Party Tokens** tab.

Find the **HuggingFace Token** card. You can ignore the CivitAI Token card.

![Third Party Tokens tab with the HuggingFace Token card](https://mintcdn.com/hex-grid-cloud/iAybWHkn1AHz305P/images/Screenshot-from-2026-10-16-08-36-39.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iAybWHkn1AHz305P\&q=85\&s=07d16a3104102aee96cc3cede1b81b9f)

**2. Paste and save the token**

1. Paste your token into the input field on the **HuggingFace Token** card.
2. Click **Add Token** once it becomes enabled.
3. Wait for HexGrid Cloud to save the token.

> [!TIP]
>
> Paste the complete token with no leading or trailing spaces. A missing character makes the token invalid.

![Token pasted into the HuggingFace Token field](https://mintcdn.com/hex-grid-cloud/iAybWHkn1AHz305P/images/image-15.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iAybWHkn1AHz305P\&q=85\&s=48ec302e98fc1fbe011fb9314f361ba4)

**3. Confirm the token was saved**

The card now shows your token in masked form with the date and time it was added. HexGrid Cloud never displays the full token again.

![Saved token shown in masked form with the date added](https://mintcdn.com/hex-grid-cloud/iAybWHkn1AHz305P/images/image-16.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iAybWHkn1AHz305P\&q=85\&s=41b303525ebc5b2e75b8df0e1ba2e11d)

Your instances now use this token automatically when they download models from Hugging Face.

## Troubleshoot model downloads

A saved token confirms that HexGrid Cloud has the credential, not that every download will succeed. If a model fails to download, check that:

* The token appears on the **HuggingFace Token** card.
* The token has **Read** access, or the fine-grained read permissions the repository needs.
* The token has not been revoked or deleted in Hugging Face.
* You have accepted the model's terms or been approved for access, if the model is gated.
* Your Hugging Face account can access the repository and the files you requested.

## Replace the token

Replace the saved token if it expires, is revoked, stops working, or you create a new one.

1. Go to **Compute → Access Keys → Third Party Tokens**.
2. On the **HuggingFace Token** card, click **Replace token**.
3. Paste your new Read token.
4. Click **Replace** to save it, or **Cancel** to keep the existing token.

![Replace token form](https://mintcdn.com/hex-grid-cloud/iAybWHkn1AHz305P/images/image-17.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iAybWHkn1AHz305P\&q=85\&s=875f624b8160d6bd93044c6e560c2e61)

> [!WARNING]
>
> If you think a token has been exposed, revoke it in your [Hugging Face token settings](https://huggingface.co/settings/tokens) first, then replace it in HexGrid Cloud with a new one.

## Security best practices

* **Grant read access only.** HexGrid Cloud does not need write permissions.
* **Keep the token private.** Do not post it in chats, issue trackers, screenshots, or documentation.
* **Keep tokens out of code.** Never hardcode a token or commit it to a repository.
* **Use one token per application.** You can then revoke a single integration without disrupting others.
* **Revoke exposed tokens immediately** and replace them with new ones.

## Quick reference

<table>
  <colgroup>
    <col width="132" />

    <col width="529" />
  </colgroup>

  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Where</th>
      <th>Path</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>

  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Hugging Face</td>
      <td>**Settings → Access Tokens → Create new token → Read → Name → Create token → Copy**</td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>HexGrid Cloud</td>
      <td>**Compute → Access Keys → Third Party Tokens → HuggingFace Token → Add Token**</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

## Useful links

> **[Hugging Face](https://huggingface.co/)**
>
> Sign in or create an account

> **[Hugging Face Access Tokens](https://huggingface.co/settings/tokens)**
>
> Create and manage access tokens

> **[HexGrid Cloud](https://hexgrid.cloud/)**
>
> Open HexGrid Cloud


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