---
title: "Changing <code class=\"filepath\">abs_master.key</code>"
description: Create your own ABS master key to obfuscate keys and password in ABS.
component: pingintelligence
version: 5.2
page_id: pingintelligence:installing_pingintelligence_for_apis:pingintelligence_changing_abs_master_key
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingintelligence/5.2/installing_pingintelligence_for_apis/pingintelligence_changing_abs_master_key.html
revdate: April 3, 2024
section_ids:
  before-you-begin: Before you begin
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
---

# Changing `abs_master.key`

Create your own ABS master key to obfuscate keys and password in ABS.

## Before you begin

ABS must be stopped before creating a new `abs_master.key`.

## About this task

To create your own ABS master key:

## Steps

1. Run the following command: `generate_obfkey`.

2. If ABS is running, then stop ABS before generating a new ABS master key. Enter the following command to stop ABS:

   ```
   # /opt/pingidentity/abs/bin/stop.sh
   checking API Behavioral Security status
   sending shutdown signal to ABS, please wait...
   API Behavioral Security stopped
   ```

3. To change `abs_master.key`, enter the `generate_obfkey` command to change the default ABS master key:

   ```
   /opt/pingidentity/abs/bin/cli.sh generate_obfkey -u admin -p admin
   Please take a backup of config/abs_master.key before proceeding.
   Warning: Once you create a new obfuscation master key, you should obfuscate all config keys also using cli.sh -obfuscate_keys
   Warning: Obfuscation master key file
   /pingidentity/abs/config/abs_master.key already exists. This command will delete it and create a new key in the same file
   Do you want to proceed [y/n]: y
   Creating new obfuscation master key
   Success: created new obfuscation master key at /pingidentity/abs/config/abs_master.key
   ```