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

# Changing `ase_master.key`

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

## Before you begin

ASE must be stopped before creating a new `ase_master.key`.

## About this task

To create your own ASE master key:

## Steps

1. Run the following command to create your own ASE master key to obfuscate keys and password in ASE: `generate_obfkey`.

   ```
   /opt/pingidentity/ase/bin/cli.sh generate_obfkey -u admin -p admin
   API Security Enforcer is running. Please stop ASE before generating new obfuscation master key
   ```

2. Stop ASE by running the following command:

   ```
   /opt/pingidentity/ase/bin/stop.sh -u admin –p admin
   checking API Security Enforcer status…sending stop request to ASE. please wait…
   API Security Enforcer stopped
   ```

3. Enter the `generate_obfkey` command to change the default ASE master key:

   ```
   /opt/pingidentity/ase/bin/cli.sh -u admin -p admin generate_obfkey
   Please take a backup of config/ase_master.key, config/ase.conf,
   config/abs.conf, config/cluster.conf 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 /opt/pingidentity/ase/config/ase_master.key already exist.
   This command will delete it create a new key in the same file
   Do you want to proceed [y/n]:
   ```

4. After a new ASE master key is generated, start ASE by entering the following command:

   ```
   /opt/pingidentity/ase/bin/start.sh
   Starting API Security Enforcer 4.0...
   please see /opt/pingidentity/ase/logs/controller.log for more details
   ```